Home > Lesson 8: Multiple Actions > Unit 8.8 Conclusion
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Presentation
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Quiz
#1. It takes ________ actions to get from ‘facts were’ to a ________ connection.
#2. Leaving ________ sounds next to the ________ sound in a syllable ________ from the ________ sound.
#3. It is possible to understand the ________ of a sentence simply by hearing the ________ and knowing the ________.
#4. It is easy to misunderstand somebody who does not use connected speech because ________.
#5. Native speakers will gladly move forward, delete, add, and change consonant sounds in order to ________, and in doing so ________ the sound spine.
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Discussion
- How do you feel about consonant sounds being ‘expendable’ in English? Are they expendable in your L1? Do you believe that vowel and consonant sounds should have equal status in English speech? Give reasons. If you still feel like that after completing this course, it may be worth going back to revise a few of the key points!
- The course has almost finished. Has your spoken English improved by following this course? In what way? What have you learned? What have you enjoyed doing the most? What have you learned? What do you need to go back and revise? Have you been surprised in any way? How much progress have you made? Has anybody commented on your spoken English to say that it has improved? What has been the most difficult part of the course for you? Would you recommend it? Would you consider going through the course again?
Practice
- Read slide 6. Think of five new phrases for each action and practice them out loud, focusing on making the action seem as unobtrusive as possible – all the time emphasising the vowel sounds, rather than the consonant sounds. Put some of your phrases into sentences and practice them out loud. Record, slow down, and check your pronunciation. Ask a friend or teacher to listen to you and give you feedback. Add glottal stops when necessary and change consonant sounds moving forward when required.
- Practice making the transitions in the phrase on slide 7. Say each stage out loud.
- Practice reading the sentence on slide 8 with the word ‘were’ reduced to simply w + schwa sound. Find out what an ’embedded schwa sound’ is.
- Remind yourself about the schwa sound and why it is so important to English pronunciation. It’s the reason we use connected speech!
- Read slide 13. Practice the phrase ‘facts were’ and the sentence ‘The facts were clear.’ Make sure ‘were’ is reduced to w + schwa sound. Try to make the a sound ‘sing out loudly … like a bright bell’.