Listen Up! Intermediate S13

Listen Up! Intermediate S13

Talking to foreign people

Understanding continuing and finishing tones

English as a Global Language

English has ceased to be an "English language" in the sense of belonging only to people who are ethnically English.The use of English is growing country-by-country internally and for international communication. Most people learn English for practical rather than ideological reasons.

Modern English, sometimes described as the first global lingua franca, is also considered as the first world language. English is the world's most widely used language in newspaper publishing, book publishing, international telecommunications, scientific publishing, international trade, mass entertainment, and diplomacy.English is the basis for the required controlled natural languages. Seaspeak and Airspeak, used as international languages of seafaring and aviation.

(adapted from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language )

Now we understand that losing your accent is not necessary. What matters is that the sounds are pronounced correctly, and your accent is also part of your personal and cultural identity.

Let's play a game. Listen to an audio clip (listen to it completely before answering to the question!) Try to guess the nationality of these speakers of English.

Are you ready?

Multiple Choice

What is this person's nationality?

• French

• German

• Swiss

Multiple Choice

What is this person's nationality?

• Japanese

• Korean

• Chinese

Multiple Choice

What is this person's nationality?

• Kenyan

• Tanzanian

• Egyptian

Multiple Choice

What is this person's nationality?

• Brazilian

• Portuguese

• Argentinian

Multiple Choice

What is this person's nationality?

• Spanish

• Italian

• Uruguayan

Multiple Choice

What is this person's nationality?

• Egyptian

• Israeli

• Saudi Arabian

Multiple Choice

What is this person's nationality?

• German

• Swiss

• Dutch

Multiple Choice

What is this person's nationality?

• Egyptian

• Syrian

• Israeli

Continuing and finishing tones

We signal with the tone of our voices if we are continuing or finishing speaking. If the tone of our voice is rising, it means that we expect to continue talking. If the tone of our voice is falling, it means that we finished talking and expect the other speaker starts talking.

Also, when we respond to something that has been said, we use a rising tone to indicate we expect the other person to continue speaking. Conversely, we use a falling tone when we know the other person has finished telling what she intended to.

Let's check these examples. Watch a video clip and identify the tone. Is the person who's speaking going to keep on talking or has this person finished and the other person should start talking?

Let's go!

Multiple Choice

Is she going to continue or is the other person going to start talking?

• She's going to continue.

• The other person is going to start talking.

Multiple Choice

Is she going to continue or is the other person going to star talking?

• She's going to continue.

• The other person is going to start talking.

Multiple Choice

Has this person finished or is she going to keep on talking?

• She's finished.

• She's going to keep on talking

Multiple Choice

Has this person finished or is she going to continue?

• She's finished.

• She's going to continue.

Multiple Choice

Has this person finished or is this person going to continue talking?

• He has finished.

• He's going to continue talking.

Multiple Choice

Is she going to continue or is the other person going to start talking?

• She's going to continue.

• The other person is going to start talking.

Multiple Choice

Is this person going to continue talking or is the other person start talking?

• She's going to continue.

• The other person is going to star talking.

I knew you would nail it!

Let's get ready for our next session!