Four internet-based pronunciation lesson plans

[Karen Lyons]

As part of my CALL course at UCF I developed four pronunciation lesson plans using the internet. Here is the first:

Lesson 1

Objectives:
· Introduce students to phonetic symbols of IPA and overview of sounds
· Give students practice using the internet
· Give students concentrated practice on the /q/, voiceless ‘th’ sound

Materials:
· Ss will have their own computers or share computers in pairs
· Ss will have the lesson plans with web links on their computer
· There will be a class BLOG or WebCT page for Ss to record their scores on the various activities

Activity 1 (5 minutes) – Overview of English sounds and IPA symbols
· Ss will click on this link:
o http://esl.about.com
o in the left column, under ‘Articles and Resources’, click on ‘Pronunciation – Speaking’
o then click on ‘Phonetics: Introduction’
· Ss and teacher will read/discuss introduction, briefly look through the symbols

Activity 2 (5 min.) – IPA symbol flash cards
· Ss will click on this link and print out the IPA symbol cards:
o http://esl.about.com/od/pronunciationlessonplan1/
o scroll down a bit and under ‘Articles & Resources’ click on ‘Pronunciation Lesson: IPA Symbol Card Game’

Activity 3 (8 min.) - Introducing the voiceless “th”: /q/ and downloading theUnit 1, /q/, workbook
· Ss will click on this link and download the workbook for Unit 1: (NOTE: for all practical purposes, T should transform from PDF to Word document and place on Ss desktops. T will have to decide how he/she wants these workbooks printed out.)
o http://international.ouc.bc.ca/pronunciation
o under ‘Unit 1’ click on ‘PDF version’
· T and Ss will discuss the sound, practice writing the symbol, and recall words having that sound, referring to first page of the downloaded workbook for the /q/ sound

Activity 4 (5 min.) – A/V demonstration of sound articulation of /q/
· Ss will click on this link and watch/listen to the audio/visual demonstration of how to make this sound
o http://international.ouc.bc.ca/pronunciation
o under ‘Unit 1’ click on ‘Quicktime movie’

Activity 5 (8 min.) – interactive scored minimum pairs practice
· Ss will click on this link and do the interactive audio lesson (that keeps Ss scores):
o http://international.ouc.bc.ca/pronunciation
o under ‘Unit 1’ click on ‘minimal pairs’
· T will explain mechanics of using this lesson
· Ss will do the lesson and record their scores to monitor progress
· If time permits, Ss will repeat the exercise and record progress

Activity 6 (9 min.) – interactive scored dictation practice
· Ss will click on this link and do the interactive audio lesson (that keeps Ss scores)
o http://international.ouc.bc.ca/pronunciation
o under ‘Unit 1’ click on ‘dictation’
· T will explain the activity
· Ss will listen to the sentences, type the sentences in the appropriate box
· Record their scores to monitor progress

Activity 7 (10 min.) - word repetition, minimal pairs, and listening quiz (scored).
· Ss will click on link below, listen to MP3 file and do exercises 1-4 in workbook, recording scores
o http://international.ouc.bc.ca/pronunciation
o under ‘Unit 1’ click on ‘Workbook in MP3’

Homework:
· Ss will cut out and make their IPA cards and note any words they don’t yet know
· Ss will select one Tongue Twister from the workbook to practice and be able to read in class