Today I wanted to post two "songs" which are used in schools in English speaking countries to show the pronunciation effect of silent <e> at the end of words. We talked a bit about this in Advanced Level 1 A; I'll comment on it in the CAL group next week.
They're songs for children, I know... But they're rather catchy! And they can help you too! :)
Showing posts with label Pronunciation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pronunciation. Show all posts
Saturday, 28 September 2013
Thursday, 7 February 2013
From Roberto Romera, 2ºB
Hi everyone,
Roberto Romera, from 2ºB, has found this extremely useful website for pronunciation: www.forvo.com As you know, you can check the pronunciation of a word in a normal dictionary, but many of them aren't included, for example proper names. In this website you can consult the pronunciation any word. Just make sure you choose the pronunciation is in English! Here I include the word I looked up: "Brussels":
I'm sure you will use this website a lot, for example in your presentations, where you include names that don't appear in the dictionary. Thanks for sharing, Roberto!
In this entry I also post another link that you can use for listening. It has plenty of (many) listening podcasts that you can listen to online, or download to your computer. Click here and check it out!
In this entry I also post another link that you can use for listening. It has plenty of (many) listening podcasts that you can listen to online, or download to your computer. Click here and check it out!
www.es.forvo.com - thanks to Roberto Romera
Hi everyone,
Roberto Romera, from 2ºB, has found this extremely useful website for pronunciation: www.es.forvo.com. As you know, you can check the pronunciation of a word in a normal dictionary, but many of them aren't included, for example proper names. In this website you can consult the pronunciation any word. Just make sure you choose the pronunciation is in English! Here I include the word I looked up: "Brussels":
I'm sure you will use this website a lot, for example in your presentations, where you include names that don't appear in the dictionary. Thanks for sharing, Roberto!
From Roberto Romera, 2ºB
Hi everyone,
Roberto Romera, from 2ºB, has found this extremely useful website for pronunciation: www.forvo.com As you know, you can check the pronunciation of a word in a normal dictionary, but many of them aren't included, for example proper names. In this website you can consult the pronunciation any word. Just make sure you choose the pronunciation is in English! Here I include the word I looked up: "Brussels":
I'm sure you will use this website a lot, for example in your presentations, where you include names that don't appear in the dictionary. Thanks for sharing, Roberto!
In this entry I also post another link that you can use for listening. It has plenty of (many) listening podcasts that you can listen to online, or download to your computer. Click here and check it out!
In this entry I also post another link that you can use for listening. It has plenty of (many) listening podcasts that you can listen to online, or download to your computer. Click here and check it out!
Sunday, 11 November 2012
Some pronunciation practice
Hi again!
Do you remember that at the end of unit 1 we saw the differences between the sounds /æ/ and /a:/? Well, here you have two videos to revise those sounds, and practise with some words!
Do you remember that at the end of unit 1 we saw the differences between the sounds /æ/ and /a:/? Well, here you have two videos to revise those sounds, and practise with some words!
Some pronunciation practice
Hi again!
Do you remember that at the end of unit 1 we saw the differences between the sounds /æ/ and /a:/? Well, here you have two videos to revise those sounds, and practise with some words!
Do you remember that at the end of unit 1 we saw the differences between the sounds /æ/ and /a:/? Well, here you have two videos to revise those sounds, and practise with some words!
Some pronunciation practice
Hi again!
Do you remember that at the end of unit 1 we saw the differences between the sounds /æ/ and /a:/? Well, here you have two videos to revise those sounds, and practise with some words!
Do you remember that at the end of unit 1 we saw the differences between the sounds /æ/ and /a:/? Well, here you have two videos to revise those sounds, and practise with some words!
Saturday, 5 May 2012
Weeks 27 and 28
Hello everyone!!
I hope your weekend has started well!! Although the weather is miserable... I hope the wind goes away soon! :)
In the last two weeks we've finished Unit 9, where we talked about everyday problems, problems with neighbours, adjectives of feelings, how to make invitations, etc. We also revised how to pronounce -ed at the end of words. Remember the rule:
If you want to improve your pronunciation, you have some interesting exercises on this website. You can also check this other link.
