B and V

[ensenarIngles]

I teach ESL to Spanish speaking students. Many of my beginning students have a problem differentiating between b and v. They pronounce "five" as "fibe" and even say "Veronica" as "Beronica" (despite it being a Spanish name) Does anyone have any ideas about how to teach the difference to the students? (I have already tried having them repeat it using flash cards) Thanks!

 

[Tdol]

Have you shown them how to say 'v' by showing the position of the lips and the teeth?;-)

 

[Casiopea]

I teach ESL to Spanish speaking students. Many of my beginning students have a problem differentiating between b and v. They pronounce "five" as "fibe" and even say "Veronica" as "Beronica" (despite it being a Spanish name) Does anyone have any ideas about how to teach the difference to the students? (I have already tried having them repeat it using flash cards) Thanks!

tdol has a great idea. Mirrors are always fun, too. Also, don't worry about their pronunciation so much. It's a hard thing to change in a day, week, month. It will come with time. Here's an idea: Play B,V bingo! to pass the time. Make a nine-grid bingo (3 squares across and 3 squares down). Leave the squares empty and use the bingo sheet as a dictation exercise. Call out nine words (the words could be the same words you taught the students using the B,V flashcards or you can make up your own minimal pairs). While you call out a word, have the students write the word in any square they choose on their bingo sheet. Once their bingo sheet is filled, have the students take turns one by one at calling out the bingo words (i.e. minimal pairs: vee, bee; van, ban; vat, bat; they don't have to be real words either. They could be "vax, bax"; vill, bill, and so on.) If the student pronounces a word incorrectly, then the winner's bingo will also be incorrect. Students really make an effort to focus on their pronunciation in this game. Try it. It's fun.

Tongue twisters and songs are also popular. Try

My friend Vee is a bee, bee, bee.
He likes bats and vats of beans.

All the best,

 

[Tdol]

The bathroom mirror is the best place.;-)

 

[Casiopea]

The bathroom mirror is the best place.;-)

:shock:

 

[Tdol]

For practising pronunciation. :lol:

 

[Casiopea]

For practising pronunciation. :lol:

Aah, the acoustics

 

[Tdol]

Acoustics, light to look at the face and, most of all, a lock. ;-)

 

[ensenarIngles]

Have you shown them how to say 'v' by showing the position of the lips and the teeth?;-)

Yes, I have tried that a few times, but the class is mostly composed of adults and their learning is somewhat slowler than children. Also, the class only meets four hours a week. This somewhat limits teaching time and many of them avoid using English during the week because it is easier to cluster together and speak Spanish.

 

[ensenarIngles]

I teach ESL to Spanish speaking students. Many of my beginning students have a problem differentiating between b and v. They pronounce "five" as "fibe" and even say "Veronica" as "Beronica" (despite it being a Spanish name) Does anyone have any ideas about how to teach the difference to the students? (I have already tried having them repeat it using flash cards) Thanks!

Also, don't worry about their pronunciation so much. It's a hard thing to change in a day, week, month. It will come with time.

Well, I'm not particularly concerned about it, but it should be taught to the students. Also, I have a co-teacher and she is absoluetly horrified at the slightest error. As a result, she makes them repeat the correct pronounciation until they get it absoluetly correct (even if it takes 20 minutes).

 

[Tdol]

When it impedes comprehension, it becomes essential. ;-)

 

[RonBee]

I teach ESL to Spanish speaking students. Many of my beginning students have a problem differentiating between b and v. They pronounce "five" as "fibe" and even say "Veronica" as "Beronica" (despite it being a Spanish name) Does anyone have any ideas about how to teach the difference to the students? (I have already tried having them repeat it using flash cards) Thanks!

Also, don't worry about their pronunciation so much. It's a hard thing to change in a day, week, month. It will come with time.

Well, I'm not particularly concerned about it, but it should be taught to the students. Also, I have a co-teacher and she is absoluetly horrified at the slightest error. As a result, she makes them repeat the correct pronounciation until they get it absoluetly correct (even if it takes 20 minutes).

Good technique!

:wink: