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English Tenses Timeline Chart – Active/Passive Tenses This timeline tenses chart provides a handy reference sheet to English tenses and their relationship to one another and the past, present and future. Conjugated verbs are highlighted in bold.
TIMELINE SIMPLE ACTIVE
PROGRESSIVE / CONTINUOUS ACTIVE
SIMPLE PASSIVE
PROGRESSIVE / CONTINUOUS PASSIVE
PAST TIME ^ | She had already finished when I arrived.
The painting had been sold twice before it was destroyed.
I bought a new car The book was written in last week. 1876 by Frank Smith.
She has lived in The company has been California for many managed by Fred Jones years. for the last two years.
He works five days Those shoes are made in a week. Italy.
^ I had been waiting for | four hours when he PAST PERFECT finally arrived. | | ^ | PAST | | ^ | PRESENT PERFECT | | ^ | PRESENT | |
I was watching TV when she arrived.
She has been working at Johnson's for six months.
I am working at the moment.
The work is being done by Jim.
| PRESENT MOMENT
|
The sun will shine The decision will be made later. tomorrow. I will have completed the course by the end of next week.
The project will have been finished by tomorrow afternoon.
| FUTURE INTENTION | V | FUTURE SIMPLE | V | FUTURE PERFECT | V
The reports are going They are going to fly to be completed by to New York tomorrow. the marketing department. She will be teaching The rolls are going to tomorrow at six o'clock. be baked at two. She will have been working here for two years by the end of next month.
The house is going to be built in six months.
FUTURE TIME V
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
Asking for Information There are a number of formulas used when asking for information in English. Here are some of the most common: • • • • • • •
Could you tell me...? Do you know...? Do you happen to know...? I'd like to know... Could you find out...? I'm interested in... I'm looking for..
These two forms are used for asking for information on the telephone: •
I'm calling to find out...
•
I'm calling about... Construction
Formula
+ Question Word
Example Finish
Could you tell me
when
the next train leaves?
Do you know
how much
that vase costs?
Do you happen to know where
Tom lives?
I'd like to know
what
you think about the new project.
Could you tell me
when
the next train leaves?
Could you find out
when
she is going to arrive?
Formula
+ Gerund (-ing)
Example Finish
I'm interested in
buying
a boat
Formula
+ Noun
Example Finish
I'm looking for
information on
holidays in Spain.
Formula used only on the telphone
+ Question Word
I'm calling to find out... if
Example Finish flight AZ098 will leave on time today.
Formula used only on the telephone
+ Noun
Example Finish
I'm calling about...
the offer
published in today's newspaper.
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
Contrasting Ideas Making Complaints Asking for Information Giving Advice Guessing Being Imprecise or Vague Saying 'No' Nicely Showing Preferences Making Suggestions Offering Help Giving Warning Demanding Explanations More Grammar Help • • • • •
Beginning Grammar Lower Intermediate Grammar Intermediate Grammar Upper Intermediate Grammar Advanced Grammar
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
ESL Tic-Tac-Toe - Question Forms Tic-Tac-Toe games are a fun way for students to practise their English while enjoying some competition. The exercise is rather intuitive: • • • •
Distribute the tic-tac-toe sheet. Students complete the question. Students score an X or O for each sentence that is grammatically correct and makes sense. This game is best played as a class with the teacher checking answers. However, with larger classes, the game can also be played in pairs while the teacher goes around the room checking answers. Question Forms Tic-Tac-Toe
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
Teacher’s Instructions
ESL Tic-Tac-Toe - Time Expressions Tic-Tac-Toe games are a fun way for students to practise their English while enjoying some competition. The exercise is rather intuitive: • • • •
Distribute the tic-tac-toe sheet. Students complete the sentence. Students score an X or O for each sentence that is grammatically correct and makes sense. This game is best played as a class with the teacher checking answers. However, with larger classes, the game can also be played in pairs while the teacher goes around the room checking answers. Time Expressions Tic-Tac-Toe
Printing Version Tic-Tac-Toe with Conditional Forms Tic-Tac-Toe with Question Forms More Lesson Plans
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
http://esl.about.com/library/howto/htpronounce.htm How To Improve Your Pronunciation Pronouncing every word correctly leads to poor pronunciation! Good pronunciation comes from stressing the right words - this is because English is a time-stressed language. Difficulty Level: Hard
Time Required: Varies
Here's How: 1. Learn the following rules concerning pronunciation. 2. English is considered a stressed language while many other languages are considered syllabic. 3. In other languages, such as French or Italian, each syllable receives equal importance (there is stress, but each syllable has its own length). 4. English pronunciation focuses on specific stressed words while quickly gliding over the other, non-stressed, words. 5. Stressed words are considered content words: Nouns e.g. kitchen, Peter (most) principle verbs e.g. visit, construct - Adjectives e.g. beautiful, interesting - Adverbs e.g. often, carefully 6. Non-stressed words are considered function words: Determiners e.g. the, a - Auxiliary verbs e.g. am, were - Prepositions e.g. before, of - Conjunctions e.g. but, and - Pronouns e.g. they, she 7. Read the following sentence aloud: The beautiful Mountain appeared transfixed in the distance. 8. Read the following sentence aloud: He can come on Sundays as long as he doesn't have to do any homework in the evening. 9. Notice that the first sentence actually takes about the same time to speak well! 10. Even though the second sentence is approximately 30% longer than the first, the sentences take the same time to speak. This is because there are 5 stressed words in each sentence. 11. Write down a few sentences, or take a few example sentences from a book or exercise. 12. First underline the stressed words, then read aloud focusing on stressing the underlined words and gliding over the non-stressed words. 13. Be surprised at how quickly your pronunciation improves! By focusing on stressed words, non-stressed words and syllables take on their more muted nature. 14. When listening to native speakers, focus on how those speakers stress certain words and begin to copy this.
Tips: 1. Remember that non-stressed words and syllables are often "swallowed" in English. 2. Always focus on pronouncing stressed words well, non-stressed words can be glided over.
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
3. Don't focus on pronouncing each word. Focus on the stressed words in each sentence. Related Features: • • • • •
Intonation and Stress: Key to Understanding Software review of Clear Speech Works Pronunciation Grammar and Writing Software Pronunciation Resources RealAudio Examples of IPA Symbols
http://esl.about.com/library/weekly/aa110997.htm
Intonation and Stress: Key to Understanding and Being Understood Try this short exercise Say this sentence aloud and count how many seconds it takes. The beautiful Mountain appeared transfixed in the distance. Time required? Probably about 5 seconds. Now, try speaking this sentence aloud. He can come on Sundays as long as he doesn't have to do any homework in the evening. Time required? Probably about 5 seconds. Wait a minute the first sentence is much shorter than the second sentence! The beautiful Mountain appeared transfixed in the distance He can come on Sundays as long as he doesn't have to do any homework in the evening You are only partially right!
This simple exercise makes a very important point about how we speak and use English. Namely, English is considered a stressed language while many other languages are considered syllabic. What does that mean? It means that, in English, we give stress to certain words while other words are quickly spoken (some students say eaten!). In other languages, such as French or Italian, each syllable receives equal importance (there is stress, but each syllable has its own length). Many speakers of syllabic languages don't understand why we quickly speak, or swallow, a number of words in a sentence. In syllabic languages each syllable has equal importance, and therefore equal time is needed. English however, spends more time on specific stressed words while quickly gliding over the other, less important, words. Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
Let's look at a simple example: the modal verb "can". When we use the positive form of "can" we quickly glide over the can and it is hardly pronounced. They can come on Friday. (stressed words underlined) On the other hand, when we use the negative form "can't" we tend to stress the fact that it is the negative form by also stressing "can't". They can't come on Friday. As you can see from the above example the sentence, "They can't come on Friday" is longer than "They can come on Friday" because both the modal "can't" and the verb "come" are stressed. So, what does this mean for my speaking skills? Well, first of all, you need to understand which words we generally stress and which we do not stress. Basically, stress words are considered CONTENT WORDS such as • • • •
Nouns e.g. kitchen, Peter (most) principal verbs e.g. visit, construct Adjectives e.g. beautiful, interesting Adverbs e.g. often, carefully
Non-stressed words are considered FUNCTION WORDS such as • • • • •
Determiners e.g. the, a, some, a few Auxiliary verbs e.g. don't, am, can, were Prepositions e.g. before, next to, opposite Conjunctions e.g. but, while, as Pronouns e.g. they, she, us
Let's return to the beginning example to demonstrate how this affects speech. The beautiful Mountain appeared transfixed in the distance. (14 syllables) He can come on Sundays as long as he doesn't have to do any homework in the evening. (22 syllables) Even though the second sentence is approximately 30% longer than the first, the sentences take the same time to speak. This is because there are 5 stressed words in each sentence. From this example, you can see that you needn't worry about pronouncing every word clearly to be understood (we native speakers certainly don't). You should however, concentrate on pronouncing the stressed words clearly. Now, do some listening comprehension or go speak to your native English speaking friends and listen to how we concentrate on the stressed words rather than giving importance to each syllable. You will soon find that you can understand and communicate more because you begin to listen for (and use in speaking) stressed words. All those words that you thought you didn't understand
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
are really not crucial for understanding the sense or making yourself understood. Stressed words are the key to excellent pronunciation and understanding of English. I hope this short introduction to the importance of stress in English will help you to improve your understanding and speaking skills. Make sure to come to our chat lessons on Monday and Thursday evening to discuss these and other ideas. Email for any suggestions or topics that you would like to work on in the future. [email protected]
PRONUNCIATION
