--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I also think pronunciation of a foreign…" description: "\"I also think pronunciation of a foreign tongue could be better taught than by demanding from the pupil those internal acrobatic feats that are generall..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/jerome-k-jerome-1155_deep-breath_i-also-think-pronunciation-of-a-foreign_313471.jpg" --- # I also think pronunciation of a foreign tongue could be… ![“I also think pronunciation of a foreign tongue could be better taught than by demanding from the pupil those internal acrobatic feats that are generally impossible and always useless. This is the sort of instruction one recieves: 'Press your tonsils against the underside of your larynx. Then with…” quote by Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/jerome-k-jerome-1155_deep-breath_i-also-think-pronunciation-of-a-foreign_313471.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/jerome-k-jerome-1155_deep-breath_i-also-think-pronunciation-of-a-foreign_313471.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/jerome-k-jerome-1155_deep-breath_i-also-think-pronunciation-of-a-foreign_313471.jpg) > “I also think pronunciation of a foreign tongue could be better taught than by demanding from the pupil those internal acrobatic feats that are generally impossible and always useless. This is the sort of instruction one recieves: 'Press your tonsils against the underside of your larynx. Then with the convex part of the septum curved upwards so as almostbut not quiteto touch the uvula try with the tip of your tongue to reach your thyroid. Take a deep breath and compress your glottis. Now without opening your lips say "Garoo".' And when you have done it they are not satisfied.” [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage critiques overly technical and impractical language teaching methods that focus on impossible physical tricks rather than effective learning. **In simple terms:** Language teaching should avoid impossible physical tricks. Key Takeaway Focus on practical, effective instruction. Themes education language learning pedagogy Mood frustrated critical Type pedagogical critical When to use this quote - foreign language classes - speech therapy - teacher training programs Key Concepts instructional design motor skills learning efficiency Questions to Reflect On - How can teachers simplify pronunciation instruction? - What alternatives improve learning outcomes? A Different Perspective These methods may ignore individual learner differences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deep breath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-breath/) [Lips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lips/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Matrimonially speaking, a bridle for the tongue is better than a rein for the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minna-antrim/matrimonially-speaking-a-bridle-for-the-tongue-is-better-than-a-rein/) [Minna Antrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minna-antrim/) > [Humor is the first of the gifts to perish in a foreign tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/humor-is-the-first-of-the-gifts-to-perish-in-a-foreign-tongue/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“The irony of acquiring a foreign tongue is that I have amassed just enough cheap, serviceable words to fuel my desires and never, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-truong/the-irony-of-acquiring-a-foreign-tongue-is-that-i-have-amassed-just/) [Monique Truong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-truong/) > [She is written in a foreign tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/she-is-written-in-a-foreign-tongue/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [“The only French I know is a kiss. I studied a lot of that foreign tongue in high school.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/the-only-french-i-know-is-a-kiss-i-studied-a-lot-of-that-foreign/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [When translating one must proceed up to the intranslatable; only then one becomes aware of the foreign nation and the foreign tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/when-translating-one-must-proceed-up-to-the-intranslatable-only-then/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The irony of acquiring a foreign tongue is that I have amassed just enough cheap, serviceable words to fuel my desires and never, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-truong/the-irony-of-acquiring-a-foreign-tongue-is-that-i-have-amassed-just-2/) [Monique Truong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-truong/) > [“It was on the tip of my tongue to say something snide, something that would hurt him, but somehow I couldn't. It would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-thornton/it-was-on-the-tip-of-my-tongue-to-say-something-snide-something-that/) [Marshall Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-thornton/) > [“Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/lo-lee-ta-the-tip-of-the-tongue-taking-a-trip-of-three-steps-down-the/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“Someone asked me what home was, and all I could think of were the stars on the tip of your tongue, the flowers sprouting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/someone-asked-me-what-home-was-and-all-i-could-think-of-were-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He tried to pull me against him, and I bit him on the lip. He licked his lip with the tip of his tongue.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/he-tried-to-pull-me-against-him-and-i-bit-him-on-the-lip-he-licked/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [“Look what you have done You're my favorite song Always on the tip of my tongue”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-civil-wars/look-what-you-have-done-you-re-my-favorite-song-always-on-the-tip-of/) [The Civil Wars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-civil-wars/) > [I'm working my butt off every day to make sure people have my name on the tip of their tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-weah/i-m-working-my-butt-off-every-day-to-make-sure-people-have-my-name-on/) [Timothy Weah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-weah/) > [I've got a secret. It's on the tip of my tongue, it's on the back of my lungs. And I'm gonna keep it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-a-secret-it-s-on-the-tip-of-my-tongue-it-s-on-the-back-of-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In my experience, it’s those words on the tip of the tongue that we most need to hear. They are the key. The thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-martin/in-my-experience-it-s-those-words-on-the-tip-of-the-tongue-that-we/) [Charles Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-martin/) ## More by Jerome K. Jerome > [“George goes to sleep at a bank from ten to four each day, except Saturdays, when they wake him up and put him outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/george-goes-to-sleep-at-a-bank-from-ten-to-four-each-day-except/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“He would use a bit of string this time, and at the critical moment, when the old fool was leaning over the chair at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/he-would-use-a-bit-of-string-this-time-and-at-the-critical-moment/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Some people are under the impression that all that is required to make a good fisherman is the ability to tell lies easily and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/some-people-are-under-the-impression-that-all-that-is-required-to/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [It is easy enough to say that poverty is no crime. No; if it were men wouldn't be ashamed of it. