Fast Talker

Background

Think about the following questions

Think about the language you hear around you in Canada. Do you think Canadians speak English faster than people in your country speak their native tongue? If so, why do you think this is the case?
How does the “music” of the English you hear in Canada compare to the“music” of your language?
Are there other things that you think are unique to English speakers or unique to speakers of your language?
In English, two or more words are sometimes combined to sound like one word: gonna (going to), whaddaya (what do you) etc. Do people use reductions like these in your language?
Do people speaking your language use more or fewer gestures than Canadians speaking English?
When people speak English very quickly, do the gestures they use help you understand? What kinds of gestures are helpful? (Ask students to demonstrate!)
When Canadians speak to you, do they stand closer or farther away than people in your culture do?