Tongue twisters are an excellent way to practice fluency. Certain combinations of words and letters are very difficult for foreign language learners. Practicing tongue twisters by slowly and gradually increasing the speed of the phrases allows students to gradually progress in skill in their speech. Also, tongue twisters provide language practice in an entertaining manner.
Movies provide students the opportunity to listen to native speakers speaking at full speed in an entertaining way. Teachers should practice key phrases and slang expressions before the movie begins. Also, students can practice saying and identifying phrases that may be difficult to recognize when spoken by native speakers, who tend to slur words together when speaking at a normal speed.
Functional lessons allow students to practice the language using the context of practical scenarios. Students should practice with each other in different scenarios, allowing them to listen and act depending on their understanding of the language. For example, one student can pose as a waiter, while another can pose as a diner at a restaurant. Students must react to each other in an organic way, which tests their auditory and speaking skills.
Real conversations with native speakers test students in the ultimate manner. Teachers can bring friends into the classroom or send students to interview native speakers. Since ESL teachers tend to unconsciously speak slower and more clearly to their students for the sake of clarity, another native speaker will have no such tendency, allowing students to practice their listening and speaking skills.
Tongue diagrams can be especially useful to students practicing English. Sounds that students switch can be easily corrected by showing a diagram of a mouth and tongue. Different diagrams visually show students the difference between sounds, which can then be practiced verbally.
Authentic materials such as music, speeches and poetry can be played, read or sung while students write down the text. This is an excellent method for students to test their listening skills. Because these materials have different cadences and rhythms and are often not as clear as the speech of pre-prepared course material, this method offers students an additional challenge to practice their listening skills in an entertaining manner.