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/it-is-easy-enough-to-say-that-poverty-is-no-crime-no-if-it-were-men/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Love is woman's business,and in "business" we all lay aside our natural weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/love-is-woman-s-business-and-in-business-we-all-lay-aside-our-natural/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [We are but the veriest, sorriest slaves of our stomach. Reach not after morality and righteousness, my friends; watch vigilantly your stomach, and diet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/we-are-but-the-veriest-sorriest-slaves-of-our-stomach-reach-not-after/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“There was no ground-floor — its ground-floor belonged to a house in the next court, and the front door opened direct upon a flight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/there-was-no-ground-floor-its-ground-floor-belonged-to-a-house-in-the/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“I can understand the ignorant masses loving to soak themselves in drink—oh, yes, it's very shocking that they should, of course—very shocking to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/i-can-understand-the-ignorant-masses-loving-to-soak-themselves-in/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [ They \[dogs\] never talk about themselves but listen to you while you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being interested in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/they-dogs-never-talk-about-themselves-but-listen-to-you-while-you/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“And we sit there, by its margin, while the moon, who loves it too, stoops down to kiss it with a sister’s kiss, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/and-we-sit-there-by-its-margin-while-the-moon-who-loves-it-too-stoops/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“The only feeling that a closer intimacy has created in him for his wife is that of indulgent contempt. As there is no equality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/the-only-feeling-that-a-closer-intimacy-has-created-in-him-for-his/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Evil thought is a dangerous pet. It is safer to play with it from behind the iron bars of circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/evil-thought-is-a-dangerous-pet-it-is-safer-to-play-with-it-from/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [If you are foolish enough to be contented, don't show it, but grumble with the rest; and if you can do with a little,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/if-you-are-foolish-enough-to-be-contented-don-t-show-it-but-grumble/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Life will always remain a gamble, with prizes sometimes for the imprudent, and blanks so often to the wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/life-will-always-remain-a-gamble-with-prizes-sometimes-for-the/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“You can never rouse Harris. There is no poetry about Harris- no wild yearning for the unattainable. Harris never "weeps, he knows not why."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/you-can-never-rouse-harris-there-is-no-poetry-about-harris-no-wild/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) [Explore all 267 Jerome K. Jerome quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) ## More Deep breath quotes > [“The days may last forever, but the years pass by in a blink; the secret to survival is actually remembering to take a deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-smokler/the-days-may-last-forever-but-the-years-pass-by-in-a-blink-the-secret/) [Jill Smokler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-smokler/) > [Take a deep breath. It,s just a bad day not a bad life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-a-deep-breath-it-s-just-a-bad-day-not-a-bad-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Take a deep breath. Now, let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madi/take-a-deep-breath-now-let-go/) [Madi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madi/) > [Okay, so, flying,” I started, taking a deep breath and focusing on the thing I loved most in the world. “Flying is … great.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/okay-so-flying-i-started-taking-a-deep-breath-and-focusing-on-the/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Go for broke. Always try and do too much. Dispense with safety nets. Take a deep breath before you begin talking. Aim for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/go-for-broke-always-try-and-do-too-much-dispense-with-safety-nets/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [If you take a deep breath and look around, 'Look what's happening to me!' can become 'Look what's happening!' And what's happening? The incredible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/if-you-take-a-deep-breath-and-look-around-look-what-s-happening-to-me/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [In life you are going to make mistakes, you're going to fall down, but it's the getting up that counts. Just like in baseball:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-pelzer/in-life-you-are-going-to-make-mistakes-you-re-going-to-fall-down-but/) [Dave Pelzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-pelzer/) > [I find that deep breathing and meditation help me handle practically any situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-east/i-find-that-deep-breathing-and-meditation-help-me-handle-practically/) [Nathan East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-east/) > [During a panic attack, I remember that today is just today and that is all that it is. I take a deep breath in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-greenfield/during-a-panic-attack-i-remember-that-today-is-just-today-and-that-is/) [Max Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-greenfield/) > [“Lianna took a deep breath and willed the water to come forth. A warm glow washed over her body, increasing in heat with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeroen-steenbeeke/lianna-took-a-deep-breath-and-willed-the-water-to-come-forth-a-warm/) Jeroen Steenbeeke > [I take a deep breath. I'm not sure where that swell of desperation came from, but know that I've acknowledge it, it's impossible to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-take-a-deep-breath-i-m-not-sure-where-that-swell-of-desperation/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [He drew a deep breath. 'Well, I'm back,' he said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-drew-a-deep-breath-well-i-m-back-he-said/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I took a deep breath, held that scent in my lungs for long seconds as I tried to inhale the normalcy that made up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-deebs/i-took-a-deep-breath-held-that-scent-in-my-lungs-for-long-seconds-as/) [Tracy Deebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-deebs/) > [Today I close the door to the past , open the door to the future, take a deep breath, step on through and start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/today-i-close-the-door-to-the-past-open-the-door-to-the-future-take-a/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“giving an explanation of why I cut was tough. I didn't even really understand why I did it. I took a deep breath. "Well...when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/giving-an-explanation-of-why-i-cut-was-tough-i-didn-t-even-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 358 Deep breath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-breath/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I also think pronunciation of a foreign tongue could be better taught than by demanding from the pupil those internal acrobatic feats that are generally impossible and always useless. This is the sort of instruction one recieves: 'Press your tonsils against the underside of your larynx. Then with the convex part of the septum curved upwards so as almostbut not quiteto touch the uvula try with the tip of your tongue to reach your thyroid. Take a deep breath and compress your glottis. Now without opening your lips say \"Garoo\".' And when you have done it they are not satisfied.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jerome K. 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