On Wednesday we started Unit 10 and we talked about fashion and shopping. We saw some differences between men and women and we also learnt the structure "used to".
I hope your weekend has started well!! Although the weather is miserable... I hope the wind goes away soon! :)
In the last two weeks we've finished Unit 9, where we talked about everyday problems, problems with neighbours, adjectives of feelings, how to make invitations, etc. We also revised how to pronounce -ed at the end of words. Remember the rule:
/t/: PoKaSH FiCHaS
/id/: Te Doy
/d/: the rest
On Wednesday we started Unit 10 and we talked about fashion and shopping. We saw some differences between men and women and we also learnt the structure "used to".
(Taken from www.englishgrammarsecrets.com)
If you want to practise a bit more, here you have a variety of exercises:
Exercise 1: matching.
Exercise 2: put the words in the correct order.
Exercise 3: I've also found this exercise which uses a song by Madonna called "This used to be my playground". It's a bit old, but it's good for listening and grammar practice! :)
For homework, please do exercises 2 and 3 on pages 88 and 89, and the copy about the passive. Thank you :)
I hope you have a great weekend!
Ana.
Pronunciation of -ed ending; used to
Hello everyone!!
I hope your weekend has started well!! Although the weather is miserable... I hope the wind goes away soon! :)
In the last two weeks we've finished Unit 9, where we talked about everyday problems, problems with neighbours, adjectives of feelings, how to make invitations, etc. We also revised how to pronounce -ed at the end of words. Remember the rule:
If you want to improve your pronunciation, you can check this link.
On Wednesday we started Unit 10 and we talked about fashion and shopping. We saw some differences between men and women and we also learnt the structure "used to".
I hope your weekend has started well!! Although the weather is miserable... I hope the wind goes away soon! :)
In the last two weeks we've finished Unit 9, where we talked about everyday problems, problems with neighbours, adjectives of feelings, how to make invitations, etc. We also revised how to pronounce -ed at the end of words. Remember the rule:
/t/: PoKaSH FiCHaS
/id/: Te Doy
/d/: the rest
If you want to improve your pronunciation, you can check this link.
On Wednesday we started Unit 10 and we talked about fashion and shopping. We saw some differences between men and women and we also learnt the structure "used to".
(Taken from www.englishgrammarsecrets.com)
If you want to practise a bit more, here you have a variety of exercises:
Exercise 1: matching.
Exercise 2: put the words in the correct order.
Exercise 3: I've also found this exercise which uses a song by Madonna called "This used to be my playground". It's a bit old, but it's good for listening and grammar practice! :)
For homework, please do exercises 2 and 3 on pages 88 and 89, and the copy about the passive. Thank you :)
I hope you have a great weekend!
Ana.
Weeks 27 and 28
Hello everyone!!
I hope your weekend has started well!! Although the weather is miserable... I hope the wind goes away soon! :)
In the last two weeks we've finished Unit 9, where we talked about everyday problems, problems with neighbours, adjectives of feelings, how to make invitations, etc. We also revised how to pronounce -ed at the end of words. Remember the rule:
If you want to improve your pronunciation, you have some interesting exercises on this website. You can also check this other link.
On Wednesday we started Unit 10 and we talked about fashion and shopping. We saw some differences between men and women and we also learnt the structure "used to".
I hope your weekend has started well!! Although the weather is miserable... I hope the wind goes away soon! :)
In the last two weeks we've finished Unit 9, where we talked about everyday problems, problems with neighbours, adjectives of feelings, how to make invitations, etc. We also revised how to pronounce -ed at the end of words. Remember the rule:
/t/: PoKaSH FiCHaS
/id/: Te Doy
/d/: the rest
On Wednesday we started Unit 10 and we talked about fashion and shopping. We saw some differences between men and women and we also learnt the structure "used to".
(Taken from www.englishgrammarsecrets.com)
If you want to practise a bit more, here you have a variety of exercises:
Exercise 1: matching.
Exercise 2: put the words in the correct order.
