SKILLS ENHANCEMENT SEMINAR

Presented by Arlene Villasante and Mark Fullmer

Eastern Visayas State University

February 12, 2011

GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER

ARLENE G. VILLASANTE Leyte Normal University

Eastern Visayas State University

GOALS FOR THIS SESSION

1. Quick pronunciation review2. Understand subject/verb

agreement in English3. Discuss how to teach grammar in

elementary or high school classes.

PRONUNCIATION: How to speak with an American accent Remember: there is no “right” way

to pronounce English, simply different accents.

“I am going to go to the internet for some information on breakfast.”

Let’s try a sample sentence:

PRONUNCIATION: What the scholars say…

“...Traditionally, Filipino English is described as syllable timed with each syllable coming with even beats, rather than following the stress timing of American and British English where the stress is on nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.”

--Roger Thompson, “Filipino English and Taglish” (2003)

PRONUNCIATION: Word Stress

“I am going to go to the internet

for some information on breakfast.”

Filipino: even rhythm

American: uneven rhythm

“Instead of pronouncing unstressed vowels as a schwa, Filipinos pronounce each syllable with the full value indicated by the spelling.”

-- Gonzales (1983)

PRONUNCIATION

PRONUNCIATION: The “Schwa”

“I am going to go to the internet

for some information on breakfast.”

Filipino: ter

Filipino: fastAmerican: fust

American: tur

Say “Uhh”!In other words, Filipino speakers have more precise pronunciation than American speakers.

PRONUNCIATION: The “Schwa”In American pronunciation, the schwa, or

“uhh” sound, is the most common vowel sound. Examples:

'a' in about [əˈbaʊt] 'e' in taken [ˈteɪkən] 'i' in pencil [ˈpɛnsəl] 'o' in eloquent [ˈɛləkwənt] 'u' in supply [səˈplaɪ]

PRONUNCIATION: The “Schwa”Americans tend to omit medial posttonic

syllables. 

Examples: Sep(a)rate “Seprate” Choc(o)late “Choclate” Cam(e)ra “Camra” Elab(o)rate “Elabrate”

TRY TALKING LIKE AN AMERICAN

I am going to go to the internet for some information on breakfast.

tuh

tuh

tur

fur

fur

fust

Next: Subject-Verb Agreement

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

It’s simple. It’s all about…

“Do I use the

singular or pluralform of the verb?”

Pre-TestDirections: Examine the following sentences. If the underlined word is used correctly, write “C”. If incorrect, write the correct word.

1. Everyone have arrived at the restaurant. 2. Some flowers were spilled on the floor. 3. Some rice were spilled on the floor. 4. All the food was eaten at the dinner. 5. All the people was satisfied after the meal. 6. All of us were drinking coke. 7. Each of the guests were on time to the party. 8. Everybody were singing their favorite songs. 9. Have each of you finished your meal? 10. The prince as well as the princess were born in February. 11. The dog and the cat were fighting in the yard. 12. Together with his friends, Sir Ruel were travelling to Ormoc.

A: Some of the water are gone.B: Some of the water is gone.

A: Everyone has done their homework

B: Everyone have done their homework

Example 1: Singular or Plural?

A: Everyone has done their homework

B: Everyone have done their homework A: Some of the water are gone.

B: Some of the water is gone.

singular?

plural?

plural

plural

singular

plural

Plural?Singular?

Method 1: Visual ReinforcementUse a spatial visual aid, like a chart or table, to help students memorize rulesAlways

SingularSingular or Plural

Always Plural

Anyone Some All of us

Everyone All Many

Someone None

No one

Nobody

Always singular

Anyone is eligible for the scholarship.

Everyone has done their homework

Nobody is an expert on everything.

his or her

Always Singular

Singular or Plural

Always Plural

Anyone Some All of us

Everyone All Many

Someone None

No one

Nobody

All of the textbook is incorrect.All of the answers in the textbook are incorrect.All of the textbook is incorrect.All of the answers in the textbook are incorrect.

Some of the water is goneSome of the beads are gone.Some of the water is gone.Some of the beads are gone.

Singular or Pluralnot countable

countable

not countable

countable Always Singular

Singular or Plural

Always Plural

Anyone Some All of us

Everyone All Many

Someone None

No one

Nobody

Always Plural

All of us are going to the beach.Many were at the seminar.

Always Singular

Singular or Plural

Always Plural

Anyone Some All of us

Everyone All Many

Someone None

No one

Nobody

Example 2: Singular or Plural?

A: Each of the students is responsible.

B: Each of the students are responsible.

plural subject

Method 2: Natural/Communicative Language Teaching TheoryInstead of telling the answer, the teacher models correct

grammar:

Teacher: “Is each of the students responsible for their homework?”

Student: “Yes, each of the students is responsible for their homework.”

Rule: each, everyone, and everybody are

always singular!

Right: Each of the students is responsible

Wrong: Each of the students are responsible

even though the noun is plural

“each” alwaysacts as singular

Naka gets?

T: “Has each of you eaten breakfast?”

S: “Yes, each of us has eaten breakfast.”

T: “Is everyone following the instructions?”

S: “Yes, everyone is following the instructions.”

T: “Does everyone like ampalaya?”

S: “No, everyone does not like ampalaya!”

Example 3: Singular or Plural?

A: Precious as well her friend is going to the store.

B: Precious as well as her friend are going to the store.

Method 3: Total Physical Response

Students physically act out grammar rules:

PRECIOUS

ISGOING TO THE STORE

ARE

ALONG WITH

HER FRIEND

Rule 1: inserted phrases do not change the subject from singular to plural

Yes: Precious along with her friend is going to the store.

No: Precious along with her friend are going to the store.

Rule 1: inserted phrases do not change the subject from singular to plural

Yes: Precious along with her friend is going to the store.

No: Precious along with her friend are going to the store.

Inserted phrases

Rule 2: the conjunction “and” does change the subject from singular to plural

No: Precious and her friend is going to the store.

Yes: Precious and her friend are going to the store.

Naka Gets? Singular or Plural?

PRECIOUSHER FRIEND

GOING TO THE STORE

AND

ARE

IS

MA’AM ARLENE

SIR RUEL

COMING WITH ME

ALONG WITH

Method 4: Mother Tongue ScaffoldingTeacher compares Waray grammar with English to bridge students’ old and new knowledge.

Method 5: Game Playing

Teacher uses Competition Rewards Total Physical Response Visuals to motivate students.

What are the 5 interactive methods of teaching grammar introduced today?

Visual Reinforcement

Natural/Communicative Language

Total Physical Response

Mother Tongue Scaffolding

Game Playing

What are the advantages and disadvantages of each method?

Visual Reinforcement

Natural/Communicative Language

Total Physical Response

Mother Tongue Scaffolding

Game Playing

Pros• • • • • •

Cons• • • • • •

Post-TestDirections: Examine the following sentences. If the underlined word is used correctly, write “C”. If incorrect, write the correct word.

1. Everyone have arrived at the restaurant. 2. Some flowers were spilled on the floor. 3. Some rice were spilled on the floor. 4. All the food was eaten at the dinner. 5. All the people was satisfied after the meal. 6. All of us were drinking coke. 7. Each of the guests were on time to the party. 8. Everybody were singing their favorite songs. 9. Have each of you finished your meal? 10. The prince as well as the princess were born in February. 11. The dog and the cat were fighting in the yard. 12. Together with his friends, Sir Ruel were travelling to Ormoc.

Tapos Na!

Questions? Comments? Violent Reactions?

Say “Uhh”!

“I am going to go to the internet for some information on breakfast.”