Nothing new! I'm merely echoing what she said ;-)

I was asked by Asif Ali Zindani to publish this post again today, 13.05.2013! It gives me a feeling of sheer delight to see such EC member that seriously wants to improve his pronunciation and spoken English. Thank you for the request, Asif! I'm proud of you!

 

                           

Hello, friends!

Recently one of our EC  members,. Prostomolotova Galina, .posted a blog "Some practical steps to acquire good pronunciation".  In her  blog she  tells  how one  could  use the TTS (Text-To-Speech,)  option on 'AudioPal' to perfect his English speech. I'm glad to see that some of our EC members have heeded  her advice,  especially those in the EC Phonemes and Pronunciation  class,  and  reaping  their rewards.  Do  you  want  to be one of them? Well!  Let me explain briefly what this TTS tool does and how you could benefit from it! 

The TTS  tool could  instantly  process any text that  you type in  into speech. This. gives you the invaluable opportunity to practise speaking with correct pronunciation, sentence stress  and  intonation.  All  the  people who have lent  their voices to this tool .are  native speakers of English. Thus, the tool plays the role of a fine teacher!  They  are  on  standby twenty-four seven  wherever .you  are!  The most .interesting thing about their 'service' is that you don't have to pay a penny. Isn't that GREAT?

Now, let me show you how to use the tool.
.
1.   Go to AudioPal by clicking on this link www.audiopal.com. You'll .be greeted by the
      "Add your audio" toolbar. Click the second button which resembles the 'Letter T key'
      on your computer keyboard. (see pic)     

 

(You could also click on the above image to reach AudioPal)

2.   Type in or paste  your  text (max 600 characters) into the white box.  English. is selected
      as your option by default. .(There are some other foreign languages under 'Language') You
      can opt for a female or male voice from  three  countries - United  Kingdom,  United
      States and Australia. (Click the drop-down menu of 'Voice' to make your selection.)  
.
3.   Finally,  click the  'Say it!' button and enjoy listening to your text. being read. It's cool,
      isn't it?  

 

Ok! Are you ready to give it a try right away? What? .Did I hear you saying that not now but you'll definitely do it one of these days? There's a saying, "One of these days is none of these days!" Oh! You changed your mind. That's good! Let's do it!!

I have prepared Text 1 and Text 2 to make sure that you have an easy time of it in trying the tool. Please do as you are requested! Thank you!

*Text 1:

A sad story about Nobody.

This is a story about four people named Everybody,  Somebody,  Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and  Everybody was sure that  Somebody would do it.  Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.  Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job.  Everybody thought  Anybody could do it,  but Nobody realised that Everybody wouldn't do it.  It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody, when Nobody did, what Anybody could have done.

Your job: Copy and paste the above story onto the TTS text box. Choose your choice of gender and nationality. Click the "Say it" button. Tell me! How do you like it?

Here's a sample of the above Text 1 converted to Speech

Voice: Bridget (UK)

 

*Text 2:

Four basic kinds of people.

He who knows not and knows not he knows not: he is a fool  - shun him.
He who knows not and knows he knows not: he is simple  - teach him.
He who knows and knows not he knows: he is asleep  - wake him.

He who knows and knows he knows: he is wise  - follow him.

Here's another one.

One, those who make things happen.
Two, those who watch things happen.
Three, those who wonder what's happening.

Four, those that everything happens to. They claim they have such terrible luck.

This  is a sample of Text 2 converted to Speech

Voice: Paul (US)

Your job: Again,  copy and paste  Text 2  onto the TTS  text box.  This time choose a sex that is opposite to the earlier choice of yours. .Also, pick a different nationality! Click the "Say it" button!  Now, what do you think about this tool? .You can leave your opinion in the comment box below. I would appreciate it!

*Both the texts were picked from the Net. They aren't my creation!

Fun activityHere's  something that you'll  find very interesting!  The AudioPal will  be  displayed on a  separate window  when  you  click  the  link  I've  given above. This will enable you to  toggle between the windows  of this blog  and  Audiopal.  Now,  copy a comment from below posted by anyone.  Paste it onto AudioPal  TTS .tool and listen to the speech. I have already tried with all the comments posted here. It's really awesome! It gave me the feel as if I'm listening to them in person.  Why don't you try it and share your feelings with us? :-)  

YOUR TASK

Now,  if you are one of them who heed Prostomolotova Galina’s  advice and would like to  improve  all  the  aspects  of  your  pronunciation,   just  make  yourself  known  by doing this task.  I'm sure  your action  will encourage a few of your friends .follow suit. Don't you think that it is a noble thing to do to a fellow learner of English?

