Pronunciation of "er", "ur" and "ir"

[PROESL]

I have a question for the Japanese forum members.

Do you have trouble pronouncing words like "first", "word", and "bird"?

If you don't, was there a time when you did have trouble pronouncing such words? If so, what did you do to learn to pronounce these sounds better: er, ur, ir?

Here are a couple more examples: heard, third.

I'd appreciate any comments from both teachers and Japanese English language learners, or students, about this particular, though small, pronunciation topic.

Thank you.

[anupumh]

Originally Posted by PROESL

I have a question for the Japanese forum members.

Do you have trouble pronouncing words like "first", "word", and "bird"?

If you don't, was there a time when you did have trouble pronouncing such words? If so, what did you do to learn to pronounce these sounds better: er, ur, ir?

Here are a couple more examples: heard, third.

I'd appreciate any comments from both teachers and Japanese English language learners, or students, about this particular, though small, pronunciation topic.

Thank you.

Japanese speakers have a problem with the er/r sound, they mostly replace it with a l sound. Have you watched Mind Your Language Television series..?

[PROESL]

Originally Posted by anupumh

Japanese speakers have a problem with the er/r sound, they mostly replace it with a l sound. Have you watched Mind Your Language Television series..?

No, I haven't.

[anupumh]

Originally Posted by PROESL

No, I haven't.

This is a very good old british television series, it is a commedy serial in which students from various countries have gathered to learn how to speak English. Thus it hilariously depicts the errors made by speakers from various countries while speaking english, the errors range right from pronuniciation/sound issues (Japanese r to l) and grammar issues (excessive usage of progressive from in Indians). I have used the videos as ice breakers, comic relief, and also to make my students aware of the issues and concerns faced by them or their fellow speakers in speaking English.

You can watch and downlaod a few videos from here...


YouTube - mind your language