AHEPS v3.0 - The best, fastest,
most moving . . .
. . . and touching way
to improve English Pronunciation!

Acton Haptic English Pronunciation System v3.5
Bees and Butterflies 
(Serious Fun!)




Note: v3.0 is also still available. For information on purchasing materials and streaming access, contact: info@actonhaptic.com
  • The theme of EHIEP (Essential Haptic-integrated English Pronunciation, v1.0) was "Train the body first!" --based on the work of Arthur Lessac.
  • The theme of AHEPS(Acton Haptic English Pronunciation System, v2.0) was "teaching and learning pronunciation with haptic video." 
  • The theme of v3.0 is "From accuracy to fluency: Bee and Butterfly!" (Inspired, in part, by Mohamed Ali's classic "Float like a butterfly; sting like a bee!") 
  • The system can be used with almost any learner population
    • With literate adults, the entire system of books and videos, or parts it can be used.
    • With children (of all ages) the instructor typically learns the system first and then uses it in class, for modelling, correction and feedback--with or without some brief explanation. 
How to use the v3.0 and v3.5 Guide Books and videos

A. The Guide Book is designed to be used along with the AHEPS v3.0 videos, by students and instructors.
B. Those videos can be accessed in several ways: DVD set, Vimeo.com and Youtube.com streaming.
C. In each module, most of the teaching is done on the videos. There are also videos to help students practice what is taught in the teaching videos.
D. The Guide Book also contains brief instructions on how to conduct the lessons, explanations, homework, video links and other resources.
E. The key video in each module is the “training video,” where students are systematically taught how to use the haptic procedure (gesture + touch) to learn the target sound pattern.
F. The other 5 or 6 videos include warm ups, reviews, demonstrations and practice of haptic procedures.
G. IMPORTANT: It is best to teach from the videos, at least the first time you use v3.0. Even experienced “haptic” instructors generally let the videos do initial instruction and then follow up. (See Instructors Notes.)

How to teach with the AHEPS system

1. Do from 3 to 6 videos of a module (or do the training yourself) Students can also do that on their own, online or through a server.
2. Use the techniques from the module in teaching, in class and in assigning homework
                                                       or
Have students go on and do 1 or more of the 3 homework assignments They can do that with or without videos, by downloading the videos, streaming off Vimeo.com or with the Student Practice DVDs.
3. At some point students themselves begin using the haptic techniques for learning and remembering new words, expressions and new pronunciation.
4. Even with just brief introduction to the appropriate module or video, many students experience rapid improvement. With a little practice, typically over the course of a couple of weeks, change in spontaneous speaking performance is both predictable and often dramatic.


Based on extensive field testing and recommendations from many sources, there are a number of changes and additions in v3.0, including:
  • For Modules 2, 3 and 4, alternate vowel systems are available: General North American English, Canadian, British and Australian English
  • EHIEP charts of the basic vowel systems of several learner L1s are included for transitioning to English (e.g., Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, and Vietnamese). Other "Englishes," languages and dialects, including 3 US dialects will be added to v3.0 in 2015.
  • Haptic pronunciation homework system expanded
  • Classroom haptic pronunciation "correction" strategies (See Instructors' Guide)
  • A new mini-module on teaching unstressed vowels
  • A new mini-module for teaching linking
  • Integrating haptic pronunciation with vocabulary teaching (See Instructors' Guide)
  • Integrating haptic pronunciation with public speaking (See Instructors' Guide)
  • Additional consonant modules
v3.0 is set up so that it can be used either as a whole system--11 modules each taking about a week to complete--or one module at a time. (There are some conditions on that, however. See module introductions for recommendations on "pre-requisites!) 

A module typically includes the basic 30-minute haptic training video that can be done in or out of class, and then up to 2 hours of optional, video-based practice to be done in or out of class as well. Ideally, after the 30-minute introductory video, the instructor then just uses the new strategies from that point on in class in modelling, providing feedback on pronunciation and vocabulary. 

There are: 
  • 4 "Bee," accuracy-focus modules (using vowels and word stress)
  • 4 "Bee and Butterfly" modules that involve both accuracy and fluency (using phrasal grouping, linking and tone units)
  • 3 "Butterfly" modules that transition to fluency (using expressiveness and conversational speed work)
If you are using v1.0 or v2.0 you will automatically be sent the upgrades to v3.0. 
By Fall 2016, v4.0 should also be accessible by subscription.

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