Exercise 3: I've also found this exercise which uses a song by Madonna called "This used to be my playground". It's a bit old, but it's good for listening and grammar practice! :)
For homework, please do exercises 2 and 3 on pages 88 and 89, and the copy about the passive. Thank you :)
I hope you have a great weekend!
Ana.
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Week 9
Hello everyone!
How's the weekend going? Last week we had three days of class: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On Monday we did a short activity to guess the meaning of some jobs (midwife, masseuse, tailor, plumber and trashman) and then we did a listening about some people with some very strange jobs! Then we did an exercise about word-formation with the suffixes -ion, -or, -ant, -er and -ment.
Finally, we listened to three different conversations where people had to apologise, give reasons and finally make a promise: I'm sorry I can't meet you tonight because I have to work, but I'll see you next Saturday. You practised these expressions with Leah on Wednesday.
With her you also talked about safety at work and we corrected the text on page 32, which was a bit difficult for some of you. Finally, we listened to Kevin, who offered Lara a job as an aider. That wasn't very difficult, was it?
On Friday we corrected the review on page 31 and we saw the difference between /s/ and /ʃ/. You didn't have many difficulties, but some of you still confuse /g/ and /d3/. Click here for a "game" where you can practise this difference.
We also played a board game to revise units 1-3. To end with, I prepared a video from the BBC about a woman giving advice to visitors in Barcelona. We didn't have time to do the activities, so we'll watch it again and do them on Monday.
For homework:
Deadline: Wednesday 23rd November, 23.59 h
I also gave you two copies to revise units 1 and 2 (Progress Check 1; Progress Check 2). Do them at home and we'll have a look at them on Wednesday.
How's the weekend going? Last week we had three days of class: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On Monday we did a short activity to guess the meaning of some jobs (midwife, masseuse, tailor, plumber and trashman) and then we did a listening about some people with some very strange jobs! Then we did an exercise about word-formation with the suffixes -ion, -or, -ant, -er and -ment.
Finally, we listened to three different conversations where people had to apologise, give reasons and finally make a promise: I'm sorry I can't meet you tonight because I have to work, but I'll see you next Saturday. You practised these expressions with Leah on Wednesday.
With her you also talked about safety at work and we corrected the text on page 32, which was a bit difficult for some of you. Finally, we listened to Kevin, who offered Lara a job as an aider. That wasn't very difficult, was it?
On Friday we corrected the review on page 31 and we saw the difference between /s/ and /ʃ/. You didn't have many difficulties, but some of you still confuse /g/ and /d3/. Click here for a "game" where you can practise this difference.We also played a board game to revise units 1-3. To end with, I prepared a video from the BBC about a woman giving advice to visitors in Barcelona. We didn't have time to do the activities, so we'll watch it again and do them on Monday.
For homework:
- Exercises 4 and 5, page 33
- A composition: write an e-mail to a friend giving him/her advice about jobs. Your friend is undecisive and doesn't know what to do with his/her life. Choose one, two or three jobs and tell him about good and bad things about them (Check the first page in portfolio 3 of your workbook).
Deadline: Wednesday 23rd November, 23.59 h
I also gave you two copies to revise units 1 and 2 (Progress Check 1; Progress Check 2). Do them at home and we'll have a look at them on Wednesday.
Strange jobs; /g/ vs. /d3/
Hello everyone!
How's the weekend going? Last week we had three days of class: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On Monday we did a short activity to guess the meaning of some jobs (midwife, masseuse, tailor, plumber and trashman) and then we did a listening about some people with some very strange jobs! Then we did an exercise about word-formation with the suffixes -ion, -or, -ant, -er and -ment.
Finally, we listened to three different conversations where people had to apologise, give reasons and finally make a promise: I'm sorry I can't meet you tonight because I have to work, but I'll see you next Saturday. You practised these expressions with Leah on Wednesday.
With her you also talked about safety at work and we corrected the text on page 32, which was a bit difficult for some of you. Finally, we listened to Kevin, who offered Lara a job as an aider. That wasn't very difficult, was it?
