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English Listening: Behind the Scenes

Posted on October 10, 2016 by Melanie

English Listening: Behind the Scenes | Episode 29

October 10, 2016 by Melanie 24 Comments

English Listening: Behind the Scenes | Episode 29 | English Teacher Melanie

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Listen to a story about how each podcast episode is created!

You’ll also learn how to say and hear the reduced form of the preposition “for” in fast, natural spoken English.

 

Welcome to the English Teacher Melanie Podcast, a podcast for intermediate to advanced English learners who want to improve their English listening and speaking skills!

Each episode includes a story and a pronunciation tip. In the story, I use core vocabulary, the most common words in English, to tell a real world story. The pronunciation tip will help you understand natural spoken English.

You’ll hear the story twice. The first time, the story is a little slower than normal. It sounds funny because I used editing software to change the speed of the story and make it slower. After the pronunciation tip, you’ll hear the story again, but at a regular speed.

 

THE STORY

I want to do something different with this story. I’m going to take you behind the scenes and explain how each podcast episode is created. Several weeks in advance I make a list of possible stories. Sometimes I think of a good idea quickly, other times it takes a while. Before I came up with the idea for this story, I made a list of 40 topics, most of which will never become stories.

Learn more: How to use the English verb “explain”

Next, I begin writing the story. I organize all my thoughts into paragraphs and then I edit the story sentence by sentence. I check all the words to make sure I’ve used mostly core vocabulary, and I make sure all the words are in the right order. I use four dictionaries and a thesaurus to make sure I choose the best words. I want the story to be challenging, but not too hard for you to understand. When I’m satisfied with the story, I look for something to explain in the pronunciation tip.

Listen: An Easier Way! | Episode 11

Recording each episode takes a while, because I record sentences and paragraphs multiple times until I’m satisfied with how they sound. I use a microphone and a small recording device, and then I put the episode together using audio editing software. I use another program to add metadata to the final mp3 file, so that when you play the episode in iTunes or your podcast app, you’ll see the title of the episode, my name, and my logo. I upload the finished mp3 file to my podcast host.

Learn more: Two ways to pronounce “the”

The final part of the process is publishing the episode on my website. I add the photo, the podcast player, and the transcript to a new post. I read the post a few times, but sometimes I miss a typo. Once the episode is published and live on my website, it’s time to tell people that it’s there. A process that started a few weeks ago ends with sending an email to my email list, and posting the episode on social media.

Learn more: English Vocabulary: Sometimes, sometime, and some time

 

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PRONUNCIATION TIP

HOW TO HEAR AND SAY THE REDUCED FORM OF THE PREPOSITION FOR IN FAST, NATURAL SPOKEN ENGLISH

This transcript uses IPA symbols to represent sounds and teach pronunciation. Learn more about the IPA here.

Listen carefully to some sentences from the story:

Before I came up with the idea for this story, …

… but not too hard for you to understand.

I look for something to explain in the pronunciation tip.

Did you hear the preposition for in those sentences?

The preposition for is a function word. It’s a grammar word. It needs to be in the sentence to make the sentence grammatically correct, but it’s not an important word.

Learn more: How to say and hear more function words

Usually, in fast, natural speech, the vowel in a function word is reduced to the sound [ə]. That sound is called the schwa, and it’s the vowel sound in all reduced syllables and words.

However, there is an R after the vowel in the preposition for, so the vowel sound becomes the r-colored vowel sound [ɚ], the same sound at the end of words never or together. So, in fast natural speech, the preposition for is pronounced /fɚ/, like at the end of the words offer or prefer.

I didn’t say, “look /foɚ/ something.”

I said, “look /fɚ/ something.”

Can you hear the difference?

This is also the way that the syllable F-O-R is pronounced in the words, forget /fɚˈgɛt/, forgive /fɚˈgɪv/, and information /ˌɪnfɚˈmeɪʃən/.

Here are some more sentences to practice with the preposition for:

Wait for me.

This is for you.

Let’s go for a walk.

 

QUESTION

  • This is episode 29. Which story is your favorite so far? Or, which story did you enjoy the most?

Leave me a comment below!

 

Filed Under: Blog, Podcast Tagged With: function words

Comments

  1. Gilson says

    October 13, 2016 at 7:12 pm

    I remember have read a story about garage sale. You said that someone had asked you to sell something for a lower price. That person offered you something like 8.00 CAD ( I didnt read the story again) for something that you had asked 10,00. After you had accepted then 8,00, the guy gave you 10 bucks and you had to pay back 2,00. Haha and then you say something like ” if that person had the 10 bucks to pay for it , what the heck he nedds to ask for a 2,00 CAD discount? I assume that drove you crazy, haha

    Reply
    • Melanie says

      October 13, 2016 at 7:19 pm

      Yes! That’s exactly what happened! And I am still angry about that! 🙂 I can’t believe you remember that.

      Thanks for listening, Gilson! I am happy that you enjoy the podcast!

      (The item was $5, and the woman offered me $4, and then gave me a $5 bill! It still makes me mad!)

      Reply

  2. S.P.Tiemphle says

    October 13, 2016 at 11:15 pm

    Hi,Melanie!I like the listening lesson,’The heroic dog’and’I forgot my wallet’.One day I asked you,how to learn English.You told me to hear the podcast.At first I can’t understand the podcast.I felt worry.I refreshed myself and heard again.I imitated your pronunciation many times.After doing this,now I can understand.I believe that hearing more listening lesson will improve my English pronunciation.

