English for Social Purposes - Pronunciation

English 1A - Pronunciation

WEEK 2
Monophthongs 1: The vowel sounds /i:, ɪ, u:, ʊ/


i: ɪ u: ʊ
tea ship too good

What are vowel sounds?

In the production of vowel sounds, the vocal tract is open so that there is no obstruction to the
air flow escaping over the tongue. The characteristic sound of a vowel depends on the shape
and size of the resonant space in the mouth.

What are consonant sounds?
Consonant sounds are made by restricting or blocking the air flow in some physical ways, and
this restriction, or the release of the restriction, is what gives the consonant its characteristic
sound. By contrast, vowels require the vocal tract to be open so that the air stream escapes
unobstructed.

1. The vowel sounds /i:/ & /ɪ/
Look at the diagrams to see how to make these sounds.
Open your mouth just a little for the sound /i:/. Spread your
lips into a smile. Push your tongue forward in your mouth. /i:/
is a long sound. Move your tongue up a little as you say it.

/i:/

Practice the sound /i:/. Open your mouth a little more for /ɪ/. Do
not spread your lips into a smile. Pull your tongue down a little.
/ɪ/ is a shorter, more relaxed sound than /i:/.


/ɪ/

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English for Social Purposes - Pronunciation

Task 1: Track 01. Listen to these word pairs

and repeat



















Task 2: Track 02. Common expressions
Listen and repeat these common expressions with the sound /i:/

Really? I can’t believe it.

I agree. Please to meet you.
Could you repeat that, please? Can I speak to Lee?

Track 03: Listen and repeat these common expressions with the sound /ɪ/

Listen to this. Do you speak English?

Who is it? It think it’s interesting.
Come in. Where do you live? I live in the city.

Task 3: Track 04: Listen to these word pairs. Write S if the two words are the same or D if the
two words are different.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Task 4: Track 05: Fill in the dialogue with 1 word with the sound “/ɪ/”. Listen and check. Then
practice the dialogue in pairs.

Cindy (ringing her friend’s doorbell)

Mrs. Kim Hello, Cindy.
Cindy Hi, Mrs. Kim. Is William in? Is he coming with me to the
film? I picked up a for him.
Mrs. Kim Oh, William’s sick.

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English for Social Purposes - Pronunciation

Cindy Here he is! Hi, William! Are you ?

William What film is it? Anything ?
Cindy King Kong. And it in fifteen minutes.
William Fifty minutes? Come in and down.
Cindy Not fifty minutes, fifteen!
Mrs. Kim Listen, William, you’re sick, I don’t think….
William Quick! Or we’ll miss the of the film!


2. The vowel sound /u:/& /ʊ/

Look at the diagram to see how to make these sounds.
Push your lips forward into a circle. Pull your tongue up and
back. /u:/ is a long sound. Push your lips into a tighter circle as
you say it



/u:/

Practice the sound /u:/. Open your mouth a little more for /ʊ/.
Your lips should be less round. Do not push them into a tight
circle. ʊ is a shorter, more relaxed sound than /u:/.


/ʊ/

Task 5: Track 06: Listen to these word pairs
and repeat


Task 6: Track 07: Listen and circle the word
you hear

1. The sign on the door says (“Pool”/

“Pull”).
2. (Luke/ Look), I want you to come
here.
3. Where did that black (suit/ soot)
come from?
4. I think he’s (a fool/ full).

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English for Social Purposes - Pronunciation

