Martin:
I know exactly how you feel.  I was facilitating an English program with a number of SE Asian students.  One very diligent student from Viet Nam came for advisement at the end of the semester.  She'd taken a pronunciation class and kept saying what sounded like "I failed.  I failed."  I kept trying to encourage her telling her that she hadn't failed but she was working hard and making some progress.  If she took the course again, she'd do better.  Only to find out that what she was trying to say was "I passed.  I passed."  
Use mirrors!  Have them look at themselves in the mirror as they say the sounds, in initial position as well as word final.  Help them speak slowly.  Have them look at you as you mouth words with stops.  Have them listen for the sounds and identify when they hear them.  Have them record themselves to see if they can hear them when they've said them.  And in pronunciation class, don't pretend you can understand them clearly when you can't.
Best wishes. 
Kathryn Quinn
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Martin Senger 
  To: The Adult English Language Learners Discussion List 
  Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 2:31 PM
  Subject: [EnglishLanguage 917] Help with pronunciation issues


  Pax et bonum all! (peace & goodness)

  I am an adult ESL teacher in Erie, PA. I am looking for information on teaching pronunciation skills to SE Asian students, who seem to have a particular problem with stops sounds ([p], [b], etc.). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!


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