A tongue-twister is a sentence or expression which is very difficult to say properly, especially when you try to say it quickly.
An example of a tongue-twister is Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper
Benefits of Using Tongue Twisters
Tongue twisters are a fun and effective tool to use in the ESL (English as a Second Language) classroom for several reasons:
- Tongue twisters can also help you with your pronunciation as (1) they show you which sounds are difficult for you, (2) stretch and strengthen the muscles which you use to speak and (3) clarify the pronunciation of words.
- Tongue Twister can help you with Fluency Development by enhancing students’ ability to speak quickly and smoothly.
- Tongue twisters often contain vocabulary that may not be commonly used in everyday conversation, so they can introduce students to new words and phrases.
- Tongue twisters require attentive listening to grasp the sounds and patterns correctly. As students listen to their teacher or classmates recite these challenging phrases, they strengthen their listening comprehension skills.
Using Tongue Twisters Effectively in the ESL Classroom
Now that we understand the benefits, let’s explore how to integrate tongue twisters effectively into your ESL lessons:
- Start Simple: Begin with straightforward tongue twisters suitable for your students’ proficiency levels. As their pronunciation and confidence improve, gradually introduce more complex ones.
- Repetition is Key: Encourage students to repeat tongue twisters multiple times, emphasizing correct pronunciation. You can turn it into a fun challenge by timing them and seeing if they can improve their speed and accuracy.
- Group Activities: Incorporate tongue twisters into group activities or games to make learning more interactive. For instance, you can have a tongue twister relay race, where teams compete to say the tongue twister correctly and quickly.
- Contextualize: After practicing a tongue twister, discuss the meaning of the words and phrases used in it. This helps students understand how to use these words in real-life situations.
- Create Custom Twisters: Develop your own tongue twisters that focus on specific pronunciation challenges your students may be facing. This personalized approach can be highly effective.
30 English Tongue Twisters
These are 30 English Tongue Twisters
#1 How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
#2 Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. How many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?
#3 She sells seashells by the seashore.
#4 Which witch switched the Swiss wrist watches?
#5 Give papa a cup of proper coffee in a copper coffee cup.
#6 Can you can a can as a canner can can a can?
#7 I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!
#8 When you write copy you have the right to copyright the copy you write
#9 Seven slick slimey snakes slowly sliding southward
10 Two tiny tigers take two taxis to town
11 I saw Susie sitting in a shoeshine shop
12 I saw a kitten eating chicken in the kitchen
13 If a dog chews shoes, whose shoes does he choose?
14 I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you
15 A big black bear sat on a big black rug
16 Nine nice night nurses nursing nicely
17 Wayne went to wales to watch walruses
18 We surely shall see the sun shine soon
19 She sees cheese
20 I like New York, unique New York, I like unique New York.
21 A big bug bit a bold bald bear and the bold bald bear bled blood badly.
22 Kitty caught the kitten in the kitchen
23 Two toads totally tired trying to trot to Tetbury
24 Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear. Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair. Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t very fuzzy, was he?
25 I saw Susie sitting in a shoe shine shop.
26 I have got a date at a quarter to eight; I’ll see you at the gate, so don’t be late.
27 If two witches would watch two watches, which witch would watch which watch?
28 Four furious friends fought for the phone
29 A big bug bit the little beetle but the little beetle bit the big bug back
30 Bake big batches of bitter brown bread
31 Loopy lizards lying lazily aloft a little lane of logs.
32 I thought a thought but the thought I thought, wasn’t the thought you thought I though.
