Sounds of Success - Final Review

Vowels

100

Which vowel is it? Give 3 example words that have this sound.

Jaw: almost completely raised

Lips: in a “smile” position

Tongue: high in your mouth, and shifted toward the front

/i:/ sound

Examples: teeth, key, eel

200

Read the following word pairs. Describe how to pronounce the vowel in column b).

1. a) men b) main

2. a) fell b) fail

3. a) tech b) take

4. a) let  b) late

/eɪ/

Make the /e/ sound first then glide to /ɪ/

- Jaw: lifts up

- Tongue: lifts up to the proof of the mouth

- Lips: widens

300

What vowel is it?

Start with the /æ/ and then:

1. Jaw: lifted up
2. Lips: stretched sideways 
3. Tongue: tip of the tongue touches the back of the lower teeth

/aɪ /

Read the following sentences. Where will you pronounce /e/ or /æ/ or /aɪ/?

- You might have met Matt before.

- Don't be sad. We'll reset the website for you.

400

Read the following words. Which words are pronounced with /ɔ/? What about /ɔɪ/ or /oʊ/? 

voice - cost - coach - cross - draw - point - fall - toilet - voyage - don't - folder - fault - spoil - flow

/ɔ/: cost - cross - draw - fall - fault

/ɔɪ/: spoil - toilet - voice - voyage - point

/ oʊ/: don't - folder - flow - coach

500

Which words in the sentences below are pronounced with /aʊ/ sound? Read the sentences aloud.

1. All were surprised by the owl that flew around, but he didn't allow them to go outside and see it.
2. I couldn't gather any information about the new house in town.
3. He was worried about the fall of fowl and was hoping for a good outcome.
4. The sound of the howling wind could be heard through the empty hall, and it was hard to hear other noise in the background.

1. owl - around - allow - outside 
2. about - house - town
3. about - fowl - outcome
4. sound - howling - background

Consonants

100

a) What consonant do you get if you place the tip of your tongue between your teeth and push the air out while NOT vibrating your vocal cords?

b) What consonant do you get if you place the tip of your tongue between your teeth and push the air out while vibrating your vocal cords?

a) /θ/ sound 

b) /ð/ sound

200

- How does /dʒ/ differ from /ʒ/ (mouth positions)?

- Which words have /ʒ/ and which words have/dʒ/?

*jump - suggestion - vision - page - agenda - measure - engine - Asia - Java

The lips and teeth positions are the same as /ʒ/:

- Lips: flared - Teeth: come together

But the tongue is touching the alveolar ridge for /dʒ/.

*/dʒ/: jump, suggestion, page, agenda, engine, Java

*/ʒ/: vision, measure, Asia

300

Read the following word pairs:

1. a) feel  b) fear

2. a) doll  b) door

3. a) ball  b) bar

How does the final consonant /l/ in a) differ from the /r/ in b) (e.g., tongue position)?

a) Dark /ɫ /: tip of the tongue touches the alveolar ridge, keep it there before cutting the sound.

B. /r/: the tip of the tongue is lifted up, not touching anything

400

What sound is it?

- Lip: the inside of the bottom lip touches the bottom of the front teeth

- Tongue: relaxed

- Vocal cords: on

It's /v/ sound.

Read the following sentences. Pay attention to /v/ vs /w/.

1. Grape vines produce sweet fruits for making wine.
2. They make Western vests for men.

Consonant clusters

100

Which words have consonant clusters? What are they?

text * boss * laugh * asking * knock * play * root * speak

text /tɛkst/ * asking /ˈæskɪŋ / * play /pleɪ/ * speak /spi:k/

NB! 

The word "laugh" is pronounced as /læf/.

The word "knock" is pronounced as /nɑk/.

