Many students of the English language have a problem with pronouncing the ‘TH’ sound that we use so commonly in our language, and it’s important that we teach this sound from an early stage. Think about it – Thousand, The, Thunder, These, Those, This, That, The Other… those two letters keep cropping up, don’t they? When non-native speakers try these words the result is mostly for the tongue to place itself behind the top teeth (there it is again!), on top of the bottom set and lower lip with the top set of teeth remote and still letting some air through, or, at best, placing the tongue just behind the gap between the two sets of teeth – almost there!

Obviously your teaching style will vary to suit the student concerned, but I tend to jump on the mispronunciation and try and get it right from the beginning. The sound is produced by putting the tip of the tongue between the teeth and expelling air through (and again!) whatever gap remains – yes, really! Try it. Anyone with teeth can do this – just make sure they don’t exert too much pressure in the enthusiasm (once more!!) to get that sound out into the world. The look of triumph is priceless, but you need to be picking it up a number of times until the technique is used more frequently than not. Word games with plenty of TH help, as will your continued correction – stare at their mouth, mouth the sound yourself with exaggerated movements – let’s see that tongue!

Andrew is a qualified TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) teacher, with 15 years experience of the global Automotive Industry as a Sales manager with an International component and systems supplier. For more information about learning English with Andrew at his home in the UK, visit the Lets Talk 2 http://lets-talk2.com/_wsn/page2.html website.