English Pronunciation Exercises - Short Vowels and Consonants

Esta entrada es publicada por Carlos Cartagena, Lengua y Literatura Inglesa 5 "2"

By Kenneth Beare, About.com Guide

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• vowels and consonants
• improving pronunciation
• esl teaching techniques

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 big bat bet he could beat the others. - Don't worry too much about the sentence making much sense!

ih - pronounced 'ih' as in 'hit'	ee - pronounced 'ee' as in 'see'	eh - pronounced 'eh' as in 'let'	ae - pronounced 'ae' as in 'cat'
big	beat	bet	bat
pig	peep	pet	pat
did	deal	death	dad
tip	teeth	tell	tap
gill	gee!	get	gap
kill	keep	kept	cat
sip	see	set	sat
zip	zeal	zeppelin	zap
ship	sheet	shelf	shaft
gin	jeep	jell	jack
chip	cheek	chess	chat
hit	heat	help	hat

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'