A whimsical poem to practise pronunciation and intonation
This sweet and rather silly poem has long been a favourite among English-speaking children, and for good reason — it’s musical, memorable, and packed with playful sounds. But beyond the fun, I truly believe that rhymes, tongue-twisters, and poetry are powerful tools to help learners improve both pronunciation and intonation. The rhythm and repetition make it easier to notice stressed syllables, link sounds together, and speak more fluently and naturally.
I chose The Owl and the Pussycat after I happened to see a post on X where an owl met a cat. It immediately reminded me of this delightful Edward Lear poem we learned back in primary school. That little spark brought back a sweet memory of my own class performing it on stage — and yes, I was one of the trees on the land where the Bong-tree grows! 🌳😊
📝 How to Use This Video:
- Download the poem below.
Take a moment to read through it and guess the pronunciation of any unfamiliar or unusual words. Some of them, like runcible, were invented by Edward Lear — so don’t worry if they don’t appear in a dictionary! Just try to imagine how they might sound based on spelling and rhythm. - Watch the video once without speaking.
Pay attention to how the words are pronounced — even familiar ones might surprise you. Many learners don’t realise they’ve been mispronouncing common words until they hear them in context. - Play it again — and shadow!
That means speaking along with me, the narrator, trying to match my pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation as closely as possible. You can repeat the video as many times as you like — it’s a fun and effective way to train your ear and your speaking muscles.
I hope you enjoy the poem as much as I enjoyed creating it.