Activity 1. - Match the words from the box to the pictures below.

the universe the Sun spell a cast the

stars the sky count take by the hand
a b d a drink the lights
c

h
f g i
e

Activity 2. - Study the theory and examples, then practice the exercises.

Aspects of connected speech:

A. – Linking (1): Consonant + Vowel B. - Assimilation

When one word ends with a consonant sound
and the next word begins with a vowel sound
there is a smooth link between the two.
Examples:
Assimilation is when two sounds come together and change or
melt into a new sound. Final ‘t’s and ‘d’s when followed by words
like ‘you’ or ‘your’ take on a different character or sound.
Examples:
/t/ + /j/ → /ʧ/ What you want /wɒtʃuː wɒnt/
/d/ + /j/ → /ʤ/ Would you? /wʊdʒuː/

Practice
'Just a moment...' 'Take a’ Practice
'Can I...' 'My dog is a...' would you like some tea? /wʊdʒu:/
'Once upon a time...' Nice to meet you /mi:tʃu:/

Activity 3. – This is the lyrics of a song. Read it and underline where you could connect the words. Then
listen to the song and check your answers and put the lyrics in order.

Turn the lights out now The sun goes down

Now I'll take you by the hand
Hand you another drink The stars comes out
Drink it if you can And all that counts
Can you spend a little time? Is here and now
Time is slipping away
My universe
Away from us so stay
Stay with me; I can make Will never be the same
make you glad you came I'm glad you came

You've cast a spell on me, spell on me

You hit me like the sky fell on my, fell on me
And I've decided you look well on me, well on me
So let's go somewhere no one else can see, you and me

Activity 4. – Listen to the song again and sing it out.

Activity 5. – Choose a text from any English textbook and read it out by using these two aspects of the connected
speech.
 Activity types: Vocabulary matching, Reading, phonetics (Aspects of Connected Speech), order
 Level: Pre-intermediate/Intermediate
 Language Focus: Linking (1): Consonant + Vowel; Assimilation
 Grmmar: Phrasal verbs, can, imperative, present continuous, will, present perfect, Suggestions with Let’s
 Notes: "Glad You Came" is a song by British-Irish boy band The Wanted, taken as the second single from their
second studio album, Battleground. It was released on 10 July 2011. The dance-pop song was written by
Steve Mac, Wayne Hector and Ed Drewett, and was produced by Steve Mac. It peaked at number one on the
UK Singles Chart and the same position on the Irish Singles Chart, as well as number two in Canada and
number three in the United States, becoming their most successful single to date.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Pre-listening activities

1. Give each student a copy of the folded worksheet and ask them to do Activity 1. They have to match the
words from the box to the pictures.
Key:
a) Count d) The sun g) Take by the hand
b) The sky e) The stars h) a drink
c) Spell a cast f) The universe i) the lights

2. Ask the students to study the theory and examples, then they have to practice the exercises.
3. - Tell the students that they are going to read the lyrics of a song and they have to read it and underline where they can
connect the words.

Listening activities

1. After they underline the connected speck, play the song so that they can listen to the song and check their answers and
put the lyrics in the correct order.

3 1 The sun goes down

Turn the lights out now
Now I'll take you by the hand The stars comes out
Hand you another drink
Drink it if you can And all that counts
Can you spend a little time? Is here and now
Time is slipping away My universe
Away from us so stay
Will never be the same
Stay with me; I can make
make you glad you came I'm glad you came

2
You've cast a spell on me, spell on me
You hit me like the sky fell on my, fell on me
And I've decided you look well on me, well on me
So let's go somewhere no one else can see, you and me

2. Play the song and ask the students to listen to the song and sing it out.

Follow up

1. Ask the students to look for and choose a text from any English textbook and read it out by using these two
aspects of the connected speech. (Homework)
 Chorus

The sun goes down

The stars comes out
And all that counts
Is here and now
My universe
Will never be the same
I'm glad you came

You've cast a spell on me, spell on me

You hit me like the sky fell on my, fell on me
And I've decided you look well on me, well on me
So let's go somewhere no one else can see, you and me

Turn the lights out now

Now I'll take you by the hand
Hand you another drink
Drink it if you can
Can you spend a little time?
Time is slipping away
Away from us so stay
Stay with me, I can make
Make you glad you came