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Telephone number pronunciation

This activity practises discrete vowel sounds. It practises both speaking and listening skills. It works well in pairs or in groups and usually generates lots of fun.

Author
Derek Spafford

You need to print out one copy of the worksheet for each student. You can download the worksheet below. You may need to ask learners to make up telephone numbers if they are not comfortable in giving out their real numbers to their classmates or if they don't have a telephone. It can be adapted to include other sounds, minimal pairs or stress patterns.

Procedure

  • Draw the face of a mobile telephone on the board.
  • Elicit the numbers and then dictate a number to the students.
  • One by one, erase the numbers and replace them with the words on the worksheet, drill the pronunciation as you do this.
  • Dictate another number to the students this time saying the words and not the numbers.
  • Students then work together as a class, in groups or in pairs and repeat the procedure with their own telephone numbers.
  • If they have given their real numbers, you could get the students to actually phone the number and check.

Adaptation

To practise scan reading skills.

  • Give out a classifieds section of a newspaper.
  • Students choose a number and dictate it using the procedure above.
  • Students then scan the newspaper page to find the corresponding classified and either write it on the board or shout it out. This could be done as a team game.
Language Level
Pre-intermediate: A2
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Comments

Submitted by MicaelaMoreira on Sat, 09/02/2023 - 20:09

This is a wonderful way to incorporate technology into the classroom; children enjoy using their cellphones.

Submitted by Rubina_Karim on Wed, 08/30/2023 - 20:14

I found this strategy very interesting to practice the vowels through telephone number.
GREAT

Submitted by MicaelaMoreira on Wed, 08/30/2023 - 01:29

I found this excellent to increase technology into the classroom, students love using their cellphones

Submitted by TeacherPeter03 on Thu, 08/24/2023 - 23:36

This activity sounds great, is very important to use a important tool for students, as a telephone.

Submitted by ChayilGrace on Tue, 08/22/2023 - 07:18

This method is helpful. A creative activity to get students to practice their pronunciation correctly and also with speed.

Submitted by Hebamahros on Fri, 08/18/2023 - 15:24

I have known a new method

Submitted by Amany Hakim on Fri, 08/18/2023 - 01:41

I like this method, and l will use this activity with my students
Thanks

Submitted by maramhd on Thu, 08/10/2023 - 13:20

Great

Submitted by Ayman hassan on Tue, 08/08/2023 - 02:50

Thanks a bunch

Submitted by Biswadeep Auddy on Sat, 08/27/2022 - 20:39

I think my students will enjoy it.

Submitted by Shakhnozakhon on Fri, 05/13/2022 - 08:51

Excellent 👍

Submitted by Haideé Gómez on Wed, 03/30/2022 - 15:52

With this activity I could introduce my students to differentiate vowel sounds as well as vocabular in a fun way. Tanks a lot.

Submitted by Aryongzhu on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 05:36

Pretty interesting. I could apply this to my teaching so students might not feel bored and also have a chance to let them use their brain more often.  

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/01/2013 - 21:30

Hi, you may explain that "was" is only the past tense of "is" (verb BE) and every verb has its own past tense. "Was" can also be followed by another verb, indeed: the "ing" form (here you can explain the present continuous) and the past participle of the verb, (here you can explain the passive voice). I hope I have been of some help.

Submitted by M. Junaidi Marzuki on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 02:56

I love it. it make me easy to understand English native speaker, especially in listening

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