Initial and Final Consonants (Web-based lesson plan)

I.              Before you start

1. Watch an excerpt of the movie “Thanks for Smoking.” Pay attention to how the main character addresses his audience and how persuasive he can be. Also, pay attention to the initial and final sounds when people speak. 



Now talk to your partner about the video using the following questions:

What persuasive skills does the main character use?

Is he a good persuasive speaker? Why?

What does he do to convince his audience?

II. Getting down into business

2. You are going to review some information about the theory on Initial and Final Consonants. 

Initial and Final Consonants on Prezi  

 2.2. In pairs, answer the questions given.

a)      Besides being voiced and voiceless, how can consonants be differentiated?

b)      What is aspiration?

c)       When are all voiceless sounds aspirated?

d)      How is aspiration phonetically represented?

e)      When are all medial consonants aspirated?

f)       When is /t/ flap?

g)      What is lengthening?

h)      How do you phonetically represent lengthening?

i)        When are stressed vowels lengthened?

j)        When are voiceless sounds aspirated at the end of words?

3. Listening practice

 3.1 Go to the following links to practice some initial sounds. 

http://www.manythings.org/mp/m09.html 

http://www.manythings.org/mp/m15.html 

http://www.manythings.org/mp/m25.html 

  

3.2 Now, let´s play a little. Go to the following links and listen to the tongue twisters paying close attention to the initial and final sounds. Then, try to say them as fast as you can.

http://www.manythings.org/pp/woodchuck.html

http://www.manythings.org/pp/rubber_baby_buggy.html

           http://www.manythings.org/pp/she_sells_seashells.html

3.2 Listen to the words in the following link. Check the words you hear. Then, check with a classmate. 

 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ucrenglishlm1361/files/Pronunciation/Chapter%209%20MAEP/

1. (a. back) (b. pack)
2. (a. bear)  (b. pear)
3. (a. mob)  (b. mop)
4. (a. fast)  (b. vast)
5. (a. feel)  (b. veal)
6. (a.few)  (b. view)
7. (a. safe)  (b. save)
8. (a. cold)  (b. gold)
9. (a. cave)  (b. gave)
10. (a. back)  (b. bag)
11. (a. dime)  (b. time)
12. (a. bed)  (b. bet)
13. (a. dead)  (b. debt)
14. (a. feed)  (b. feet)
15. (a. grade)  (b. great)
16. (a. led)  (b. let)
17. (a. seal)  (b. zeal)
18. (a. ice)  (b. eyes)
19. (a. loss) (b.laws)
20. (a. peace)  (b.peas)
21. (a. place)  (b.plays)
22. (a. race)  (b. raise)
23. (a. bridges)  (b. breeches)
24. (a. ridge)  (b. rich)
25. (a. ether)  (b. either)

3.3 a. Watch the following videos to review some of the theory studied.

I. This lesson describes the / t / sound that is similar to a / d / sound.

II. This video describes the importance of vowel lengthening in English.

III. This video describes the importance of vowel lengthening in English. This will give you a chance to do some exercises and understand extra long vowels in sentences.

b. Pronounce the following sentences paying particular attention to the underlined parts of the words. This exercise will give you a chance to work on the special type of medial / t / that is pronounced “somewhat like a / d /.”

a. What´s hurting you?

b. She´s getting the potatoes.

c. It´s a pity you waited so long.

d. There´s not enough water to matter.

e. Betty wanted to stay later at the party.

f. They have better butter at Ralph’s.

 

I.              Follow-up 

4. Application

4.1. Record the following words using aspirated consonants.

Picnic

Take

Cook

Plates

Tennis

Croquet

Tea

Coffee

Pear

Peach

Apple

Barbecue

Basket

People

Towel

Park

Cold drinks

Table cloth

Potato salad

Potato chips

Napkins

Paper

Milk

Cups

Pie

Car

Plan

Play

Clean

Ice cream

Go to the following link to record: http://voicethread.com/share/1460101/

Now, listen to your recording and analyze if your pronunciation is correct or if it needs to be improved.

 

4.3 Go to the link below. Look at the quote and the cartoons and then give a 2-minute persuasive speech about it. Take a stand and explain your reasoning. Then, listen to your classmates’ comments.

(THIS RECORDING WILL BE CHECKED AND EVALUATED BOTH BY YOURSELF AND THE TEACHER TO EVALUATE THE PRONUNCIATION ASPECTS STUDIED IN THE UNIT)

 voicethread.com/share/1460395/


5.  Go to the following link to get the self assessment sheet. Evaluate your speech. Mark the options in the rubric provided. Save it in your desktop and send it to my mail. Good luck!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ucrenglishlm1361/files/Pronunciation/