Exercise 1-58: Creating Word Groups

Break the paragraph into natural word groups.

Mark every place where you think a pause is needed with a slash.

Pause the CD to do your marking.

Exercise 1-59: Practicing Word Groups

When I read the paragraph this time, I will exaggerate the pauses.

Although we're working on word groups here, remember, I don't want you to lose your intonation.

Repeat each sentence group after me.

Hello, my name is ''__.

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?

Next, back up the CD and practice the word groups three times using strong intonation.

Then, pause the CD and practice three more times on your own.

When reading, your pauses should be neither long nor dramatic — just enough to give your listener time to digest what you're saying.