5. I (stewed/ stood) the vegetables in the pot.

6. She stepped on my (food/ foot).
Task 7: Track 08: Say each of these sentences in pairs. Then listen and compare
your pronunciation with the model.
1. This sugary pudding is full of goodness.
2. Wouldn’t it be better if you look for new wool socks?
3. Put the book on the shelf by all the other cookbooks.
Track 09:
1. The cruise ship had a movie theater and excellent food.
2. By June the tulips were blooming beautifully.
3. The new school was truly super.
Task 8: Track 10: Listen to the dialogue. Fill in the blanks with should, shouldn’t, could, couldn’t,
would, or wouldn’t.
Julia Luke, could you help me look for my book? I’m not sure where I put
it.
Luke
Which book?
Julia
My new cookbook-Good Cooking.
Luke
Julia I look in the bookcase?
Luke No, the bookcase is full. It be there.
Julia Maybe you look in the living room.
Luke I looked everywhere, even under the cushions.
Julia you use another cookbook?
Luke No, the cookbook I’m looking for is sugar-free, fat-free-
Julia (interrupting)- food-free cookbook?
Luke Very funny. You eat too much junk food. It isn’t good for you.
Julia But it tastes good!
Well, you eat so much sugar. Hmm…. I think you took that book
Luke and put it somewhere so I use it.
I didn’t put it anywhere! (pause) I think you look under that box of
Julia cookies.
(picking up the cookies) Oops.

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English for Social Purposes - Pronunciation

English 1A - Pronunciation

WEEK 3
Monophthongs 2: The vowel sounds / a:, ʌ, ə/


a: ʌ ə
car sun the

1. The vowel sound /ʌ/
Look at the diagram to see how to make this sound.
Relax your tongue, and rest the tongue tip just behind your bottom front teeth. Slightly
lift the middle of your tongue.
Task 1: Track 11: Examples
Come blood cut
Young does must
My mother’s brother’s my uncle; my uncle’s son’s
my cousin.

Task 2: Track 12: Say each of these sentences and the paragraph in pairs. Then listen and
compare your pronunciation with the model.

1. There’s just enough butter left for one more if you want another muffin.
2. I’ve had enough of your worrying-trust me. It’ll be fun.
3. Nothing’s as yummy as this Southern honey-you’ll love it!
Task 3: Track 13: Monkey

There are dozens of different kinds of monkeys. Some are small, and others are much
bigger. Monkeys are closely related to humans- you could say they’re our distant cousins.
Sometimes when watching monkeys, we can recognize human behaviors, and it can be
very funny! For example, some monkeys use tools and construct ordered societies.
Scientific studies have shown that monkeys understand languages and can solve
problems and communicate.

2. The vowel sound / a:/

Look at the diagram to see how to make this sound.

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English for Social Purposes - Pronunciation

Open your mouth quite wide. Relax your tongue and allow the tip to rest just behind your
bottom front teeth.
Task 4: Track 14: Examples
Calm card cart
Star starve start
Harm halve half
It’s hard to park a car in a dark car park
Task 5: Track 15: Say each of these sentences and the paragraph in pairs. Then listen and
compare your pronunciation with the model

1. She started laughing at her aunt’s party dancing.

2. The large palm trees swayed in the afternoon breeze.
3. The bar was very smart looking and a charming place for a glass of wine after a
hard day’s work.
Task 6: Track 16: Giraffes
The giraffe is a native of the grassland and a savannah between Chad, Somalia and
South Africa, but there are now many in captivity. They are an animal that can inspire
laughter due to their rather bizarre appearance, namely their long neck and black and
tan patterned body. They aren’t the fastest of animals and they can’t swim, yet adult
giraffes aren’t targeted by many predators- only the calves are at risk.


3. The vowel sound /ə/
Look at the diagram to see how to make this sound.
Part our lips and teeth, just a little. Relax your tongue and leave the tip to rest naturally,
just behind your bottom front teeth.

Now make a very short sound. The schwa should have no shape at all. Lips, tongue and
jaw are all neutral and relaxed.
Task 7: Track 17:

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English for Social Purposes - Pronunciation

Task 8: Track 18: Read this story aloud. The spelling has been changed to show you when
to make the sound /ə/. Then listen to the recording to compare your pronunciation with
the model.

Barbərə spent last Satərday aftənoon looking ət ə beautifəl book əbout South əmericə.
“I want tə go tə South əmericə ,” she said tə həself.
Thə next morning, when Barbərə woke up it was six ‘clock, ənd hə brothəs nd sistəs wə
still əsleep. Barbərə looked ət thəm, ənd closed hər eyes əgain.

Then she quiətly got out əf bed ənd started tə pack hə suitcase.
She took səme comfətəble clothes out əf thə cupbəd. She packed ə pair əf binoculəs ənd
hə sistə’s camərə. She packed ə photəgraph əf həself ənd one əf hə mothə ənd fathə.