Pronunciation: Practicing Stress and Intonation I am often surprised at how focusing on the "stress - timed" quality of English helps students improve their pronunciation skills. Students often focus on pronouncing each word correctly and therefore tend to pronounce in an unnatural manner. By focusing on the stress - timed factor in English - the fact that only principle words such as proper nouns, principle verbs, adjectives and adverbs receive the "stress" - students soon begin sounding much more "authentic" as the cadence of the language begins to ring true. The following lesson extends previous lessons by developing student ears' sensitivity to the rhythmic quality of English. Aim: Improving pronunciation by focusing on the stress - timed nature of spoken English Activities: Comparison of unnaturally and naturally spoken English by looking at the tendency of some students to pronounce every word correctly. Level: Upper intermediate - recommended for upper level students who have a high level of understanding, but are having problems with fluency in communication caused by pronunciation problems. Outline:
• Begin awareness raising activities by reading an example sentence aloud to the students (for
• •
• •
• • •
example: The boys didn't have time to finish their homework before the lesson began). Read the sentence the first time pronouncing each word carefully. Read the sentence a second time in natural speech. Ask students which reading seemed more natural and why it seemed more natural. Using the ideas students come up with, explain the idea of English being a "stress - timed" language. If the students speak a syllabic language (such as Italian or Spanish), point out the difference between their own native language and English (theirs being syllabic, English stress - timed). Just this awareness raising can make a dramatic difference in such students abilities. Talk about the differences between stressed words and non-stressed words (i.e. principle verbs are stressed, auxiliary verbs are not). Write the following two sentences on the board: o The beautiful Mountain appeared transfixed in the distance. o He can come on Sundays as long as he doesn't have to do any homework in the evening. Underline the stressed words in both sentences. Ask students to try reading aloud. Point out how each sentence seems to be approximately the same length in "stress - time". Have students practice the exercise below in groups of two. By having students first read in a unnatural way and then in a natural way, students become more aware of their own tendencies to 'over-pronounce' each word. Now that the students are comfortable with listening to the stress-timed nature of English, raise their awareness about the rhythmic nature of English. Point out how important it is that they use their ears to aid them with the following exercise.
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
• Take this task to the next level by reading the following sentences aloud and have the students repeat each sentence. Each sentence is read aloud three or more times with a pause between each reading to allow students to repeat the sentence. Students should focus on imitating what they hear. o Variety is the spice of life. o I'll have bought a new house by the time Jack finishes school! o PETA has been well known for its support by famous Hollywood actors and actresses. o Why don't we catch a film tonight? o You'd be surprised at how many people find English almost impossible to understand when spoken quickly. o A great way to improve listening skills is to listen to songs that you are very familiar with and learn the words by heart. o My favorite magazine is called Wired. It focuses on cultural, business and philosophical issues surrounding the information age and its instruments. o So, as I was telling John, we had been waiting for about an hour when Frank finally showed up. o Sentences that use a number of words to express simple ideas are about as boring as overcooked cabbage. o Janet silently turned the page. • Have students create their own sentences (about five or so). Ask them to pair up and practice the previous exercise with each other. One student reads and repeats his/her sentences while the other student repeats what he/she hears.
The Music of English English is a very rhythmic language because only certain, important words are accented. For this reason, you should practice using your ear as much as possible.
Naturally Spoken English Speak through the following sentences trying to carefully pronounce EVERY word. Notice how unnatural this sounds. Next, focus on speaking the sentences stressing only content words. Tape yourself doing this and you will be surprised at how quickly your pronunciation improves! By the time he receives this letter, I will have caught the train to Paris. Following closely behind the herd was a group of filthy, disgusting vultures. I'll make sure to give him a ring the next time I'm in town. Not only are the exams required, but they are also absolutely imperative for your further education. • Hey, have you seen the new film with Bruce Willis? You know, the one where he's supposed to be a sensitive doctor.
