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Teachable Rhythm Techniques for the L2 Speaking Classroom

Workshop at the 43rd Annual BC TEAL ConferenceSFU, Vancouver

May 6 & 7, 2011

Michael Burri, M.A. TESOLProgram CoordinatorBC Institute of TechnologyVancouver, BC

Karen Rauser, B.A. Linguistics, M.A. TESOLTESL Instructor/ESL InstructorOkanagan CollegeKelowna, BC

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“Our sense of self and community are bound up in the speech-rhythms of our first language (L1). These rhythms were learned in the first year of

life and are deeply rooted in the minds of students.” (Gilbert, 2008)

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• Introduction• Warm-up• Video clip• Theory Talk + Rationale• Rhythmic “Feet” of English• Butterfly• Compact Rhythmic Feet Fight Club

(RFFC)• Practice• Q + A

Agenda

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Opera Diva Catelephant

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Make yourself at home…

• from Touchstone Level 2 DVD– Episode 3, Act 3 (DVD VRB Task Menu #43)

• Alex, Liz, Yoko– watch how their bodies show their sentence

rhythm!

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Theory Base & Rationale

• Tone Units (formerly known as thought groups)

• Rhythm Patterns• Teaching and learning of rhythm: problematic

area in L2 classroom (Setter, 2006).

• Multiple Modality – simultaneous attention to Kinesthetic, Cognitive, Affective, Visual, and Auditory modes

• Canonical vs. Conversational Rhythm

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Rhythmic “Feet” of English

• Composed of stressed and unstressed syllables• Maximum 7 syllables for learners (That’s very

fascinating!) in one focal output group• Possible 16 patterns (16 feet)• Often obvious in traditional poetry but not in

general conversation (She sells sea shells by the sea shore!)

• Varies depending on dialect of English (US/Canada)

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Rhythm

Canonical Rhythm• Set patterns, regular

timing• One stressed syllable per

thought group• Based on grammatical

boundaries

Conversational Rhythm• Irregular timing, pauses,

hesitations, bursts• Secondary stress often

apparent• Based on communicative

intention

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The Process

Butterfly RFFC Sparring

RFFC Fight Club

CANONICAL RHYTHM CONVERSATIONAL RHYTHM

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Butterfly – Instructions

• Left hand taps right deltoid on stressed syllables.• Right hand taps left elbow on unstressed syllables

(tap as lightly as possible).• Before each parse group, inhale as you bring your

head back slightly! • Exhale on stressed syllable with upper torso nod.

• Try this: “ Thank you for co-ming to-day! o o o O o o o

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B-fly Words

BREATHE IN….Nice– That’s nice– Very nice– That’s very nice

EasyBeautifulFascinating

BREATHE IN….Tough– That’s tough– Very tough– That’s very tough

TrickyPuzzlingComplicated

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Butterfly Practice

• Liz: Oh no, / what happened? / Are you / okay?

• Alex: I… sort of / had an accident. / I mean, / I hurt / my knee / at the gym.

• Yoko: What happened?

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Compact Rhythmic Feet Fight Club (RFFC)

• Objective: compacting syllables (the felt sense of speaking rhythm) and increasing speed

• Stressed syllable will always be on the “ball/glove” hand• Begin by checking how many pre-stress syllables there are:

Zero or even number (0, 2 or 4): ball hand: Cool!

Odd number (1,3 or 5): other hand: That’s cool!

(2 pre-) Start w/ball hand: Ve-ry cool!

(3 pre-) Start w/other hand: That’s ve-ry cool!

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Compact RFFC Punches & Jabs

O Cool! oO That’s cool!ooO Very cool!oooO That’s very cool!

Oo Funky! oOo That’s Funky!ooOo Very Funky!oooOo That’s very Funky!

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Ooo Super cool! / oOoo That’s super cool! ooOoo Very super cool! oooOoo That’s very super cool!

Oooo Super funky! / oOooo That’s super funky! ooOooo Very super funky! oooOooo That’s very super funky!

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RFFC – Practice 1

• Alex: [b] It’s embarrassing. / [b] I was teaching / [o] aerobics. / [o] I wasn’t looking /, [b] and I ran / [o] into a wall.

• Yoko: [b] Really?

• Alex: [o] I felt / [b] pretty stupid. / [o] It hurt / [o] a lot. /

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Compact RFFC Punches & Jabs

O bad!oO That’s bad!ooO Very bad!oooO That’s very bad!

Oo Nasty!oOo That’s nasty!ooOo Very nasty!oooOo That’s very nasty!

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Ooo Dangerous!oOoo That’s dangerous! ooOoo Very dangerous! oooOoo That’s very dangerous!

Oooo Devastating!oOooo That’s devastating! ooOooo Very devastating! oooOooo That’s very devastating!

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• Alex: [b] Anyway, / [b] can I ask / [o] you guys a favor? / [b] Our TV / [o] is broken. / [o] Do you mind / [b] if I watch / [o] the game / [b] here?

• Yoko: [b] Not at all.

• Liz: [b] Make yourself / [o] at home.

RFFC – Practice 2

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