It's good to know Phonetic Alphabet

First of all, you should know that the English spelling does not help us pronounce correctly. There are many words sharing the same spelling but with different pronunciation.  Many of you might guess from the spelling of some words and mispronounce the words by associating them with the words you have seen and are familiar with. For example, you see the word "mow" so you think of the word "now" and pronounce it with the same vowel sound "au", which makes it "mau".


 However, this is the wrong pronunciation because the vowel sound of "mow" is the same as the vowel sound in "no".  The right pronunciation is "mo" as in "no" and not "mau" as in "now".  This can happen all the time with some other words such as "giant"(=j) and "god"(=g), "chime"(=ch) and "character"(=k), "see"(=s) and "Sean"(=sh).


How can we know how to pronounce each sound?  Do we have to learn only by trial and error? Do we have to feel embarrased every time other people don't understand our pronunciation and in the end exclaim "Oh, you mean - - - - - -?"


Please watch the videos about phonetics and pronunciation from the website BBClearningenglish.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIPOGkyx-7I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSYJ2jNhaMs&feature=related





Here is a video clip for consonant sounds from BBC learning English.  After the clip ends, you can click the suggested clips appearing at the end for other consonant sounds:






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh6uuwkA3o8&feature=related
























































































I'd also like to recommend many other websites which provide us with useful videos.


The first one is
http://international.ouc.bc.ca/pronunciation/


The second one is
http://www.uiowa.edu/~acadtech/phonetics/#
http://www.uiowa.edu/~acadtech/phonetics/anatomy.htm
http://www.uiowa.edu/~acadtech/phonetics/english/frameset.html


I'd also like you to click the following website and practice whatever you can:




http://evaeaston.com/consonants.html
http://evaeaston.com/vowels.html
http://evaeaston.com/t-d-Id-pattern.html
http://evaeaston.com/s-z-Iz-pattern.html
http://evaeaston.com/sl-pattern.html
http://evaeaston.com/stress-pattern.html


If you want to pronounce better, you must keep practicing and you can click this website:


http://dictionary.cambridge.org/


Don't forget to learn the phonetic symbols given after each word you click.


Next, I'd like you to look at more videos from Youtube as suggested here:













The following video shows how to pronounce the final "ed" sounds and introduces sentence stresses and intonation.  It is very cute indeed.

http://youtu.be/XlSeYt6PN6s

Suggestions for practicing stresses

Dear Students


I am posting the video clips for sentence stress for you to practice.
Please spare some time for these exercises.


Here are the video clips:

http://youtu.be/Wbs5aoqFtVQ

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

http://youtu.be/-toSnwSqqz0

_____________________________

http://youtu.be/lhRgU28n8rc




_____________________________________-

http://youtu.be/nwWPUfaqnpE

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http://youtu.be/FNU2NKW6oQo

Dear Students


Please be informed that your pronunciation class has reached its half semester period.  Many of you are still struggling with the sounds and symbols.  Only the studies in class will not be enough to help you pass the exams with a good score.  You need to practice and check the pronunciation with the models from the provided video clips and recommended websites, from both my weblog and my lectures. Also you will have to click the Cambridge Dictionary online to review the spelling and symbols together with the model pronunciation for stresses and consonant and vowel sounds.


The Midterm exam includes written/listening test, which is 50 points, and the oral exam, which is also 50 points.


What will be in the exams?


As you have already been told, the written exam is divided into 5 parts. The first part is identifying which syllable is stressed.  The second part is writing the phonetic symbol of the initial sound.
The third part is writing the phonetic symbol of the medial sound.
The forth part is writing the phonetic symbol of the final sound.
Lastly, the fifth part is identifying the phonetic transcription of the whole word by choosing from 4 alternatives.


The oral test will include pronouncing 10 assigned words for stresses and consonant and vowel sounds (these are taken from the practiced exercises done in class or homework).  Then, the pronunciation of ten words taken from a dictionary. Finally, the reading of a sentence or a short paragraph.  This will be given to you when you arrive at the exam room and you have 15 minutes to prepare by checking with your notes or a talking dictionary. This oral exam is 50 points.


The dates of the exams have been announced, so be prepared for all of these forms of tests.


Remember that you should practice, practice and practice. If you go blank in the exams, I will assume that you are taking this course too slightly and the scores will reflect your lack of attention and effort in studying this course.


Happy Mother's Day!


Best regards
Kru Nina