Sources of pronunciation teaching tools
Dental models
- The most reliable source at a reasonable price is
Lakeshore Learning: http://lakeshorelearning.com.
Search for “dental model.” They’re also available from
websites that sell supplies to dentists, but these are
usually much more expensive.
Listening tubes
- Hear Myself Sound Phone:
http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/ (search for "Hear
Myself Sound Phone") - Whispy Reader:
http://www.imaginativelearningtools.com/shop/
customer/home.php - Toobaloo: http://www.toobaloo.com/
- Webber Phone:
http://www.superduperinc.com/WXYZ_pages/
wf22_44.html - Elephone:
http://www.superduperinc.com/products/view.aspx?
pid=ELE350 - WhisperPhone/WhisperPhone Element:
http://www.whisperphone.com/- Phonics Phone:
http://www.crystalspringsbooks.com/phonics-phone-
mo.html
- Phonics Phone:
Making your own listening tubes
You can make listening tubes yourself from PVC pipe. Get the
!ttings you need at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. and assemble
them easily. For each listening tube you’ll need a straight
piece of pipe about 5 inches/12 cm. long and two elbow
joints. You can glue the pieces together, but they usually stay
together well enough without glue. Be careful not to make
the middle (straight) section too long, or the phone will be
too long to !t between your ear and mouth.You can also make listening tubes from heavy paper using
the pattern and instructions on the last page of this chapter.
(See Box 7.1 for pictures of several kinds of listening tubes.)Kazoos
Party supply stores often sell inexpensive plastic kazoos in
the party favor section. They’re also available online from
Oriental Trading Company: http://www.orientaltrading.com/
Search for “kazoo.” Kazoos that are too small don’t make a
good sound. They should be at least four inches (10 cm.)
long. Kazoos made of hard plastic or metal have a better
sound than those made of softer plastic.96