200

Give one example for each of the two-letter consonant clusters. The rest of the class type with you hear in the chat (private message).

pl - bl - pr - br - tr - dr - cr - gr - sk - st - sm - sl - sn - sp

Suggested answers:

play - blow - pray - brand - tree - dream - cream - group - skip - step - small - slip - snow - spend

300

Read the following words:

soft - fact - felt - old - solve - jump - point - chance - risk - test

Find one example word for each of the final consonant cluster below:

_ft - _kt - _lt - _ld - _lv - _mp - _nt - _nd - _ns - _sk - _st

Suggested answers:

draft - act - melt - cold - delve - pump - paint - nice - task - vest

400

Give one example for each of the three-letter consonant clusters. The rest of the class type with you hear in the chat (private message).

scr - spr - spl - str - squ

Read the following words and sentences:

spray - strong - squirrel - splinter - stroll - through - streets - scream 

1. Spray the strong perfume sparingly.
2. The squirrel had a splinter in its foot.
3. We parked the car and strolled through the streets.
4. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.

500

Give one example for each of the final three-letter consonant clusters. The rest of the class type what you hear in the chat (private message).

_sks - _skt - _lps - _kst

Suggested answers:

tasks - risks - masks

asked - risked 

helps - gulps

fixed - waxed 

Read the following sentences:

1. I fixed the cracked masks.
2. Try not to take unnecessary tasks.
3. The firefighter risked their lives to save us.
4. Bob washed and waxed his car.

Word endings

100

Look these words. When do we use s-endings in English?

1) Mike's

2) develops

3) boxes

1) possessives

2) third person singular

3) plural nouns

200

The ed-endings can have 3 different pronunciations. What are they? Examples?

a) /t/: helped, looked, washed 

b) /d/: called, cleaned, offered

c) /id/: wanted, needed

300

Read out these phrases.

Claire's chairs * Max's faxes * Trish's wishes * Bob's jobs * Di's pies- * Rose knows * Rose's roses * The witch's watches * Pat's hats * George's fridges *

1. Claire's /z/ chairs /z/
2. Max's /əz/ faxes /əz/
3. Trish's /əz/ wishes /əz/
4. Bob's /z/ jobs /z/
5. Di's /z/ pies /z/
6. Rose /z/ knows /z/
7. Rose's /əz/ roses /əz/
8. The witch's /əz/ watches /əz/
9. Pat's /s/ hats /s/
10. George's /əz/ fridges /əz/

400

Sort out the words according to the pronunciation of ed-endings: /t/; /d/; /id/

watched, used, hated, laughed, loved, breathed, kissed, amazed, danced, sounded, damaged, followed, enjoyed, fixed

/t/: watched, laughed, kissed, danced, fixed

/d/: used, loved, breathed, amazed, damaged, followed, enjoyed

/id/: hated, sounded

500

Why do words ending with voiceless sounds such as "sleep, book, hat" have the pronunciation as /s/, but not /z/, in third singular person or plural form?

And why do words ending with voiced sounds such as "bag, fan, play" have the pronunciation as /z/, but not /s/, in third singular person or plural form?

The pronunciation rules were formed based on convenience.

1) It's easier to pronounce voiceless sounds + /s/ (voiceless sound)

2) It's easier to pronounce voiced sounds + /z/ (voiced sound)

Schwa - Stress - Rhythm

100

Is this true or false? "The schwa /ə/ is the most common vowel in English."

Where to find the schwa? In stressed or unstressed syllables?

Where else (optional)? Give at least 3 example words.

True.

In unstressed syllables. 

And functional words (e.g., and, to, them)

200

Which syllables/words are stressed? Where are the /ə/? Say the phrase.

1. Move to the center
2. Must understand
3. Ask them a question
4. Was responsible

1. 'muv tə ðə ˈsɛntər

2. məst ˌʌndərˈstænd

3. 'æsk ðəm ə ˈkwɛsʧən  

4. wəz riˈspɑnsəbəl

300

Why are certain words emphasized in a sentence?

How to emphasize a word?

To communicate a specific meaning.

By making it sound louder and longer with a higher pitch.

Try this:

"I completed this task on Monday morning." (I didn't though)

"I completed this task on Monday morning." (we're talking about different tasks)

"I completed this task on Monday morning." (not Wednesday)

"I completed this task on Monday morning." (not evening)

400

Rhythm is the music of a language.

Discuss the key difference between English rhythm and Chinese rhythm?

Hint: Chinese rhythm is rather even. Each syllable is equally...

Chinese rhythm is rather even. Each syllable is equally stressed.

 English rhythm is organized around stressed and unstressed syllables. 

The intervals/lengths between stressed syllables in English are relatively regular.