Speaking Activity 3

English Pronunciation Exercises - A Diphthongs

The following series of pronunciation exercises combines words beginning with the same dipthong sound followed by similar diphthong sounds. Voiced and voiceless consonants are paired (b - voiced / p - voiceless, d - voiced / t - voiceless, etc.) to help students compare and contrast similar consonant formation.

1. Repeat each line slowly, listen for the minor differences between the vowel and consonant sounds.
2. Repeat each line three times. Each time repeat more quickly trying to keep the sounds distinct.
3. Find a partner and listen to each other repeat the lines.
4. Try to invent sentences using each sound at least once. For example: We ate cake and flew a kite on my birthday. - Don't worry too much about the sentence making much sense!

'ay' as in 'day'	'ai' as in 'die'
bay	buy
pay	pie
day	die
table	tie
gay	guy
cake	kite
say	sigh
zany	Zaire
shape	shy
Jake	jive
chase	child
hey!	hi

Vowel Sounds

'eh' - as in 'let', 'ih' - as in 'hit', 'ee' - as in 'see', and 'ae'- as in 'cat'
'long ah' - as in 'car', 'short ah' - as in 'got'
'long uh' - as in 'put', 'short uh' - as in 'up', 'oo' - as in 'through'

Diphthong Sounds

'ay' - as in 'day', 'ai' - as in 'sky'
'ou' - as in 'home', 'ow' - as in 'mouse', 'oi' - as in 'boy'
'ieh(r)' - as in 'near', 'ehi(r)' - as in 'hair'

English Pronunciation Exercises - E Diphthongs

The following series of pronunciation exercises combines words beginning with the same diphthong sound followed by similar diphthong sounds. Voiced and voiceless consonants are paired (b - voiced / p - voiceless, d - voiced / t - voiceless, etc.) to help students compare and contrast similar consonant formation.

1. Repeat each line slowly, listen for the minor differences between the vowel and consonant sounds.
2. Repeat each line three times. Each time repeat more quickly trying to keep the sounds distinct.
3. Find a partner and listen to each other repeat the lines.
4. Try to invent sentences using each sound at least once. For example: The bear went into the bar and had a beer. - Don't worry too much about the sentence making much sense!

Note: The following diphthongs are pronounced differently in British and American English. British English drops the 'r' sound and pronounces a slight 'uh' - 'hair' becomes 'hehuh'. In American English the 'r' is strongly pronounced - 'hair' becomes 'hehrrr'.

'ieh(r)' as in 'near'	'ehi(r)' as in 'hair'
beer	bear
peer	pear
dear	dare
tear (drop of water)	tear (rip)
gear	garish
clear	Claire
seer	snare
sheer	share
jeer	Jerry
cheer	chair
here	hair

Vowel Sounds

'eh' - as in 'let', 'ih' - as in 'hit', 'ee' - as in 'see', and 'ae'- as in 'cat'
'long ah' - as in 'car', 'short ah' - as in 'got'
'long uh' - as in 'put', 'short uh' - as in 'up', 'oo' - as in 'through'

Diphthong Sounds

'ay' - as in 'day', 'ai' - as in 'sky'
'ou' - as in 'home', 'ow' - as in 'mouse', 'oi' - as in 'boy'
'ieh(r)' - as in 'near', 'ehi(r)' - as in 'hair'

English Pronunciation Exercises - O Diphthongs

The following series of pronunciation exercises combines words beginning with the same diphthong sound followed by similar diphthong sounds. Voiced and voiceless consonants are paired (b - voiced / p - voiceless, d - voiced / t - voiceless, etc.) to help students compare and contrast similar consonant formation.

1. Repeat each line slowly, listen for the minor differences between the vowel and consonant sounds.
2. Repeat each line three times. Each time repeat more quickly trying to keep the sounds distinct.
3. Find a partner and listen to each other repeat the lines.
4. Try to invent sentences using each sound at least once. For example: The Pope went to the pow-wow and was very poised. - Don't worry too much about the sentence making much sense!

'ou' as in 'home'	'ow' as in 'house'	'oi' as in 'boy'
bowl	bow	boy
Pope	pow-wow	poise
don't	Dow	doily
toe	towel	toy
go	gouge	goiter
cope	cow	coy
soap	sour	soy sauce
zone	zowie!	(none)
show	shower	(none)
Jones	jowl	join
chose	ciao!	choice
home	howl	hoist

Vowel Sounds

'eh' - as in 'let', 'ih' - as in 'hit', 'ee' - as in 'see', and 'ae'- as in 'cat'
'long ah' - as in 'car', 'short ah' - as in 'got'
'long uh' - as in 'put', 'short uh' - as in 'up', 'oo' - as in 'through'

Diphthong Sounds

'ay' - as in 'day', 'ai' - as in 'sky'
'ou' - as in 'home', 'ow' - as in 'mouse', 'oi' - as in 'boy'
'ieh(r)' - as in 'near', 'ehi(r)' - as in 'hair'

English Pronunciation Exercises - U Sounding Vowels

The following series of pronunciation exercises combines words beginning with the same consonant sound followed by similar vowel sounds. Voiced and voiceless consonants are paired (b - voiced / p - voiceless, d - voiced / t - voiceless, etc.) to help students compare and contrast similar consonant formation.

1. Repeat each line slowly, listen for the minor differences between the vowel and consonant sounds.
2. Repeat each line three times. Each time repeat more quickly trying to keep the sounds distinct.
3. Find a partner and listen to each other repeat the lines.
4. Try to invent sentences using each sound at least once. For example: The butcher put on his boots but he forgot his hat. - Don't worry too much about the sentence making much sense!

'long uh' as in 'put'	'short uh' as in 'up'	'oo' as in 'shoe'
butcher	but	boot
put	pup	poof!
(none)	duck	do
Tokay	tough	tooth
good	gulp	Google
cook	cup	cool
soot	supper	suit
(none)	(none)	zoom
shook	shut	shoot
(none)	jump	June
churn	Chuck	choose
hook	hup!	who

Vowel Sounds

'eh' - as in 'let', 'ih' - as in 'hit', 'ee' - as in 'see', and 'ae'- as in 'cat'
'long ah' - as in 'car', 'short ah' - as in 'got'
'long uh' - as in 'put', 'short uh' - as in 'up', 'oo' - as in 'through'

Diphthong Sounds

'ay' - as in 'day', 'ai' - as in 'sky'
'ou' - as in 'home', 'ow' - as in 'mouse', 'oi' - as in 'boy'
'ieh(r)' - as in 'near', 'ehi(r)' - as in 'hair'