Exercise 5-13: Speed-reading

We've already practiced strong intonation, so now we'll just pick up the speed.

First I'm going to read our familiar paragraph, as fast as I can.

Subsequently, you'll practice on your own, and then we'll go over it together, sentence by sentence,

to let you practice reading very fast, right after me.

By then you will have more or less mastered the idea, so record yourself reading really fast and with very strong intonation.

Listen back to see if you sound more fluent.

Listen as I read.

Hello, my name is Ann. I'm taking American Accent Training. There's a lot to learn,but I hope to make it as enjoyable as possible. I should pick up on the American intonation pattern pretty easily, although the only way to get it is to practice all of the time.

I use the up and down, or peaks and valleys, intonation more than I used to.

I've been paying attention to pitch, too.

It's like walking down a staircase. I've been talking to a lot of Americans lately,and they tell me that I'm easier to understand.

Anyway, I could go on and on, but the important thing is to listen well and sound good.

Well, what do you think? Do I?

Pause the CD and practice speed-reading on your own five times.

Repeat each sentence after me.

Hello, my name is Ann.

I'm taking American Accent Training.

There's a lot to learn,

but I hope to make it as enjoyable as possible.

I should pick up on the American intonation pattern pretty easily,

although the only way to get it is to practice all of the time.

I use the up and down, or peaks and valleys, intonation more than I used to.

I've been paying attention to pitch, too.

It's like walking down a staircase.

I've been talking to a lot of Americans lately,

and they tell me that I'm easier to understand.

Anyway, I could go on and on,

but the important thing is to listen well and sound good.

Well, what do you think?

Do I?

Record yourself speed-reading with strong intonation.