Tongue twister challenge

Sophia: Hey, guys! Welcome back to another video for the British Council’s LearnEnglish Teens website and their YouTube channel. Today I’m joined with my mum, Kissu … say hello!

Kissu: Hi!

Sophia: … and today we’re going to be doing a video about some of the most popular British tongue twisters. Now, before we begin, I want to make this a little competition. You guys are going to be the judges. So, my mother is from … ah … the Gambia and English is her second language and I was born and raised in London so English is my mother tongue. So we’re going to put to the test who can say these tongue twisters the best. OK? No pressure! I have them on my laptop so we’re gonna be looking … if we’re looking down, that’s why, because they’re here. So, I started from the easiest, then it’ll be, like, medium-level and then really difficult. So, do you want to go first?

Kissu: What do I have to say?

Sophia: So, the first one is this one.

Kissu: I scream … I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.

Sophia: You have to say it faster though. OK, I’ll go and then we’ll see if we can speed up. I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream. OK? Do you want to try to say it faster?

Kissu: Yes. I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream.

Sophia: (laughing)... you don’t have to actually scream! I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream.

Kissu: I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream.

Sophia: You have to do it faster though. I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream.

Kissu: I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream.

Sophia: Is that as fast as you can go?

Kissu: I’ll try again. I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream.

Sophia: OK, you guys are judging, so, you can decide who’s winning. Um, OK … the next one is slightly ... a bit more difficult. Do you want to try it?

Kissu: If two witches would watch two watches, which witch would would wet this witch …

Sophia: The first time you do it slow. OK, if two witches would watch two watches, which witch would watch which watch? Ah, that one is a mouthful! Just go slowly first, you don’t have to go fast.

Kissu: If two witches would watch two watches which witch would watch which watch?

Sophia: Why?... you’re saying it like a robot! OK, let me try again a bit faster. If two witches would watch which watches which witch would watch which watch? Oh my gosh! I’m surprised at myself!

Kissu: OK, let me try. This is a competition now! If two witches would watch two watches which witch would watch which watch?

Sophia: But you’re saying it like a robot! You’re like ‘uh’ ‘uh’ ‘uh’.

Kissu: OK, OK, OK. Let me try!

Sophia: This is your last ... opportunity.

Kissu: If two witches will watch two watches which witch would watch which watch?

Sophia: Haha! OK, Mum. We’ll just leave it at that. The next one, erm, ah, this one’s difficult because I have a problem pronouncing ‘S’s in succession, so I don’t know how you’ll do, but I can’t pronounce it.

Kissu: Oh my god. This is hard. She tells sheshe ...

Sophia: She sells …

Kissu: Sorry. I did not see. It’s too small.

Sophia: Let me zoom in. There you go.

Kissu: OK. She sells she shells by the she shore.

Sophia: She shore? Haha. OK. She sells seashells by the seashore. Let me try and say it faster.  She sells seashells by the seashore. OK.

Kissu: She sells sea shells by the seashore.

Sophia: Haha. OK. Let me try one more time. She sells seashells by the seashore.

Kissu: She sells sea shells by the seashore.

Sophia: You might have won that one. OK, and the last one is the most difficult because it’s the longest and it has that ‘P’ sound. The ‘P’ and the ‘E-D’ sound.

Kissu: My god.

Sophia: So, do you wanna ... oh, do you want me to go first?

Kissu: I think you go first. Let me see.

Sophia: This one is the infamous Peter Piper. Some of you may know this one. If not, hold tight and listen to it, haha, because it’s a long one. Erm … Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper. Did Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled peppered ... peppers? If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

Kissu: Wow! I didn’t say I have to hold my breath. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. Did Peter Piper pick a peck of pickles peppers? If Peter Piper pick a peck of pickles pepper, where is the peck of pickles pepper Peter Piper pick?

Sophia: OK, I’m gonna try one more time to go a bit faster … Oh gosh. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. Did Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled peppers? If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peckles … (laughing) Let me start again, oh my gosh. Peter Piter picked a peck of pickled peppers. Did Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled peppers? If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, where’s the peck of pickled Piper Peter Piper picked? Don’t look at me! It makes me laugh.

Kissu: I’m gonna use my hands, it’ll help me.

Sophia: Go on. Last go.

Kissu: Peter Piper … Peter … Peter Piper ... pick a pickle of pickled peppers. Did Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled peppers? If Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled peppers, where’s the packs of pickled peppers Peter Piper pick … peppers pick! Oh my god. I couldn’t even get the words out of my mouth.

Sophia: Yeah, this one was a difficult one. Erm, I hope you guys have enjoyed this video. Please comment below and let us know who you think the winner is … no pressure. If you guys haven’t already, go back and rewatch this video, and join along with the fun and try and say these tongue twisters as we’re saying it. They are quite difficult. What did you think?

Kissu: I think it was difficult to just … I have never heard the word or seen it before and to have to read it at a fast pace. Either I have to be robotic or just twist my tongue and miss some words out or mispronounce it, really. So, I think that’s what’s happening.

Sophia: Yeah. But I think you did a good job. Don’t you guys think so too? Anyway, comment below. Let us know also what was the hardest one, and which one was your favourite one. I hope you’re having a great day and see you in the next video! Bye!