1. Teaching rising and falling intonation
At first, I will use short sentences and phrases. The best way to illustrate this difference
is to say the same sentence with both rising and falling intonation and discuss the
speaker’s intentions in each case. I will Have them repeat, till they can clearly express
both the rising and falling intonation. To teach this concept I would start by saying and
repeating the last word and working my way backwards.
For example: would you mind sending me the pictures?
→ Pictures?
→ The pictures?
→ Me the pictures?
→ Sending me the pictures?
→ Mind sending me the pictures?
→ You mind sending me the pictures?
→ Would you mind sending me the pictures?
Sometimes we need to exaggerate the rising pitch at the end and have students repeat
and shouldn’t be worried if it sounds exaggerated at first, it’ll sound more natural later
as they gain confidence.
MEYSAM GHOLAMI