• • • •
Subject: Can You Follow Instructions? Below are four (4) questions and a bonus question. You have to answer them instantly. You can't take your time. Answer all of them immediately. OK? Let's find out just how clever you really are. Ready? GO!!! (scroll down)
First Question: You are participating in a race. You overtake the second person. What position are you in?
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
Answer: If you answered that you are first, then you are absolutely wrong!
If you overtake the second person and you take his place, you are second! The next question. To answer the second question, don't take as much time as you took for the first question.
Second Question: If you overtake the last person, then you are...? Answer: If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong again. Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST Person? You're not very good at this! Are you? Third Question: Very tricky math! Note: This must be done in your head only. Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Try it.
Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000. Now, add 10. What is the total? Scroll down for answer. Did you get 5000? The correct answer is actually 4100. Don't believe it? Check with your calculator! Today is definitely not your day. Maybe you will get the last question right?
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
Fourth Question: Mary's father has five daughters: 1. Nana; 2. Nene; 3. Nini; 4. Nunu. What is the name of the fifth daughter?
Answer: Nunu? NO! Of course not. Her name is Mary. Read the question again
Okay, now the bonus round: There is a mute person who wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done. Now if there is a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses, how should he express himself? He just has to open his mouth and ask, so simple. KEEP THIS GOING TO FRUSTRATE THE SMART PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
TIMELINE SIMPLE ACTIVE
PROGRESSIVE / CONTINUOUS ACTIVE
SIMPLE PASSIVE
PROGRESSIVE / CONTINUOUS PASSIVE
PAST TIME ^ | She had already finished when I arrived.
The painting had been sold twice before it was destroyed.
I bought a new car The book was written in last week. 1876 by Frank Smith.
She has lived in The company has been California for many managed by Fred Jones years. for the last two years.
He works five days Those shoes are made in a week. Italy.
^ I had been waiting for | four hours when he PAST PERFECT finally arrived. | | ^ | PAST | | ^ | PRESENT PERFECT | | ^ | PRESENT | |
I was watching TV when she arrived.
She has been working at Johnson's for six months.
I am working at the moment.
The work is being done by Jim.
| PRESENT MOMENT
|
The sun will shine The decision will be made later. tomorrow. I will have completed the course by the end of next week.
The project will have been finished by tomorrow afternoon.
| FUTURE INTENTION | V | FUTURE SIMPLE | V | FUTURE PERFECT | V
The reports are going They are going to fly to be completed by to New York tomorrow. the marketing department. She will be teaching The rolls are going to tomorrow at six o'clock. be baked at two. She will have been working here for two years by the end of next month.
The house is going to be built in six months.
FUTURE TIME V
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
Asking for Information There are a number of formulas used when asking for information in English. Here are some of the most common: • • • • • • •
Could you tell me...? Do you know...? Do you happen to know...? I'd like to know... Could you find out...? I'm interested in... I'm looking for..
These two forms are used for asking for information on the telephone: •
I'm calling to find out...
•
I'm calling about... Construction
Formula
+ Question Word
Example Finish
Could you tell me
when
the next train leaves?
Do you know
how much
that vase costs?
Do you happen to know where
Tom lives?
I'd like to know
what
you think about the new project.
Could you tell me
when
the next train leaves?
Could you find out
when
she is going to arrive?
Formula
+ Gerund (-ing)
Example Finish
I'm interested in
buying
a boat
Formula
+ Noun
Example Finish
I'm looking for
information on
holidays in Spain.
Formula used only on the telphone
+ Question Word
I'm calling to find out... if
Example Finish flight AZ098 will leave on time today.
Formula used only on the telephone
+ Noun
Example Finish
I'm calling about...
the offer
published in today's newspaper.