On Friday we corrected the review on page 31 and we saw the difference between /s/ and /ʃ/. You didn't have many difficulties, but some of you still confuse /g/ and /d3/. Click here for a "game" where you can practise this difference.
We also played a board game to revise units 1-3. To end with, I prepared a video from the BBC about a woman giving advice to visitors in Barcelona. We didn't have time to do the activities, so we'll watch it again and do them on Monday.
For homework:
Deadline: Wednesday 23rd November, 23.59 h
I also gave you two copies to revise units 1 and 2 (Progress Check 1; Progress Check 2). Do them at home and we'll have a look at them on Wednesday.
How's the weekend going? Last week we had three days of class: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On Monday we did a short activity to guess the meaning of some jobs (midwife, masseuse, tailor, plumber and trashman) and then we did a listening about some people with some very strange jobs! Then we did an exercise about word-formation with the suffixes -ion, -or, -ant, -er and -ment.
Finally, we listened to three different conversations where people had to apologise, give reasons and finally make a promise: I'm sorry I can't meet you tonight because I have to work, but I'll see you next Saturday. You practised these expressions with Leah on Wednesday.
With her you also talked about safety at work and we corrected the text on page 32, which was a bit difficult for some of you. Finally, we listened to Kevin, who offered Lara a job as an aider. That wasn't very difficult, was it?
On Friday we corrected the review on page 31 and we saw the difference between /s/ and /ʃ/. You didn't have many difficulties, but some of you still confuse /g/ and /d3/. Click here for a "game" where you can practise this difference.We also played a board game to revise units 1-3. To end with, I prepared a video from the BBC about a woman giving advice to visitors in Barcelona. We didn't have time to do the activities, so we'll watch it again and do them on Monday.
For homework:
- Exercises 4 and 5, page 33
- A composition: write an e-mail to a friend giving him/her advice about jobs. Your friend is undecisive and doesn't know what to do with his/her life. Choose one, two or three jobs and tell him about good and bad things about them (Check the first page in portfolio 3 of your workbook).
Deadline: Wednesday 23rd November, 23.59 h
I also gave you two copies to revise units 1 and 2 (Progress Check 1; Progress Check 2). Do them at home and we'll have a look at them on Wednesday.
Week 9
Hello everyone!
How's the weekend going? Last week we had three days of class: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On Monday we did a short activity to guess the meaning of some jobs (midwife, masseuse, tailor, plumber and trashman) and then we did a listening about some people with some very strange jobs! Then we did an exercise about word-formation with the suffixes -ion, -or, -ant, -er and -ment.
Finally, we listened to three different conversations where people had to apologise, give reasons and finally make a promise: I'm sorry I can't meet you tonight because I have to work, but I'll see you next Saturday. You practised these expressions with Leah on Wednesday.
With her you also talked about safety at work and we corrected the text on page 32, which was a bit difficult for some of you. Finally, we listened to Kevin, who offered Lara a job as an aider. That wasn't very difficult, was it?
On Friday we corrected the review on page 31 and we saw the difference between /s/ and /ʃ/. You didn't have many difficulties, but some of you still confuse /g/ and /d3/. Click here for a "game" where you can practise this difference.
We also played a board game to revise units 1-3. To end with, I prepared a video from the BBC about a woman giving advice to visitors in Barcelona. We didn't have time to do the activities, so we'll watch it again and do them on Monday.
For homework:
Deadline: Wednesday 23rd November, 23.59 h
I also gave you two copies to revise units 1 and 2 (Progress Check 1; Progress Check 2). Do them at home and we'll have a look at them on Wednesday.
How's the weekend going? Last week we had three days of class: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On Monday we did a short activity to guess the meaning of some jobs (midwife, masseuse, tailor, plumber and trashman) and then we did a listening about some people with some very strange jobs! Then we did an exercise about word-formation with the suffixes -ion, -or, -ant, -er and -ment.
Finally, we listened to three different conversations where people had to apologise, give reasons and finally make a promise: I'm sorry I can't meet you tonight because I have to work, but I'll see you next Saturday. You practised these expressions with Leah on Wednesday.
