Besides basic pronunciation exercises commonly taught during English lessons, there are other engaging and surprising methods that can boost your speaking skills—one of them being tongue twisters. This technique not only adds excitement to your learning routine but also strengthens your pronunciation and fluency. In this article, let’s dive into the benefits and tips for using tongue twisters in English learning.
1. What Are Tongue Twisters?
In English, tongue twisters are phrases or long sentences that are difficult to pronounce quickly and smoothly. These sentences usually contain repeated consonant or vowel sounds, making them a fun challenge to say out loud.
No matter what language you speak, tongue twisters can be tricky—even for native speakers. That is why they are considered both an entertaining and effective way to improve fluency and pronunciation in English.
2. Benefits of Practicing Pronunciation with Tongue Twisters
Strengthen tongue muscles: When you first start practicing tongue twisters, you might find your tongue getting twisted and words becoming unclear. With regular practice, your tongue becomes more flexible, improving your pronunciation over time.
Improve word-by-word accuracy: Tongue twisters require you to focus on each individual word and sound, especially those that are similar. This sharpens your ability to articulate words more clearly and accurately.
Identify common pronunciation mistakes: The sounds you struggle with in tongue twisters are usually your weak points. Practicing these sentences will help you recognize and improve those specific sounds.
3. Tips to Practice Tongue Twisters Effectively
Tip 1: Start with short and simple sentences. Print and hang them in your room to practice daily. The best time to practice is in the morning, when your mind is relaxed and fresh.
Tip 2: Speak slowly and clearly. Focus on pronouncing each word properly before trying to increase your speed.
Tip 3: Watch videos or listen to audio recordings of the tongue twister. Repetition will help you become familiar with the sounds and mimic native pronunciation.
Tip 4: Focus on full pronunciation. Avoid dropping sounds or blending syllables too quickly. If your tongue gets tangled, stop and try again—this time, even slower.
4. Short and Simple Tongue Twisters
Eleven benevolent elephants
She sees cheese
Six sticky skeletons
Truly rural
Pad kid poured curd pulled cod
Which witch is which
Willys real rear wheel
Six sleek swans swam swiftly southwards
Scissors sizzle, thistles sizzle
A happy hippo hopped and hiccupped
Cooks cook cupcakes quickly
Really leery, rarely Larry
Twelve twins twirled twelve twigs
A snake sneaks to seek a snack
Six Czech cricket critics
How can a clam cram in a clean cream can
5. Long and Challenging Tongue Twisters
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where is the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?
Betty Botter bought some butter, but the butter was bitter.
If she put it in her batter, it would make her batter bitter.
But a bit of better butter would make her batter better.
So she bought some better butter to make her bitter batter better.
She sells seashells on the seashore.
The shells she sells are seashells, I'm sure.
And if she sells seashells on the seashore,
Then I'm sure she sells seashore shells.
How much ground would a groundhog hog if a groundhog could hog ground?
A groundhog would hog all the ground he could hog if a groundhog could hog ground.
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
He would chuck as much wood as a woodchuck could if a woodchuck could chuck wood.
Practice Pronunciation with Tongue Twisters
Tongue twisters are a fun and effective technique to improve your English speaking skills. Practice regularly with friends, challenge each other, and track your progress over time. In addition to using online resources, you can also prepare for your IELTS test at home with IDP’s free study materials.
At IDP, you can choose to take the IELTS test on a computer. Once you’ve selected your preferred test format, check available IELTS test locations and flexible test dates offered every week.
When you are ready, register for your IELTS test with IDP today.