 Pronunciation: Problem-solving syllabus

 201, 202 & 203

 Go directly to the most common and serious problems that

o spoil Ss' speech and create misunderstandings (e.g., “sank you” which is thank you;
o hinder listening comprehension (e.g., linking & reductions).
o Don't teach sounds we already have in Arabic.
 Practice class correction
o Start with self-correction, then peer, and T's is the last resort.
o You may write the sounds as Ss pronounce them to better reveal the mistakes through
contrasts between the target sounds & the wrong ones (e.g., "ze first sing zat zey sink
of is zis.")
o Make a Word file for feedback. As they speak, write down Ss' mistakes under Action
Points and write down Ss' correct pronunciations (the target ones of the week) under
Great Points.
o Share the file with Ss on your screen and guide them to do self or peer correction.
o Bravo them on the correct target sounds they did.
o Share the file on Teams for Ss reference.

Weeks Sounds Objectives

 Follow the suggested order:
o from the most crucial to the least important;
o from letters to sounds;
o from the easiest to the most difficult/boring.
1 Compare - Solve speaking miscommunication
- th in three vs. s problems
- th in there vs. z
- th in three vs. th in there
- p vs. b
2 - -ed of the past simple - Solve accuracy problems

3 Miscellaneous tips Solve problems

- \ŋ\ in –ing - Accuracy
- qu - New vocab without a dictionary
- soft & hard c & g + exceptions - New vocab without a dictionary
- common silent letters & clusters - New vocab without a dictionary
4 - Video: Final consonant clusters Solve problems
- Accuracy
- Miscommunication

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Weeks Sounds Objectives
 Follow the suggested order:
o from the most crucial to the least important;
o from letters to sounds;
o from the easiest to the most difficult/boring.
5 Link to & compare with final consonant clusters: - Master native accent
- Linking - Understand native accent (improve
(includes different types of consonant clusters) listening)
6 - Master native accent
Link to & compare with linking: - Understand native accent (improve
- Contractions (kind of linking) listening)
7 Link to & compare with contractions - Master native accent
- Reductions - Understand native accent (improve
listening)
8 - Word stress - Spot syllable stress without a dictionary
(e.g., noun stress, verb, adj., compound n., adj.) - Read only stress symbols in dictionary
transcription
- Solve miscommunication problems
(stress changes meanings)
- Understand native accent (improve
listening)
- Master native accent
9 - Sentence stress (content & function words) - Understand native accent (improve
listening)
- Master native accent
10 - Contrastive stress - Understand native accent (improve
listening)
- Master native accent
11 - Intonation - Understand native accent (improve
(video: the same sentences give different listening)
meanings) - Master native accent
- Solve miscommunication problems
12 - American \t\ - Master native accent
- \ə\ - Understand native accent (improve
- Dark \l\ listening)
13 - American vowels - Read transcription symbols in the
- American transcription symbols American dictionary, Merriam Webster
- Read the American phonemic chart
- Master native accent

14 - American diphthongs - Read transcription symbols in the

- American transcription symbols American dictionary, Merriam Webster
- Read the American phonemic chart
- Master native accent

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Weeks Sounds Objectives
 Follow the suggested order:
o from the most crucial to the least important;
o from letters to sounds;
o from the easiest to the most difficult/boring.
15 - American consonants - Read transcription symbols in the
- American transcription symbols American dictionary, Merriam Webster
- Read the American phonemic chart
- Master native accent

16 - Homophones (e.g., ate, eight) Solve problems

- Minimal pairs (e.g., let, lit) - Speaking miscommunication
- Improve listening comprehension
17 - Major differences between the American & - Solve listening comprehension problems
African American accents - Understand native speakers

18 - Major differences between American & British - Enhance listening comprehension

English

Resources:

- Oxford Online English: British

- Rachel's English: American

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