Benefits of tongue twisters for pronunciation in IELTS

Since childhood, children are made aware of some funny tongue twisters in English. But at that, they consider it a fun thing and fail to recognize its importance. Parents or teachers probably created tongue twisters to engage and entertain the children while teaching them something new. 

Importance of tongue twisters

Professionals define tongue twisters as words that are difficult to speak rapidly. This is because they are formed of similar consonantal sounds. The tongue must be twisted repeatedly to speak all the words in a tongue twister with the correct pronunciation. Therefore, they come as a tongue exercise that you can do to practice speaking clearly for the IELTS exam. 

You will probably end up babbling when you start speaking a tongue twister for the first time. Therefore, it is suggested that you begin pronouncing each word and slowly make up the whole sentence. Then, you can increase your speed gradually, from time to time. This will help you get a command over your tongue and the English language too. 

Benefits of tongue twisters

Tongue twisters provide clarity to the brain regarding the usage and pronunciation of the words. It prevents your brain from getting confused when it hears or speaks similar words in a sentence. Also, it helps you strengthen your tongue muscles so you can talk well for a long time. They-

• Help you clarify the pronunciation of words.
• Allow you to understand the words or sounds you might have trouble speaking or pronouncing correctly. 
• Warm up your speaking ability and help you prepare for your speaking assignment. 
• Stretch the muscles of the mouth that are utilized in speaking. 

You should try speaking easy tongue twisters in English in front of the mirror, as it will help you focus better on each word. Concentration is also a critical factor that enables you to get a hold of tongue twisters; thus, you should learn to concentrate on each word you speak. 

Some tongue twisters for practice

Below is the list of some tongue twisters words in English you can use to practice speaking and pronunciation and warm up your mouth. 

• Rolling red wagons.
• A proper copper coffee pot.
• Toy boat, toy boat (say repeatedly).
• Rubber baby buggy bumpers.
• Sell sea shells on the seashore.
• He threw three free throws.
• Flash message, flash message, flash message.
• Red lorry, yellow lorry (repeat).
• Willie’s weary.

Key takeaways

• Tongue twisters are sentences made up of words that are difficult to pronounce together rapidly.
• Tongue twisters improve pronunciation and give clarity to the brain.
• They help warm up and stretch the mouth muscles, including the tongue, to prepare it for speaking.
• Practicing tongue twisters in English for students is essential for those who want to improve their speaking ability. 

FAQs

1. How to practice tongue twisters?

You can practice tongue twisters by starting with the easy tongue twisters in English and moving forward to the more difficult ones. You can begin by speaking slowly and then increasing your pace with time. 

2. Why are tongue twisters important for IELTS?

Tongue twisters are essential for the speaking section of the IELTS, as they help you warm up for this section. 

3. Who invented the tongue twisters?

There is no correct answer to this. While some believe that English professors developed them to teach their children, some feel that parents and teachers created them as a fun learning exercise for their children.