My students often claim that they can't hear the difference.
Procedure
- To help students hear the difference I explain that I am going to say a word with the / I / sound several times then change to a word with the / i: / sound. The students should raise their hands when they hear the word change. I then say "ship, ship, ship, ship, ship, sheep, sheep,…". This procedure can be repeated with other words ("hit"/"heat", "it"/"eat" etc.)
- To help students differentiate these sounds in the context of longer utterances, I then do the same with a sentence: "I saw a big ship, I saw a big ship, I saw a big ship, I saw a big ship, I saw a big sheep, I saw a big sheep…" until the students can hear the change.
- I then write, in phonemic script, the words 'Steve' and 'Jill' on the board above a picture of a man and woman. I ask the students "Who is this?" When it has been established that the two characters are Steve and Jill I ask "Who is Jill's partner?" (and point to the / I / sound). An acceptable answer would be 'Chris', 'Phil', 'Kim', 'Tim', 'Jim' or any other name containing the / I / sound. If you want to make it easier, you could ask "Who's her partner, Chris or Pete?" Students should understand the idea of this game quite quickly.
- I then ask "What's Jill's favourite food / drink?" Answers could be 'milk', 'fish', 'chips', 'gin' etc. I write this information on the board and continue asking questions about Jill and Steve until there are two columns with information about Jill and Steve's lives (where they live, favourite colours, animals etc.)
- I then drill sentences such as "Jill likes fish and chips", "Jill likes Brad Pitt" or "Steve lives with Pete Reid".
- In subsequent lessons, when a student makes a / I /or / i: / pronunciation error such as saying 'deeficult' instead of 'difficult', I write the word 'difficult' on the board and ask "Is this a Steve word or a Jill word?". Students can answer then be asked to pronounce the word correctly.
Comments
Very Useful
Excellent concept. Many Argentinian pupils struggle to distinguish between the short / I / sound and the longer /:i/ sound. This activity will be helpful for them.
Sound Discrimination
Great idea. For many Brazilian students it is quite difficult to differentiate the short / I / sound and the longer /:i/ sound. This activity will help them. Thanks for sharing.
Sound Discrimination
This is an excellent technique to introduce pupils to the concepts of sound discrimination and phonetic symbol recognition. They will be able to hone their ear as well as their tonged position in response to various sounds.
Differntiation in sounds.
Drilling of word pronunciation is very good, especially for beginners.
This a good example repeating like this ("hit"/"heat", "it"/"eat" etc.)
Sound Discrimination
I like how easy it is to understand and how simple it is structured. Teachers can use these detailed explanations to make their lessons more involving and easy when it comes to sound identification.
Great ideas and new methods…
Great ideas and new methods to explain the difference in a simple way.
Thanks
Interestingly !
My students will love this method and grasp the difference faster.
Sound Discrimination
This is very simplified for students. The example used has been very helpful
Differntiation in sounds.
This is an excellent way of teaching pronunciation to learners.
Sound discrimination
That is a great job. Also one of the ways to discriminate voiced and voiceless sounds is by touching the glottis .
sound discrimination
This is an interesting way of teaching sound discrimination. Thanks
It can be combined with…
It can be combined with teaching intonation
Sound dicrimination
Amazing technique to diffrenciate between long towels and short vowels in the sound and how about to say a word and let them think about different to words with the same sound
sound discrimination
I think that a very interactive and unique way for sound discrimination . I hope that I do it with my class
sound discrimination
I think that a very interactive and unique way for sound discrimination . I hope that I do it with my class
it is new and enjoyable…
it is new and enjoyable method we have a new technique for teaching pronunciation, it is beneficial, and I assure this to my learners. discrimination is a strong step
first step
teaching ss the differences between long and short vowels is important in learning pronunciation.
Sound discrimination
An amazing technique that enables students to practically differentiate between long and short vowel phonemes and making minimal pairs at the same time.
How To Teach Pronunciation
Sound discrimination is the ability to recognise the differences and similarities between sounds e,g "bit" and "beat"
Differntiation in sounds.
I think it great means of teaching hoping to use it effectively in my career.
pronuciation
I have a new technique for teaching pronunciation, it is beneficial, and I reflect this to my learners.
Thank you.
Sound Discrimination
This is a good method for teaching pronunciation and an interesting way that help the students to differentiate sounds
Nice explanation and very…
Nice explanation and very helpful in differentiating sounds.
It an interesting way to…
It an interesting way to teach students and attract their intonation by games.
Differentiation in pronuciation.
Now one can be able to do similar examples to differentiate between words of similar spelling.
Sound differention
It's a good way to help student to differentiate sounds
Sound Discrimination
Nice to know that. This article clarified my ideas in this case.
it is a great idea! I have…
it is a great idea! I have never thought in that way.
Sound Discrimination
I like the way of sound discrimination by repeating the word with sound / I / and / ee /to differentiate between both. It helps to understand slow and quick utterance of words while listening and speaking. GREAT IDEA!
This is a great idea I will…
This is a great idea I will tray it in my class
Voice discrimination or difference
This one a bit helpful initiative in classroom as well as understand.
Sound discrimination
As sounds form meaningful units and often become the only sense distinctive instrument it is quite important to teach students to hear this difference and be able to pronounce words correctly.
thank you...helpful indeed