With her you also talked about safety at work and we corrected the text on page 32, which was a bit difficult for some of you. Finally, we listened to Kevin, who offered Lara a job as an aider. That wasn't very difficult, was it?
On Friday we corrected the review on page 31 and we saw the difference between /s/ and /ʃ/. You didn't have many difficulties, but some of you still confuse /g/ and /d3/. Click here for a "game" where you can practise this difference.We also played a board game to revise units 1-3. To end with, I prepared a video from the BBC about a woman giving advice to visitors in Barcelona. We didn't have time to do the activities, so we'll watch it again and do them on Monday.
For homework:
- Exercises 4 and 5, page 33
- A composition: write an e-mail to a friend giving him/her advice about jobs. Your friend is undecisive and doesn't know what to do with his/her life. Choose one, two or three jobs and tell him about good and bad things about them (Check the first page in portfolio 3 of your workbook).
Deadline: Wednesday 23rd November, 23.59 h
I also gave you two copies to revise units 1 and 2 (Progress Check 1; Progress Check 2). Do them at home and we'll have a look at them on Wednesday.
English and American English
Hi everyone,
How's your Sunday going? Here you have the usual summary after each week, plus some extra material. On Tuesday we corrected the unit on Indirect Speech -only two exercises left to correct-, and we worked with a handout about the differences between British (BrE) and American (AmE) English. We saw two different phenomena:
On Thursday we had one hour with Leah, where we talked about going to the doctor's -below you have the handout she worked with, in case you don't have a copy-. Surfing the Internet I've found this listening about making an appointment at the doctor's. Click here to listen to it and do a multiple choice exercise. If you prefer completing gaps, try this exercise instead. Finally, I leave you with the transcription and a vocabulary exercise.
Going to the doctor's
After that, we did a listening about differences in tipping in the US and the UK and we saw some pronunciation features of both accents -click here for a revision of the aspects we commented on in class-. Sometimes, it might be a bit difficult to calculate a 15% tip in your head, but I found this easy trick to do it relatively quickly (click on the image to enlarge it):
Does any of you have any better ideas?
In 4ºA, Leonor and Mª Carmen did their presentations about eating disorders and vegetarians, respectively. Thanks both of you for your effort.
For homework, I'd like you to do exercises 1, 4 and 8 on pages 36 an 37.
How's your Sunday going? Here you have the usual summary after each week, plus some extra material. On Tuesday we corrected the unit on Indirect Speech -only two exercises left to correct-, and we worked with a handout about the differences between British (BrE) and American (AmE) English. We saw two different phenomena:
- Two words, same meaning: underground vs. subway
- One word, different meaning: bill exists both in AmE and BrE, but the meaning is different.
On Thursday we had one hour with Leah, where we talked about going to the doctor's -below you have the handout she worked with, in case you don't have a copy-. Surfing the Internet I've found this listening about making an appointment at the doctor's. Click here to listen to it and do a multiple choice exercise. If you prefer completing gaps, try this exercise instead. Finally, I leave you with the transcription and a vocabulary exercise.
Going to the doctor's
After that, we did a listening about differences in tipping in the US and the UK and we saw some pronunciation features of both accents -click here for a revision of the aspects we commented on in class-. Sometimes, it might be a bit difficult to calculate a 15% tip in your head, but I found this easy trick to do it relatively quickly (click on the image to enlarge it):
Does any of you have any better ideas?
In 4ºA, Leonor and Mª Carmen did their presentations about eating disorders and vegetarians, respectively. Thanks both of you for your effort.
For homework, I'd like you to do exercises 1, 4 and 8 on pages 36 an 37.
Saturday, 5 March 2011
The past simple / -ed pronunciation
Good afternoon everyone,
I'm sorry I didn't update (actualizar) the blog last week, but I didn't have Internet access during the bank holiday... So here you have the summary of weeks 21 and 22!
First of all, we talked about travelling, and we read a story of two friends who wanted to fly to Sydney, Canada, but they arrived in a different place...! We also listened to a couple filling out a complaint form because their holidays were not good. In fact (de hecho), they were awful!
