Speaking and pronunciation

The best way to gain confidence in speaking English is by speaking to native speakers of English. An excellent way to practise your English is to join an interesting club or activity where you will be mixing with native speakers of English and other speakers of English.

English conversation classes

• Some organisations such as churches offer free English conversation classes.
• Clayton Campus students might be interested in the free English Conversation Class held at the Monash Uniting Church, 1939 Princess Highway, North Clayton (cnr. Koonawarra St) every Wednesday from 4.00 pm until 5.30 pm. Contact the Chaplaincy at Clayton on (03) 9905-3156 for more information.
• During the semester Language and Learning runs conversation classes in most faculties and in the Language and Learning Centres on most campuses.

Join a club

Joining a club through the University Union, Clubs and Societies will provide the opportunity to make friends with other students and use English as the shared language.

Join a class at a Community Centre

In Australia there are associations known as Neighbourhood Houses or Community Houses/Centres. The centres frequently offer low cost English Conversation classes. Community Centres and Neighbourhood Houses also run many general interest classes. ESL learners could use these classes as an opportunity to mix with native speakers of English.

Find out about Neighbourhood Houses and Community Houses in your area by contacting the local council

Find out more about Community and Neighbourhood houses in Melbourne at the Association of Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres website 

Clayton Students may be interested in :

• Chelsea Neighbourhood House 
• Springvale Neighbourhood House 

Songs

Another very enjoyable way to learn the pronunciation, stress and intonation of the English language is by listening to and singing songs. Specialist English language bookshops sell a book and tape kit entitled Heinemann Hits which comes with the music and lyrics for popular songs and is especially designed for ESL students.

Currently released CDs and tapes of popular music are sold through music stores and many include copies of the song's lyrics in the pack. Choose songs with the lyrics and enjoy the music as you learn the language.

Lyrics for popular songs may also be found through the Lyrics Search Engine .

Conversation resources

Special conversation resources are recommended for improving spoken English. A good book for improving conversation skills is Conversation Gambits which provides real English conversation practice through 'gambits' of conversation for various situations, such as dealing with door-to-door salesmen, going for job interviews and getting to know someone. Practise the role-plays in the book with a friend.

Another useful resource, Coffee Break, is a course in understanding authentic Australian casual conversation and includes transcripts, extensive vocabulary lists and cultural notes.

Learn common expressions to use in conversation at the Focus English website.

The Virtual Language Centre, Hong Kong provides conversations that can be listened to, read and practised.

Pronunciation resources

Pronunciation can be improved by listening to special pronunciation tapes and books. Ship or Sheep and In Tempo are self paced pronunciation courses.

In Tempo is a detailed course for pronunciation, comprising a book and audiotape. In Tempo focuses on the rhythm and stress of Australian English.

Ship or Sheep is a comprehensive intermediate pronunciation course providing practice of English pronunciation through interesting exercises and activities.

The Virtual Language Centre , Hong Kong, has a pronunciation course with practice exercises.

Resources

The resources (listed below)can be purchased from English language bookshops, ordered through the University bookshop or borrowed from some libraries.

Check your local (municipal) library, university libraries, visit the Language and Learning resource centres located on Monash campuses, and the Language and Learning Online.

List of resources

• In Tempo: an English pronunciation course by Halina Zawadzki, 1994 (Language and Learning Online Resource Centre).
• Ship or Sheep: pronunciation course by Anne Baker, 1992 (Language and Learning Online Resource Centres, Clayton, Berwick).
• Conversation Gambits by Eric Keller and Sylvia Warner, published by Language Teaching Publications.
• Coffee break: a course in understanding authentic Australian casual conversation by Dorothy Economou published by NSW Adult Migrant
  Education Service, 1985 ( Bentleigh library  has a copy).
• Heinemann Hits is a book and tape kit of popular songs published by Heinemann. Listening to communicate in English [kit], published by the National Textbook Company (Caulfield municipal library).
• Person to Person [kit]: communicative speaking and listening skills" by Jack C. Richards and David Bycina, published by Oxford University Press, New York, 1984, is available at Bentleigh library  and in the Media Resources Centre in the Education Faculty at Monash, Clayton Campus.
• Telephone skills [kit]: essential telephone English by David A. Hough, published by Heinemann English Language Teaching, Oxford, UK, 1993.

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