Pronunciation Challenge

Hi, members!!  みなさん、こんにちは。

As some of you know, I have started to host a new event, the Pronunciation Challenge, every month. Here’s the announcement for the second Pronunciation Challenge. I hope many of you will join to take advantage of this opportunity. 

How to Participate:

1. Choose either the beginner, intermediate, advanced, or proficient level, record it, and upload it on the Forum as a reply to this announcement(The same announcement has been posted on the forum as well).

2. The deadline is Friday, July 19th, at 11:00 p.m. JST.

3. If you are shy about using your name, feel free to post as “とくめいきぼう（匿名希望）,” which means "anonymous."

4. If you are uncomfortable uploading your recording here or can’t do it systematically, please send it via email to: fumi@niconico.biz.

Feedback: I will provide feedback via video on Tuesday, July 22nd, in Feedback for Pronunciation Challenge in “Upgrade Speaking.” Please go to the "Paid Members" page, then select "Online Programs," and you’ll see “Upgrade Speaking.” If you don’t want your recording to be made public on this website, please request not to use the recording in the video. In that case, I'll send you feedback via email, not via video.

Sentences to Read: Here are the sentences you’ll read. Please choose one, record, and upload it. I added points for you to be careful with, but if there are any other points you want me to check, please write them down.

Some of these sentences are partly from “Fluent Talks” of “Upgrade Speaking.” I recommend you watch Fluent Talks 1 and 2 before recording. Also, please watch Part 1-1. The Pronunciation of あいうえお〜ん from “Mastering Phonetics” to learn about the pronunciation of ん if you try Intermediate or Advanced level.

【Beginner】

はじめまして。わたしは　　　　　　です。よろしくお願（ねが）いします。 

Please use your name. “I’m〜. Nice to meet you”

• Point 1: Pitch Accent

• Point 2: Your name in Katakana. If you don’t know how to say your name in Katakana, please ask me as a reply to this comment. The name can be your full name, your first name, or your surname, whatever suits you.

【Intermediate】

私は週に１回、オンラインで日本語のレッスンを受けてます。でも、話す練習が足りないです。

（わたしはしゅうにいっかい、オンラインでにほんごのレッスンをうけてます。でも、はなすれんしゅうがたりないです。）

• Point 1: The length of two ン in オンライン

• Point 2: ン before を. The pronunciation of を is the same as お. And ん before a vowel is one you have to be careful with. Please don’t touch the roof of your mouth with your tongue. Otherwise, it’ll sound like の.

【Advanced】

私は日本語の勉強は、オンラインでレッスンを受けたり、YouTubeで動画を見たり、シャドーイングをしたりしてます。でも、もっと話す練習をしたいです。（わたしはにほんごのべんきょうは、オンラインでレッスンをうけたり、ユーチューブでどうがをみたり、シャドーイングをしたりしてます。でも、もっとはなすれんしゅうをしたいです。）

• Point 1: ン (see points 1 and 2 for Intermediate)

• Point 2: Katakana Pronunciation of オンライン、レッスン、ユーチューブ、シャドーイング

【Proficient】Please tell us how you study Japanese.

Please take advantage of this opportunity. You might feel nervous about being heard, but that’s what you need especially if you don’t have many chances to interact with Japanese people. If listening to yourself is the first step to improving how you sound, preparing to be heard by others is the second step to improving. You’ll get used to the feeling and be ready when the time comes. 

So, please, join this challenge!

I'd love to listen to your voice. I’m looking forward to your participation!