About grammar, we saw the past simple of the verb to be, regular and irregular verbs. Click here for a very complete and clear explanation of the past simple. We did a lot of practise, but here you have some more. You can do all the exercises, or select the most interesting for you:
- Was or were?
- Exercise on past simple
- Exercise on questions
- Exercise on interrogatives with a question word
- Text about Chicago
- Text about Oxford
Remember that in regular verbs, the pronunciation of the -ed is very important. Raquel Marín, from Basic Level E, gave me this link (thank you). I hope it helps you!
We also read and listened to the stories of three girls that had a night out in Moscow, Beijing and Rio. Was your last night out similar to theirs? Would you like to post a comment telling us about your last night out?? :)
We also read and listened to the stories of three girls that had a night out in Moscow, Beijing and Rio. Was your last night out similar to theirs? Would you like to post a comment telling us about your last night out?? :)
Finally, last Wednesday/Thursday we read a story about a murder... Can you remember who the murderer was?? I still can't believe it!! Then, in Basic Level D we played a very funny game called "Alibi". Basic Level E will play it next week!!
I hope you have a great weekend!
Ana.
Sunday, 13 February 2011
/i/ vs. /i:/; possessive adjectives & pronouns; at a clothes shop
Good morning (almost afternoon!)
As usual, here you have a summary of last week:
On Monday / Tuesday we continued talking about films and you read your summaries (which were very good!!). Then we did an exercise on pronunciation to learn the difference between /i/ and /i:/. For some of you this exercise was a bit difficult, so click here if you want to practise a little bit more.
About grammar, we revised object pronouns and we learnt possessive pronouns. We worked with a photocopy to revise how to express possession in English: possessive 's, possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns. Click here and here to do some more activities related to this. Remember to visit New English File online too and to complete the workbook :)
On Wednesday / Thursday we listened to two film critics talking about 5 different films. I know it was a bit difficult, but you did very well! So... congratulations!! :) We also learnt expressions to use in a clothes shop. Click here if you want to revise this.
Remember to bring the book England to class on Monday / Tuesday. Thank you.
As usual, here you have a summary of last week:
On Monday / Tuesday we continued talking about films and you read your summaries (which were very good!!). Then we did an exercise on pronunciation to learn the difference between /i/ and /i:/. For some of you this exercise was a bit difficult, so click here if you want to practise a little bit more.
About grammar, we revised object pronouns and we learnt possessive pronouns. We worked with a photocopy to revise how to express possession in English: possessive 's, possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns. Click here and here to do some more activities related to this. Remember to visit New English File online too and to complete the workbook :)
On Wednesday / Thursday we listened to two film critics talking about 5 different films. I know it was a bit difficult, but you did very well! So... congratulations!! :) We also learnt expressions to use in a clothes shop. Click here if you want to revise this.
Remember to bring the book England to class on Monday / Tuesday. Thank you.
Sunday, 6 February 2011
Consonant sounds; clothes; songs
Hello guys!
Last week we talked about the differences between men and women related to shopping and we learnt the pronunciation of the sound /ŋ/ - click here to revise some of the consonants we know. We learnt vocabulary about clothes and how to say what we are wearing. You can revise clothes here.
On Wednesday / Thursday we started to talk about films. We read a summary of the film Ghost, and we learnt "object pronouns", which are used to substitute nouns and after prepositions. Revise Grammar Bank 4C and practise with the Workbook.
Por último, dejo aquí tres canciones con un enlace al videoclip subtítulado y actividades para hacer online. Elegid la que más os guste, o haced las tres! :)
Last week we talked about the differences between men and women related to shopping and we learnt the pronunciation of the sound /ŋ/ - click here to revise some of the consonants we know. We learnt vocabulary about clothes and how to say what we are wearing. You can revise clothes here.
On Wednesday / Thursday we started to talk about films. We read a summary of the film Ghost, and we learnt "object pronouns", which are used to substitute nouns and after prepositions. Revise Grammar Bank 4C and practise with the Workbook.
