1 UNESCAP LANGUAGE PROGRAMME PRONUNCIATION SKILLS Duration: This course is held once a week, 2 hours a class, for 13 weeks. (Please check posted schedule for dates and time.) Description: This course is designed to improve clarity, accuracy, and understanding of spoken English through study and practice of pronunciation features as they occur in real speech, using models from television, movies, and online talks. Emphasis is on individualized feedback through audio and video recording technology as well as on student self-evaluation of speech. Objectives: By the end of this course, students should: Have developed an understanding of individual pronunciation targets Be able to effectively self-monitor speech production and make appropriate corrections Demonstrate a basic understanding of vowel and consonant sound production with a focus on improving individual problem areas related to first language interference Demonstrate competency in reading a phonemic alphabet and habitually consult a dictionary to verify accurate pronunciation Understand fundamental patterns of stress, rhythm, and intonation Feel increased confidence about their intelligibility when speaking in a variety of settings Distinguish various letters and sounds, syllables, and English accents Differentiate between stressed words and non-stressed words Identify the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) symbols for the common sounds of English Reduce the number of "breaks in communication" caused by being misunderstood Figure out the Common Pronunciation Mistakes Eligibility: English Programme Level 6+ Book used in class: Hancock, Mark. English Pronunciation in Use. Cambridge University Press, 2003. Last Update: January 2017 Page 1
2 Lesson Plan for Pronunciation Skills WEE K # TOPICS ACTIVITIES/ ASSIGNMENTS 1 Syllabus/overview of pronunciation skills course Overview of pronunciation concepts Introduction to Voice Thread, English Central, and other sites of interest. Thought Groups and Intonation Consonants: Classification according to place and manner of articulation and voicing Consonant distinctions /l/, /n/ and /r/, aspiration, flap Consonant Clusters Common mispronunciations ed and s Vowels Review vowel chart and symbols Review articulation Videos: American vs. British English - Vowel Sounds - Pronunciation differences https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liz78rwhspc Phonetic Chart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufdm3ufv6pg Activity: Self-Introductions Thought groups and Intonation Common intonation patterns Pausing after thought groups Pausing after sentence groups Whole class Tasks Introduce Consonant Clusters Common mispronunciations ed and s Focus on Consonant Sounds Focus on Vowel Sounds -In class, the teacher has chosen 4-6 videos to address different pronunciation points in the class. Each video is presented line by line so that you can record your voice and then listen and compare your recording to the original. Speech Recording Assignments using Voice Thread (videos from englishcentral.com) You will practice different pronunciation features in a number of youtube videos located on an English learning Last Update: January 2017 Page 2
3 website called Englishcentral.com. (Beginner Level videos) 2 Book: Hancock, Mark. English Pronunciation in Vowel and Consonant Sounds Chart will be provided for students. Listen and repeat after the teacher and the recording. Students will practice how to use their mouths, air vibration, and tongues to pronounce the correct consonant sounds and vowel sounds ( Ask Students to bring small to medium-sized mirror, to bring to class regularly) Videos: Speak Clear English Tip #1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbfwf7xpj8e Speech Recording Assignments using Voice Thread (videos from englishcentral.com) You will practice different pronunciation features in a number of youtube videos located on an English learning website called Englishcentral.com (Intermediate Level videos) Clear English Tip #2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfzsca9v6nu 3 Book: Hancock, Mark. English Pronunciation in Last Update: January 2017 Page 3
4 Individual Work Listen and circle the words they hear, complete the spelling activity. Read out loud to acknowledge the different types of vowel and consonant Whole Class Listen and repeat after the teacher and the recording. Students will practice how to use their mouths, air vibration, and tongues to pronounce the correct consonant sounds and vowel Video: Sounds of English Vowels and Consonants (phonetic symbols) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwtdpu2te6k Extension Activity: Video text http://rachelsenglish.com/listenin g-comprehension-2-syllablewords/ Speech Recording Assignments using Voice Thread (videos from englishcentral.com) You will practice different pronunciation features in a number of youtube videos located on an English learning website called Englishcentral.com (Advanced Level videos) 4 Book: Hancock, Mark. English Pronunciation in Focus on Stress and Rhythm- Exercises on Stress and Rhythm Word stress and sentence stress Content words vs. function Last Update: January 2017 Page 4
5 words Linking and Reductions Common reductions Rules for Linking Individual Work Listen and circle the words they hear, complete the spelling activity. Read out loud to acknowledge the different types of vowel and consonant Whole Class Listen and repeat after the teacher and the recording. Games: Pronunciation Cards= Guess the Word Stress Videos: English Pronunciation - Syllables and Word Stress https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnibgnc6wm The Secret to Improve American English Pronunciation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lac-hprkoo8 Syllable Pattern Help https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu51ecdlkiu &list =PLQi7FjDnMqO1lOkqgdev_hjyGVXSBgm_g&in dex=12 5 Native Speaker Analysis Assignment (Students will be assigned a short speech of a native Speaker and transcribe exactly what you hear) Examples and Models will be displayed Extension Activity Students will use their hands to clap in order to count the syllables of different words from http://www.manythings.org/liste n/ Practice and go over exercises done in class. Linking and Reductions Exercises: Focus on Linking and Reductions Extension Activity Last Update: January 2017 Page 5
6 Video: Pronunciation Maze Game Pair work Learn English: How to understand native speakers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nigdf69tsne In order to acquaint students with real-life examples of the pronunciation features presented in the course and to improve their listening comprehension, students will be asked to listen to the Speech of Native Speaker and complete a variety of exercises. These samples of speech will be provided for students. Students will be assigned one recording, and students will do this by using their mobile phone or computer to record. 6 Book: Hancock, Mark. English Pronunciation in Individual Work Listen and circle the words they hear, complete the spelling activity. Read out loud to acknowledge the different types of vowel and consonant Whole Class Listen and repeat after the teacher and the recording. Games: Pair Work Extension Activity/ Last Update: January 2017 Page 6
7 UN Radio Listen and Repeat http://www.unmultimedia.org/ radio/english/ 7 Book: Hancock, Mark. English Pronunciation in Individual Work Listen and circle the words they hear, complete the spelling activity. Read out loud to acknowledge the different types of vowel and consonant Last Update: January 2017 Page 7
8 Whole Class Listen and repeat after the teacher and the recording. Pronunciation Games 8 Book: Hancock, Mark. English Pronunciation in Individual Work Listen and circle the words they hear, complete the spelling activity. Read out loud to acknowledge the different types of vowel and consonant Whole Class Listen and repeat after the teacher and the recording. Pronunciation Games: Tim s Pronunciation Workshop: http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningen glish /english/course/towardsadvanced/ unit-1/session-5 Last Update: January 2017 Page 8
9 Complete the pronunciation skills (Intonation, Stress Placement) handouts given in class. Oral Presentation Practice Seminar Participation Last Update: January 2017 Page 9
10 9 Final Presentation This assignment consists of a short, 5-10 minute mini-presentation/teaching activity. Students will be asked to explain, compare and teach their peers how to pronounce a particular set of sounds within Native English. These pairs will be assigned well before your presentation, and students will be video-taped in order to help them improve your speaking style. Students will also be asked to produce a self-evaluation after giving the presentation. Final Presentations/Miniteaching. Self-evaluations 10 Review for the final Examination / Review and integration of key targets Go over the topics covered during the previous weeks Question and Answer Time Review for the final Examination 11 12& 13 Written Examination Give back the examination results and go over the correct answer. Instructor-- Student Consultations Course Wrap-up Written Examination End of the course ************************* Last Update: January 2017 Page 10