“I mustn’t fəget t have səme breakfast, she sai tə həself.

Bət then she looked ət thə clock. It wəs ə quartə tə seven.

“I’ll jəst drink ə glass əf watə,” she said.
“ə glass əf watə,” she said.
“watə,” she said, ənd opened hə eyes.

She wəs still in hə bed, ənd hə brothəs ənd sistəs wə laughing ət hə.
“Tell əs what you wə dreaming əbout,” they said tə hə.

Bət Barbərə didn’t answə. She wəs thinking əbout hə wondəful journey tə South
əmericə.

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English for Social Purposes - Pronunciation

English 1A - Pronunciation

WEEK 4
Monophthongs 3: The vowel sounds /ɔ:, ɒ, e, æ, ɜ:/


/ɔ:/ /ɒ/ /e/ /æ/ /ɜ:/

caught hot well cat girl

1. The vowel sounds / æ / & / ɒ /

Look at the diagrams to see how to make these sounds.

The sound / æ /. This vowel is short.

Relax your tongue and rest the tip just behind your bottom front teeth. The back of the tongue
is low for this sound, the blade lifts forward slightly, but not the tongue tip. The tongue tip stay
down low.

The sound / ɒ /. This is a short vowel.

Relax your tongue and allow the tip to rest just behind your bottom front teeth. The back of the
tongue is low, almost as low as for as / æ / in “bath”.

/ æ / /ɒ/

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English for Social Purposes - Pronunciation



Task 1: Track 19: Listen to these word pairs and
repeat










Task 2: Track 20: Listen and circle the word
you hear.

1. Cat/ cut/ cot 3. Cap/ cup/ cop 5. Hat/ hut/ hot

2. Ran/ run/ Ron 4. Sack/ suck/ sock 6. Dan/ done/ Don

Listen to each sentence and circle the word you hear.

1. Don’t sit on the (cat/ cot)!
2. He keeps his money in a (sack/ sock).
3. That (color/ collar) looks good on you.
4. There’s a (duck/ dock) on the lake.
5. Did you see that (cap/ cup/ cop)?
6. Is that (Dan/ done/ Don)?
Task 3: Track 21: Listen to the dialogue, then practice in pairs, pay attention to the sound /æ/
Detective Excuse me, ma'am, do you recognize any of the men in this photograph?
Alice Yes, that one. That's him! That's the man who robbed the bank!
Detective The man with the black pants?
Alice Yes. But he had a mustache.
Detective A mustache? This man? Last Saturday?
Alice Yes. And he was wearing a jacket.
Detective A black jacket?
Alice No, a plaid jacket. Red plaid.
Detective Can you tell me exactly what happened?
Alice Well, I was working at the bank on Saturday afternoon. Suddenly,
this man ran past me, grabbed a handful of cash, and stuffed it in a
bag.
Detective What kind of bag?
Alice A plastic bag.
Detective And what happened after that?
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English for Social Purposes - Pronunciation

Alice He ran back out again. It all happened so fast.

Detective And you're absolutely sure the man in this photograph is the
same man?
Alice Yes. Absolutely. That's him.
Detective Thank you for your help.
Alice I hope you catch him!

Game: "John went shopping"
Play this game in groups of four or five people. Choose a phrase from box 1 and a phrase
from box 2 below. Each person adds something new.
Example: A John went shopping and he spent a lot of money. He got a teapot for his aunt.
B John went shopping and he spent a lot of money. He got a teapot for his
aunt and some socks for his cousin.

Box 1 Box 2

a clock a teapot a deck of cards for his father for his son
a laptop a novel a a box of pasta for his mother for his daughter
a watch wallet a a box of chocolates for his brother for his cousin
a guitar scarf some socks for his aunt for his grandmother
a car a doll tickets to a rock concert for his uncle for his grandfather

2.The vowel sounds /ɔ:/ & /ɜ:/

Look at the diagrams to see how to make these sounds.
The sound / ɔ:/.