Por último, dejo aquí tres canciones con un enlace al videoclip subtítulado y actividades para hacer online. Elegid la que más os guste, o haced las tres! :)
- "Change the world", by Eric Clapton
- "Sick of Love", by Robert Ramírez
- "1973", by James Blunt
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Past Simple vs. Past Continuous; stative & dynamic verbs; -ed ending
Hello there!
Here I leave you with some interesting material from the Internet to revise some of the things we covered in class last week. First of all you have an episode from The Flatmates, a series by the BBC where they focus on different aspects of the English language.
Click on this link and you'll be able to listen to it (you'll see that you can listen either with or without the tapescript in front of you). After you listen, click on the "language point", where you have an explanation of how the past simple and continuous are used in the same sentence. Then you can practise doing the "quiz".
We already know that the past simple and the past continuous are used for different purposes. However, remember also that some verbs cannot be used in the continuous form... can you remember which ones they are?
...
That's right! Stative or non-action verbs! If you don't remember this, or you simply want to revise, click on the following link.
To end with, a final note on pronunciation. Last week we saw that regular verbs in the past simple end in -ed. However, these two small letters can be pronounced in three different ways: /id/, /t/ and /d/:
Here you have a listening where we find out about these three pronunciations and we also listen to Sebastian, a student from Colombia, producing the correct sounds.
As you can see, in order to pronounce the -ed ending correctly it is important to know which sounds are voiced and which are voiceless/unvoiced, but... how do we know? I hope this video helps! :)
Here I leave you with some interesting material from the Internet to revise some of the things we covered in class last week. First of all you have an episode from The Flatmates, a series by the BBC where they focus on different aspects of the English language.
Click on this link and you'll be able to listen to it (you'll see that you can listen either with or without the tapescript in front of you). After you listen, click on the "language point", where you have an explanation of how the past simple and continuous are used in the same sentence. Then you can practise doing the "quiz".
We already know that the past simple and the past continuous are used for different purposes. However, remember also that some verbs cannot be used in the continuous form... can you remember which ones they are?
...
That's right! Stative or non-action verbs! If you don't remember this, or you simply want to revise, click on the following link.
To end with, a final note on pronunciation. Last week we saw that regular verbs in the past simple end in -ed. However, these two small letters can be pronounced in three different ways: /id/, /t/ and /d/:
Here you have a listening where we find out about these three pronunciations and we also listen to Sebastian, a student from Colombia, producing the correct sounds.
As you can see, in order to pronounce the -ed ending correctly it is important to know which sounds are voiced and which are voiceless/unvoiced, but... how do we know? I hope this video helps! :)
Sunday, 17 October 2010
An Introduction to Pronunciation
Last week I asked some of you to try and transcribe a few words... I was utterly amazed when you told me you had never seen phonetic symbols in your lives! Well, we have to put a solution to that! In class, we'll see symbols little by little, normally in pairs or triplets. However, just for you to have a general idea of how pronunciation works in English, here I leave you with two videos I've found on the Internet.
In the second video you have a general overview of phonetic symbols and the International Phonetic Alphabet: what are they? why are they necessary? Are there the same number of letters and phonetic symbols? Do they coincide?
The two main ideas in the first video are that:
- Good pronunciation is very important but... what do we mean by good pronunciation? Well, you don't have to sound like a native speaker. The only important thing is that your pronunciation doesn't impede communication. In other words, your pronunciation has to be clear enough for other people to understand.
- There are many English accents, and any model is as valid. I personally have a British accent, but if you prefer the American, Canadian or Australian, to cite but a few, that's perfectly fine!
In the second video you have a general overview of phonetic symbols and the International Phonetic Alphabet: what are they? why are they necessary? Are there the same number of letters and phonetic symbols? Do they coincide?
You have the complete list of phonetic symbols on pages 158 and 159 of your Student's Book. You also have a really useful list of the usual spellings for each sound. Please, have a quick look at it. And remember that you have plenty of practice for pronunciation, as well as grammar and vocabulary, in your multiROM!
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