English Phonology

About:

Here you will find a complete overview of the English phonological system as well as teaching techniques, materials, and lesson plans. The following links are in chronological order of a set program in somewhat of a ‘bloc-by-bloc’ structure starting from general fundamentals to more specific nuances. When implementing this phonological program in your classroom you can start from the very beginning, or implement the specific features you want as they come up (i.e. in a corresponding grammar lesson, for instance, teaching the pronunciation of -ed endings for the past simple). 

For Students:

This section is built for teachers; however, you can refer your students to any of the links on the ESL phonology for learners page here for explanation and practice exercises. 

For Teachers:

Consonant Sounds: Introduction

In one short blog, you will learn about pronouncing ALL of the consonants sounds of the English language; AND get a start on mastering phonology, speaking cool different accents, and getting a job as a famous actor or even a mysterious international spy! 

Consonant Sounds 2: Voicing

Learn about voicing one of the most important features of phonology to be aware of in order to really understand how sounds work; and how to improve your students’ abilities in pronouncing them.

Consonant Sounds 3: Mode of Articulation

How are consonant sounds produced? Learn about the ‘how’ consonant sounds are produced here.

Consonant Sounds 4: Place of Articulation

Where are consonant sounds produced? Learn about the final piece of the puzzle to pronounce consonant sounds with the link above. 

Consonant Sound Introductory Lesson

A full and detailed lesson plan that will not only teach your students the three main modes of pronouncing consonant sounds but will also give them plenty of speaking practice in a fun, practical, and communicative lesson.

North American Vowels

There are 16 vowel sounds in North American English (the dialects of the USA and Canada); however, there are ONLY 5 vowel letters – a, e, i, o, and u (well, six if you count the letter of ‘y’). If you want to know how to properly teach your students how to pronounce NAE, this is the blog for you. 

Pronouncing -ed Endings

Pronunciation of -ed endings is a common frustration for ESL students. Here, you will learn the rule governing the pronunciation of -ed endings and get some advice on how to implement this rule inside the classroom. 

Pronouncing -s/-es Endings

-s/-es endings are common place and often mispronounced. Find out the rule governing the pronunciation of -s/-es endings and how best to teach their pronunciation to your students. 

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