What is Phat English?
Phat English an accent-reduction training program for non-native speakers of English who hope to sound more natural, and/or improve their comprehension of spoken GAm (General American English- English spoken in North America).
What does it teach?
Phat English introduces students to a multitude of different elements that come together to make English speech sound natural, and flow well. These elements include:
- Sound reductions found in GAm, such as:
-Vowels reducing into a soft schwa in unstressed syllables
( i.e. che-muh-cul vs. chem-i-cal)
-The dropping of a consonant from a consonant pair for smoother flow between syllables (I jus' got home).
- Intonation & Speaking Rhythm
- Hip-hop slang, and North American idioms and expressions.
How does it work?
First, students are first put through a mini-course designed to teach them the logic of 4 common kinds of sound reductions, why they are there, and how they are applied in speech.
Next, students are given specialized rap lyrics (performed in such a way that they match English's natural speaking rhythm and intonation) to show students these patterns in practice, and also how they tie in with speaking rhythm, intonation, and slang to produce natural sounding speech.
Lastly, students look at the song lyrics analytically, determining which words or phrases would have the reductions in them. After listening to see if they are correct, students then practice reciting the lyrics with the rhythm pattern in the song itself.
What can I get?
For students: Phat English consists of Listening CDs (with multiple versions of each song), and an accompanying workbook.
For teachers: There is a database of lesson plans ranging from beginner level grammar to advanced, as well as pronunciation exercises and class activities.
For advanced level speakers & Non-native teachers of ESL/EFL: There is also an online training and testing program for advanced level speakers and Non-native teachers of ESL/EFL, complete with printable certificates verifying completion.