Elocution classes?

[Lighttodark]

Hi, I’ve noticed for a while now that my child (aged 7) doesn’t enunciate words correctly. Sometimes it’s the wrong sound (eg anoVer rather than anoTHer) and other times it seems to be a case or rushed speech (sometimes I look back at old videos and speech seemed clearer at say age 4/5). I’m worried that constantly correcting them will be perceived as critical. I model back the correct pronunciation. Does anyone have any advice please? What professional would be best to help with this?

Anover is normal accent variation in many areas. You are interested that "correcting" an accent will be perceived as critical.
Drama classes could aid awareness and ability to modify speech. But tread carefully.

It might affect her spelling so perhaps investigate speech and language therapy? My parents corrected my brother quite a lot when he was younger and I think in rebellion his speech got so sloppy he was almost unintelligible as an older teen. As a young adult I wondered how he got through interviews. It has evened out now and he's much clearer, stopped rebelling! I think it got so ingrained it was hard to stop though.

I corrected my kids' pronunciation of th as v or f relentlessly for months until I wore them down. By which I mean I picked them up on it every single time. It was an undertaking but it worked.

Interesting point; I didn’t consider that as in our case, it’s not an accent / the norm. I used the word critical in the sense that this is my young child and I don’t want to knock their confidence or for it to become a ‘thing’.

yes I think my concern has grown after seeing him write fank you. He sees the error in hindsight but is obviously rushing / forgetting.

I would gently correct it every time. It doesn't have to be a harsh criticism.

Speech and Drama/ LAMDA lessons could really help if you don't think it's bad enough to warrant SaLT

Thank you, which particular LAMDA exams should I look at?

I would correct that every single time. Just say eg it's thanks not fanks. It will work. Saying f/v for "th" just makes people sound thick. It may be an accent thing in some areas but in those areas you still won't find educated middle class people doing it.

I’m a teacher, and have found that some children who speak with f or v for th have genuinely no idea that the words this, that, think are not vis, vat and fink. Then they start correcting eg. fish to thish. I’d be gently correcting it (by immediately repeating the correct pronunciation and getting them to repeat the word correctly) if I were you. But, probably unfairly, I form opinions of those who pronounce those words incorrectly. I think it matters.

Agree, it matters. In this case there isn’t a knowledge gap as it’s intermittent - so perhaps it’s habit / laziness. I will continue to correct.

At 7, it would be the Introductory syllabus. You'll need to find a teacher - LAMDA has a directory of teachers, and you can search by area. I'd recommend face-to-face rather than online at this age

It's far kinder for you to correct than strangers who may be rude or not say anything at all and just make judgements, potentially overlooking your child for opportunities, based on their perceptions.

I had elocution classes. They were invaluable. But, that being said, I miss my 'accent'. It is what it is.

You’d want ‘Speaking Verse and Prose’ exams @Lighttodark(there are lots of different LAMDA strands including acting etc but if you’re looking for elocution then I’d say SV&P is the way to go)

Thanks!

Thanks

Has your DCs hearing been checked recently. I mispronounced things as a child and it was because I had glue ear and couldn’t hear correctly.

Thanks, there is no indication of this in terms of symptoms. I will double check by asking him to repeat sounds after me but I’ll cover my mouth. I’m planning to speak to a SALT this week.

SALT recommend not correcting during speech, but teaching at a separate time.

So let him talk uncorrected, but show him how th and v are made and play a game where you see which one is which in words. Have a mirror.

Say thank you, this, those, - tongue on teeth
Vole, victor, vol-au-vent - teeth on lip.

When initial sounds are secure do words like another where the sound is in the middle.

Be playful, use made up words, laugh about seeing his tongue.

Thank you. I’ve read this too and I really don’t want to knock his esteem hence seeking professional advice. When reading and he slows down, he sounds words correctly but in everyday speech I think he could be rushing and his enunciation is sloppy. It’s like his mouth/tongue do not match the speed of processing in his head. I really hope a SALT can help. Worried about this becoming ingrained.

Just to add, we did a lot of the sounding out etc when he initially started read write Inc and he progressed through the entire scheme well and well within the time frame expected for his year group. Sounds like we may have to go back to basics?

When you practice in little sessions, the muscle memory develops and it tends to be replicated in actual speech as well.

And to be honest, as long as he knows which is which when he’s paying attention, it doesn’t matter too much if it slips day to day. He’ll end up like me, able to use queen’s or local depending on the environment. There are several ‘locals’ now though, as I’ve moved around a fair bit!

I am an SALT. We live in North West England and here it's part of the dialect to not say a 'th' sound. My husband, who is local, doesn't use it but can spell words just fine!! My eldest did not start saying these sorts of sounds( especially in the middle of words) until alot older than 7. I'd completely agree with the advice above about not over correcting, listen to the content not how it's said. Kids develop in spurts and at times their language ( words/ vocab/ sentense structure) will have a spurt of development and the sounds/ articulations takes a hit for a while whilst it catches up. Think about how a typical teenager can sound at times in their life! This maybe why it sounds worse at the moment. Also the advice about hearing checks is good, are there any signs that has changed? Lots of colds/ history of ear infections??

Thank you so much for the reassurance! He did have recurrent tonsillitis from the toddler years to say reception age. I will speak to the GP about a hearing check.