    Reply
  3. Ying Htang says

    October 14, 2016 at 3:12 am

    Hi Teacher Melanie,
    Your listening section is very useful for me. Now, I’m studying English, intermediate level. I wanna speak English Language clearly and correctly pronunciation. And I wanna speak fluently as a native speaker. Therefore, I imitate your accent as I listen your listening section and I take recording. Please help me to improve my English Skills.

    Reply
  4. Miguel A. says

    October 14, 2016 at 3:43 am

    Hi Melany…
    I enjoy with all episodes , they are challenging for me. I wouldn’t know to tell you which one I enjoyed the most.
    Thank you for all suggestions

    Reply
  5. Julio España says

    October 14, 2016 at 7:15 am

    Hi Melaniem oops, i click on ” listened to the podcast” and it takes me to episode 29 , then nothing shows up. wehat could it be. ? thank you

    Reply
  6. Muhammad Reza says

    October 14, 2016 at 1:41 pm

    Hello Melanie,
    I have to say that I recently find your website so I could not to listen all story, but I think all of them will be good.

    Reply
  7. Julio says

    October 14, 2016 at 1:56 pm

    Hi Melanie, at last i coud be able to listen to episode 29. I had to click on podcast 28 and then i could hear you introducing us on how each podcast episode is created.
    Each episode is unique.

    Reply
    • Melanie says

      October 14, 2016 at 3:12 pm

      Gah! I copied the podcast player code from the previous lesson! The podcast player is playing the correct episode, I just forgot to change the title of the lesson. Thank you for letting me know!

      Reply

  8. susan says

    October 15, 2016 at 3:22 pm

    Hi Melanie,each episode has it’s own aim and and i love your accent .so i wish sometimes
    i’ll do it like you. you’re the great ……..

    Reply
  9. Antonio says

    October 15, 2016 at 3:23 pm

    Hi Melanie thank you in order to the lesson. Take care.

    Reply
  10. Javier says

    October 15, 2016 at 10:52 pm

    I have enjoyed every podcast by you published, thanks a lot for you effort, I have learned a lot.
    I can see your diligence in each podcast, I love the 29.

    Reply
  11. gabriel says

    October 16, 2016 at 2:27 pm

    Dear teacher Melanie.
    All your stories are really interesting; however, the one I liked most is number 6, “A day at the CNE” because I remember when I was a kid my brother used to take me to “La feria”. There I used to go on some rides allowed for children . Oh! what a fun those days!

    Gabriel

    Reply
    • Melanie says

      October 18, 2016 at 7:44 pm

      That’s fantastic! I am happy that you remembered that story because it’s not a very popular episode!

      “La feria” sound exactly like the CNE! I have fun memories of the rides for children, too.

      : )

      Reply

  12. Behzad says

    October 17, 2016 at 2:49 am

    Dear teacher Melanie.
    thank you in order to the lesson.All your stories are really interesting;
    I have learned a lot.
    Have a good time.
    Behzad

    Reply
  13. Mibi says

    October 27, 2016 at 12:30 am

    Hi my teacher Melanie
    All your episodes are interesting and useful for me and everyone. After I read the episode 29 I really appreciate your efforts, a great teacher, Many thanks
    I love you

    Reply
  14. Tung says

    November 1, 2016 at 9:12 pm

    Hi Melanie,

    Thanks for your great work. I think each episode is unique and I really like them all. It’s funny to hear your story “I forgot my wallet” because it recalls my embarrassed feeling when I could not pay the bill after eating in the restaurant due to leaving my wallet at home. However, the restaurant owner was very kind and allowed me to pay later.

    Reply
    • Melanie says

      November 2, 2016 at 9:18 pm

      Thank you for your kind words, Tung!

      I am happy to read your story because I am happy to know that I am not the only person who forgot their wallet! 🙂

      You are lucky that the restaurant owner was very kind! I hope you gave him a big tip!

      Reply

  15. Cinthia says

    November 3, 2016 at 8:00 pm

    Hi, Melanie!
    I remember one episode when a friend from Australia visited you and you planned to take her to a tour in Toronto. Then, you’ve said that you prefer to take a bus to the downtown because Toronto has a good public transportation system. I’ve never forgotten your words because my city have a bad one!
    Thank you for all your lessons, dear teacher!

    Reply
    • Melanie says

      November 3, 2016 at 11:22 pm

      Hi, Cinthia! I’m so pleased you remember that! That’s the perfect way to remember English sentences, when you can connect them to something in your life!

      I’m sorry to hear that your city has a bad public transportation system. We are very lucky in Toronto!

      🙂

      Reply

  16. Vivek says

    November 7, 2016 at 2:52 am

    My favourite episode is “Shopping for a new dress”.
    I love this episode very much.
    And,
    This episode 29 ‘Behind the scenes’ is also quite impressive.

    Reply
    • Melanie says

      November 7, 2016 at 9:38 pm

      Thank you, Vivek! 🙂

      I remember the story in “Shopping for a new dress” very well! I was so frustrated that I couldn’t find a nice dress!

      Reply

  17. Tushar says

    January 18, 2017 at 8:43 am

    Hi mam
    Your stories are really helping me to improve my English.
    You mentioned you use four dictionaries and one thesaurus while writing a story.
    Could you please tell the names of those dictionaries and a thesaurus so that I can use these dictionaries to further enhance my English knowledge.
    Thank you….

    Reply
  18. Sean Zhang says

    April 23, 2017 at 10:32 pm

    Hi Melanie,

    I enjoy all the episodes. Thank you so much for your time and efforts.

    Best regards,

    Sean

    Reply

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