Teaching Tips

Anytune Slows Down Sound Tracks for Language Practice

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Abstract

AnytuneTM, a slow-downer app designed for musicians and singers, allows you to adjust the tempo of a music track without changing the pitch. Learning to speak a new language fluently is like learning music. When a phrase, dialog, story, or speech is played through Anytune, a learner can slow it down and practice it easily. Anytune loads all songs in your iTunes library; then you pick a track to practice. Within the track, you can set A and B points around difficult phrases to create a loop that plays at a percentage of the original tempo. The loop automatically restarts and plays from A to B so that you can practice the phrase again and again. The Step-it-up Trainer function repeats a section, incrementally increasing the speed from 50% to 100% in ten repetitions. The tempo and number of repetitions can be adjusted to your liking. These features allow you, as a teacher, to tailor the way you present a recorded model to your students. Students using Anytune can use these controls independently to build pronunciation accuracy, speed, rhythm, expression, and fluency. I have no connection with Anytune developers, but I do find this 5-star music practice app useful for personal use as well as for my language learning students. This article will explain how to use a selection of its features that are especially useful for language learners.

How to Cite:

Chan, M. J., (2016) “Anytune Slows Down Sound Tracks for Language Practice”, Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching Proceedings 8(1).