is a visual organizer for the prosody that characterizes spoken English. Each color represents a vowel sound.
For example, GREEN is the high front vowel /iy/, as found in the words “tree” and “teacher”. Similarly, BLUE represents the high back vowel /uw/, as found in the words “true” and “student.” In this way, each color word serves both as a key word and a visual cue for a specific stressed vowel sound. Click on each color to hear the Color Vowel anchor phrase and its corresponding vowel sound.
is a brain-based language teaching method that harnesses visual, kinesthetic, logical, and musical learning strategies.
Featuring the Color Vowel Chart as a compelling visual organizer for spoken English, this unique research-based approach helps teachers and learners bridge the gap between spoken and written English. Our exclusive workshops provide educators with the crucial awareness and skills they need in order to be truly effective English language teachers.
In this intensive course for certified Level 1 Color Vowel Trained teachers, participants will learn to lead and create rhythmic chants. A practicum option provides participants with the opportunity to lead chants and provide learners with feedback with the support of a mentor.
Color Vowel co-authors Karen Taylor & Shirley Thompson will present strategies for enhancing textbooks and other existing materials with Color Vowel mark-ups and lesson modifications.
ESL master teacher and graphic design mastermind Laura McIndoo will then provide tips for creating effective handouts and other materials with Color Vowel images.
In breakout rooms, participants will have an opportunity to share materials they have designed. Join us!
In this intensive, 5-session course, participants will engage in a series of brain-based English pronunciation exercises that build awareness of the sounds and rhythms of English for the purpose of being more effective English teachers. Complementing the live 90-minute sessions, participants will complete video homework and receive pronunciation coaching and feedback from Color Vowel® trained instructors. This course is designed for English teachers who are themselves non-native speakers of English and who wish to improve their pronunciation confidence.
Originally created in 1999 by Karen Taylor at the University of Maryland College Park and subsequently co-developed with Shirley Thompson at George Washington University, the Color Vowel™ Chart is now used by ESL teachers, speech therapists, pronunciation/accent trainers, reading specialists and other language-based professionals across the US and around the world.
The U.S. Department of State’s Office of English Language Programs distributes the Color Vowel Chart to English teachers outside the U.S. through Regional English Language Officers. U.S. Peace Corps TEFL Volunteers are trained with the Color Vowel Chart.
ELTS provides illuminating workshops and webinars for teachers of English as a Second Language, ESOL paraprofessionals, bilingual education teachers, reading specialists, pronunciation coaches, Speech Language Pathologists– in short, any educator who seeks to teach English Learners more effectively.
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