Save Your Voice

Writer(s): 
Tim Hawthorne, Osaka Institute of Technology

 

If you're an English conversation teacher, your voice is one thing you just can't afford to lose. One of the first serious problems I had with mine involved the noise level in the classroom. In a misguided attempt to lower my students' affective filters, I let classroom discipline degenerate to the point that I had to shout to make myself heard. Finally my vocal cords gave out, and I was forced to tighten down as hard as I could on unwelcome classroom noise. To my surprise, students' affective filters actually seemed to get lower, probably because uncertainty had been replaced by a clearly defined sense of where we were headed. So if you're unsure of what to do about excessive classroom noise, try putting a lid on it. Your voice will thank you for doing so.
I used to tire quickly and strain my vocal cords because I was expelling air with muscles high up in my chest and shoulders, making my speech shortwinded and erratic. Rowena Whitehead (1995) describes the proper way to raise your voice.
 
Allow your breath to fill your lungs, expanding your rib cage on all sides of your body, feeling your lower abdomen expand as you breathe in and contract as you exhale. Your shoulder and chest remain relaxed. Imagine you are breathing into the area just below your navel. When you speak, this area is the power base for your voice, from where it gets critical support. (p. 15)
 
This method relaxes the vocal cords and conserves energy without sacrificing volume. Whitehead also suggests "keeping a jug of water in the classroom" (p. l 5). In Japan there are many different sizes of mineral water bottles, so you should have no problem finding one that's right for you.
 
Lemons, gargling and gum have also helped me. Peeled sections of lemon work better than throat lozenges, and without the medicinal flavor or drying effect. Both prescription and over-the-counter gargling solutions can be very effective when used properly. And while I don't believe in chewing gum in the classroom, just a pinch between the cheek and gum activates the saliva glands enough to keep the throat well-lubricated. Mint-flavored works best for me. There is even a kind of gum specifically designed to soothe the throat. Check with your local pharmacist.
 
If my voice gives out, all I can do is struggle with a wireless mike or call in sick and drink a lot of hot lemon juice at home. But if I only have a sore throat, I avoid cold, hot or dry classrooms by opening windows and/or doors to adjust the temperature and humidity, and when possible I just talk less. Outside of class, the gauze mask often worn for colds in Japan has been my best friend. It keeps the lungs' natural moisture in and unwanted dryness and temperature out, especially when standing or sitting near air conditioning or heating vents on crowded buses and trains. I customize mine by cutting out as many layers of fabric from the inside as necessary to make it breathable. Drop me a note and let me know what kinds of things have helped you!
 
Reference
  • Whitehead, R. (1995). How to look after your voice. IATEFL Newsletter, 128,15.