• This vowel is long. Relax your tongue and

allow the tip to rest just behind your bottom
of front teeth.
• The back of the tongue is high, but not
as high as for the /u:/ vowel.



The sound /ɜ:/.

This vowel is a longer version of the schwa (/ ə /) with a

slightly lower tongue position.
• Part your lips and teeth, just a little.
• Relax your tongue and leave the tip to rest

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English for Social Purposes - Pronunciation

naturally just behind your bottom front teeth; the tongue should be a fraction
lower than for the / ə / sound.
• Now make a long vowel sound.
• Don't allow the tongue to move or the lips to make a shape - however tempting!
Lips, tongue and jaw are all neutral and relaxed.


Task 4: Track 22: Listen to these word pairs and repeat

Task 5: Track 23: Listen and circle the word you hear.

1. Four/ far/ fur 3. Short/ shut/ shirt 5. Torn/ ton/ turn

2. Store/ star/ stir 4. Bored/ bud/ bird 6. Born/ ban/ bun/ burn

Task 6: Track 24: Work with your partner. Read the dialogue and fill in the blanks with
words having the sound /ɜ:/. Then listen again and check. Practice the dialogue.

Bert Nurse! Nurse! I'm thirsty!
Earl Nurse! My head hurts
Bert (turning to Earl) Pearl is the nurse, isn't she?
Earl Personally, I think Kurt is worse.
Bert Mmm. He always leaves work
Earl And he always wears a shirt.
Bert I heard he thirty dollars an hour.
Earl He doesn't deserve it.

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English for Social Purposes - Pronunciation

Bert He and Pearl weren't at work on Thursday, they?

Earl They're the worst nurses on the floor, aren't they?
Bert No - they're the worst nurses in the

Task 7: Track 25: Say each of these sentences and the paragraph in pairs, pay attention to the
sound /ɔ:/. Then listen and compare your pronunciation with the model.

1 He thought she caught the four forty train, but she boarded the fourteen forty.
2 She's awfully sporty, and spends all her time on the netball court.
3 The autumn ball was awesome, and not as boring as Paul had thought.

Task 8: Track 26: Horses
Horses are adorable animals. They are very strong and have been relied upon to
support people throughout history. They have been important in farming, policing,
and even warfare, but perhaps most often in sport. You can visit a racecourse to
watch horses that have been taught to respond to commands racing in front of an
enormous audience.

3. The vowel sound /e/

Listen to the sound /e/. Look at the diagram to see how to make these sounds. Then practice
saying the words with the sound /e/.

• Relax your tongue and allow the tip to rest just behind your bottom front teeth.
• Let the front of the tongue raise
slightly as though it is heading
for the roof of the mouth.
• The tongue tip does not need to come up.
•
Track 27: Listen and identify the words with the
sound /e/
Listen

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English for Social Purposes - Pronunciation

Task 9: Track 28: Listen and circle the word you hear.

1. Bin/ bell 3. Wrist/ rest 5. Spill/ spell

2. Pin/ pen 4. Chicks/ checks 6. Bitter/ better

Task 10: Track 29: Listen to the

dialogue. Mark each sentence below
T for true and F for false. Correct the
sentences that are false.
1. ….F….. Jenny went to
Mexico.
Venice

2. ……….. She went with her
sister.

3. ……….. The weather was dry.

4. ……….. The hotel was expensive.

5. ……….. The restaurants were terrible.

6. ……….. She said it was the best vacation ever.

Listen again and read the dialogue. Check your answers .
Jenny Hello, Ben!
Ben Hi, Jenny. Welcome back.
Jenny Thanks!
Ben Where did you spend your vacation?
Jenny I went to Venice with a friend.
Ben Venice? I'm jealous! Tell me everything! When did you get back?
Jenny Yesterday.
Ben How was the weather?
Jenny Wet!
Ben Was it expensive?
Jenny Yes. Very. Especially the hotel.
Ben How were the restaurants?
Jenny They were excellent. But expensive. I spent every cent I had.
Ben So ... the weather was wet, everything was very expensive, and you don't
have any money left. It sounds terrible!
Jenny No. It was the best vacation ever!

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