It is a comment and question that I hear frequently.

I think the P-ESL method is great for addressing the articulation needs of clients, but what do you use to address the suprasegmentals of speech? They have such a huge impact on intelligibility, even with great articulation skills.

The belief that the PESL program is strictly an articulatory approach is a myth.

Although the PESL method does not teach intonation with a structured approach, intonation is addressed with great effect through the frequent and varied modelling that takes place in every session of a typical PESL program.

A PESL instructor has the opportunity to model authentic and natural sounding intonation patterns hundreds of times for each student/client. 190 times if you only present 10 sentences/utterances for each target. Turn every sentence into a question for a varied intonation model. Model a sentence with slight outrage. Curiosity. Matter-of-factness. The intonation pattern is different every time.

Just as I tell my own clients that the responsibility for improvement is their own, I should tell every new PESL instructor: the responsibility for demonstrating, modeling and eliciting varied and authentic intonation patterns is yours.

The effect is not an afterthought or coincidence – modelling has a significant impact and does not burden the client with new sets of rules to apply. The results are heard in every client’s Before-and-After recording.

Maybe this perspective was overlooked if you attended the course more than 5 years ago, when the focus was directed on completing each of the many tasks and steps in the PESL method. As ILP Training Director and lead workshop conductor,  I bring this perspective front and center; it is given a great deal of attention at current workshops.

I have not come across a teaching tool for rhythm, intonation and suprasegmentals that I rely on regularly, although Ann Cook’s inexpensive American Accent Training contains an audio program that demonstrates some of the typical American English intonation patterns. Just remember, for every intonation model a teacher can provide, I can provide you with two authentic sounding alternatives based on the intent of the speaker.

-Joe