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Original poster

Elocution lessons - anyone done it?

40 replies

NotAnOtter · 05/09/2006 19:43

I am not joking. My dd is interested in speech therapy and we thought it could help - and benefit her in life according to press reports.
I am in the north of england - any advice or pointers welcome

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Original poster
NotAnOtter · 05/09/2006 19:55

the rain in spain..........

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Judy1234 · 05/09/2006 20:02

I had them when I was a very small girl but they didn't change my accent which has always been just like my parents, not anytihng much of any kind of accent, I think. I think the requirement to learn poems and take exams and memorise them is very good for children.

Original poster
NotAnOtter · 05/09/2006 20:33

thanks xenia i agree

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Uwila · 05/09/2006 20:38

Didn't Maggie Thatcher have elocution lessons. Seems to have served her well. :-)

Sorry, I know nothing about them. Perhaps you could give Maggie a ring.

Original poster
NotAnOtter · 05/09/2006 20:40

hope she wont sound like mags

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bananaloaf · 05/09/2006 20:40

i had elocution lesson at school----my mother sent me to them. how old is dd?

Original poster
NotAnOtter · 05/09/2006 20:42

almost 12 and up for it!

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bananaloaf · 05/09/2006 20:51

from what i remeber i did speech exercises, pronunication exercise, tongue exercise did tongu twisters, how to form the sounds of words etc. far more intense that speech and drama hth (ensuring all vowels are said clearly

Original poster
NotAnOtter · 05/09/2006 21:06

sounds perfect banana but i cannot find a tutor

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bananaloaf · 05/09/2006 21:10

the speech and drama teacher at school also did the elocuation lessons maybe they would/could help

Original poster
NotAnOtter · 05/09/2006 21:10

thats a good idea!

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Original poster
NotAnOtter · 05/09/2006 21:10

thats a good idea!

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bananaloaf · 05/09/2006 21:11

just googled elocution lessons that might help you

Carmenere · 05/09/2006 21:12

My parent sent me to elocution lessons and for that I truly thank them as the local accent where I grew up was vile.

Original poster
NotAnOtter · 05/09/2006 21:12

thanks banana will do - are you glad you had them?

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bananaloaf · 05/09/2006 21:18

it certainly helped as i was a lazy talker, however i was diagnosed in my 30s as being dyslexic so we think that had a bearing on my speech also was quite deaf as a young child due to adnoieds(sp) so it help me to relearn what i missed.

SueW · 05/09/2006 21:21

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

MrsApronstrings · 05/09/2006 21:24

I did speech and drama - reciting poems in competition etc - and you know what I sound like!!

MrsApronstrings · 05/09/2006 21:25

orry meant to say all kind of lessons in voice projection, good diction etc

coderoo · 05/09/2006 21:32

sue lawley did too

SherlockLGJ · 05/09/2006 21:37

Carmenere

We had electrocution lessons as well.

Did you do Feis Matthew ??

Remember doing Howth as well.

Mary indoors by Eleanor Farjeon.

Marina · 05/09/2006 21:38

A friend of mine who had a PhD in sociolinguistics and recently trained as a speech therapist said that bad elocution lessons which focus on altering a child's natural accent and intonation can ruin your speaking voice for life.
I had that kind of refained verse speaking training as a child and I think it has messed with my speaking voice actually not to a ridiculous level, but it didn't help me. And I did a lot of youth theatre.
I would be really cautious about this if your principle objective is to tone down a regional accent, truly.
There are great speech and drama lessons about now which encourage pleasure in the spoken word without messing with the way a child speaks naturally. Go for that kind of thing instead. LAMDA offers the best IMO, Trinity Guildhall are also good. Look for a teacher who trained with one of these two organisations and offers the opportunity to take their exams.

MrsApronstrings · 05/09/2006 21:42

guildhall exams were what we did - and I don't think it was about accent as such - much emphasis on being clear and projecting well , 't's at the end of words etc, and of course speaking with meaning and feeling. I loved it

squidgeymiller · 05/09/2006 22:02

NAO - I never had elocution lessons but my parents always made us speak "properly" and told us off for even the slightest slip into the local accent. It's always stood me in good stead and has also been good for job interviews, because apparently everyone things I have a posh accent (!). I think if they're concerned about her accent and she's up for it, it can't do her any harm.

Original poster
NotAnOtter · 06/09/2006 09:10

thankyou all.

dd does only have a lilt of a regional accent but i think she has a lovely voice and should 'sharpen up' the way she speaks.

i would love her to say 'gosh' and 'beastly' like cordelia in brideshead revisited but think that is unlikely.

i read that a good speaking voice impacts greatly on life and do believe that to be true

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