    1)  Pick a short text from a book or newspaper!  Practise the text a few times with the
         native speaker of your choice in Audiopal. Pay attention to his/her pronunciation,

         stress and intonation. (You can write your own text if you want to.)

    2)  Once you are ready,  record your voice reading that text.  Get  the HTML code and

         embed your AudioPal in the comment box below. Good luck and have fun!

Note:  If  you  want  to know the  trick  how to exceed the  1 .minute recording time  that
           Audiopal  offers,  please read my comment to SelmaSakshi  and  Galina on my

           blog "Make your voice heard!"   

TALKING AVATARS

This is another TTS tool called 'SitePal'. It's a widget that can be embedded on any web page. AudioPal and SitePal are from the same maker.  You can use the widget that you see below right away; you don't have to leave this blog. I'm sure it will enthral you! 


Look at SitePal;  it’s  self-explanatory!  You  use this  widget exactly  the same way you would do with AudioPal. However, there are pros and cons.

Cons:    a)  The  number of characters  that  you can key in is limited to only 200,  unlike

                    AudioPal which allows you up to 600 characters!

              b)  There is no audio player that you can embed on a web page, unlike AudioPal

                    which comes with a sleek black audio player

Pros:     a)  It  has  talking avatars  which  are  interesting to watch.  Try with  the  many

                   avatars by clicking the left or right arrows.

              b) It has more speakers and countries for you to choose from.

   

 
I'm dedicating this blog to Prostomolotova Galina...
a soul that inspired me in many ways!
"You're simply the BEST"
Thank You, Galina!

"EC AUDIOPAL USERS"

Gabriel Sowrian, Prostomolotova Galina, Rajesh, Grace, Sakshi, Scarlett, Tawfeeq, Ha Nguyen, Hala J.M, Robbie, Asma, Marik, Bright Rubies, Jinkee, Stephen A...

* If you are already a user or has started using Audiopal, leave your recorded voice message done with Audiopal in the comment box below. Your name will be added to the above list! Thank you!! 

My last word on one's inability to Speak in English...

"Don't live in a dream world imagining how you'll speak in 'tomorrow' (future)! You'll never ever see that 'tomorrow' if you don't wake up 'today'! Simply, you speak now

or just  be a 'mute' for the rest of your life!"

~* GS *~
September, 9th. 2012


          Don't forget to click the 'Like' button if you find the posting useful!

Views: 684

Tags: Educational tool, English, Gabriel Sowrian, Pronunciation, Voice Recording

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Comment by Asif Ali Zindani on May 13, 2013 at 22:00

Thanks GB. so nice u are.

Comment by bright - rubies on May 13, 2013 at 17:18

Thanks dear teacher Gabriel for the link... It's really useful

Comment by Lynne on May 13, 2013 at 1:04

Hi Gabriel,

This is really cool!

Comment by selma on September 14, 2012 at 23:50

Hi Gabriel,

I've read all explanations including the other related link. Thank you,

I got it how to do more than 1 minute, but what about transferring Audio Pal's English Speech to my computer ? I'd like to follow the long sentences with audio pal voice easily, as many as I feel comfortable.

I think it is not possible, isn't it ?


Mod
Comment by Robbie on September 13, 2012 at 11:24

Awesome blog post, Gabriel! : )

Comment by Hala J.M on September 10, 2012 at 22:16

Wow ! A medal .. I'm so glad ...thank you dear !

I'm so proud to have friends like you ...who never stop spreading your knowledge and information to all the people around you .

 Thank you very much ,I really appreciate it !

  God Bless You !

Comment by Gabriel Sowrian on September 10, 2012 at 21:02

I, Gabriel Sowrian, am glad to announce that

Dated: September 11, 2012

"Enjoy using the tool and recorder, Hala"
Regards,

~* GS *~

Comment by Hala J.M on September 10, 2012 at 20:07

 Dear friends ,

This is my first audiopal recording ,I find this  "TTS" tool so important to practice and record our voices , it's  really a magical tool to improve our pronunciation in an interesting way .I hope all the learners and teachers can try it ,then you all can judge  how great and helpful this tool is .

 Gabriel and Galina ,Thanks alot for introducing us these tools .You are both great teachers and friends .

- Best wishes -

 

Comment by PARSHA on September 10, 2012 at 18:29

Thanks Gabriel for sharing this. Its really useful

Comment by selma on September 10, 2012 at 16:20

 

Wow Dear Gabriel,

What great job you did, I have to take some time to read it, thank you for the invitation,

we are so fortunate that you are with us,

have a great time,

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