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
Contrasting Ideas Making Complaints Asking for Information Giving Advice Guessing Being Imprecise or Vague Saying 'No' Nicely Showing Preferences Making Suggestions Offering Help Giving Warning Demanding Explanations More Grammar Help • • • • •
Beginning Grammar Lower Intermediate Grammar Intermediate Grammar Upper Intermediate Grammar Advanced Grammar
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
ESL Tic-Tac-Toe - Question Forms Tic-Tac-Toe games are a fun way for students to practise their English while enjoying some competition. The exercise is rather intuitive: • • • •
Distribute the tic-tac-toe sheet. Students complete the question. Students score an X or O for each sentence that is grammatically correct and makes sense. This game is best played as a class with the teacher checking answers. However, with larger classes, the game can also be played in pairs while the teacher goes around the room checking answers. Question Forms Tic-Tac-Toe
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
Teacher’s Instructions
ESL Tic-Tac-Toe - Time Expressions Tic-Tac-Toe games are a fun way for students to practise their English while enjoying some competition. The exercise is rather intuitive: • • • •
Distribute the tic-tac-toe sheet. Students complete the sentence. Students score an X or O for each sentence that is grammatically correct and makes sense. This game is best played as a class with the teacher checking answers. However, with larger classes, the game can also be played in pairs while the teacher goes around the room checking answers. Time Expressions Tic-Tac-Toe
Printing Version Tic-Tac-Toe with Conditional Forms Tic-Tac-Toe with Question Forms More Lesson Plans
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
http://esl.about.com/library/howto/htpronounce.htm How To Improve Your Pronunciation Pronouncing every word correctly leads to poor pronunciation! Good pronunciation comes from stressing the right words - this is because English is a time-stressed language. Difficulty Level: Hard
Time Required: Varies
Here's How: 1. Learn the following rules concerning pronunciation. 2. English is considered a stressed language while many other languages are considered syllabic. 3. In other languages, such as French or Italian, each syllable receives equal importance (there is stress, but each syllable has its own length). 4. English pronunciation focuses on specific stressed words while quickly gliding over the other, non-stressed, words. 5. Stressed words are considered content words: Nouns e.g. kitchen, Peter (most) principle verbs e.g. visit, construct - Adjectives e.g. beautiful, interesting - Adverbs e.g. often, carefully 6. Non-stressed words are considered function words: Determiners e.g. the, a - Auxiliary verbs e.g. am, were - Prepositions e.g. before, of - Conjunctions e.g. but, and - Pronouns e.g. they, she 7. Read the following sentence aloud: The beautiful Mountain appeared transfixed in the distance. 8. Read the following sentence aloud: He can come on Sundays as long as he doesn't have to do any homework in the evening. 9. Notice that the first sentence actually takes about the same time to speak well! 10. Even though the second sentence is approximately 30% longer than the first, the sentences take the same time to speak. This is because there are 5 stressed words in each sentence. 11. Write down a few sentences, or take a few example sentences from a book or exercise. 12. First underline the stressed words, then read aloud focusing on stressing the underlined words and gliding over the non-stressed words. 13. Be surprised at how quickly your pronunciation improves! By focusing on stressed words, non-stressed words and syllables take on their more muted nature. 14. When listening to native speakers, focus on how those speakers stress certain words and begin to copy this.
Tips: 1. Remember that non-stressed words and syllables are often "swallowed" in English. 2. Always focus on pronouncing stressed words well, non-stressed words can be glided over.
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
3. Don't focus on pronouncing each word. Focus on the stressed words in each sentence. Related Features: • • • • •
Intonation and Stress: Key to Understanding Software review of Clear Speech Works Pronunciation Grammar and Writing Software Pronunciation Resources RealAudio Examples of IPA Symbols
http://esl.about.com/library/weekly/aa110997.htm
Intonation and Stress: Key to Understanding and Being Understood Try this short exercise Say this sentence aloud and count how many seconds it takes. The beautiful Mountain appeared transfixed in the distance. Time required? Probably about 5 seconds. Now, try speaking this sentence aloud. He can come on Sundays as long as he doesn't have to do any homework in the evening. Time required? Probably about 5 seconds. Wait a minute the first sentence is much shorter than the second sentence! The beautiful Mountain appeared transfixed in the distance He can come on Sundays as long as he doesn't have to do any homework in the evening You are only partially right!
This simple exercise makes a very important point about how we speak and use English. Namely, English is considered a stressed language while many other languages are considered syllabic. What does that mean? It means that, in English, we give stress to certain words while other words are quickly spoken (some students say eaten!). In other languages, such as French or Italian, each syllable receives equal importance (there is stress, but each syllable has its own length). Many speakers of syllabic languages don't understand why we quickly speak, or swallow, a number of words in a sentence. In syllabic languages each syllable has equal importance, and therefore equal time is needed. English however, spends more time on specific stressed words while quickly gliding over the other, less important, words. Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
Let's look at a simple example: the modal verb "can". When we use the positive form of "can" we quickly glide over the can and it is hardly pronounced. They can come on Friday. (stressed words underlined) On the other hand, when we use the negative form "can't" we tend to stress the fact that it is the negative form by also stressing "can't". They can't come on Friday. As you can see from the above example the sentence, "They can't come on Friday" is longer than "They can come on Friday" because both the modal "can't" and the verb "come" are stressed. So, what does this mean for my speaking skills? Well, first of all, you need to understand which words we generally stress and which we do not stress. Basically, stress words are considered CONTENT WORDS such as • • • •
Nouns e.g. kitchen, Peter (most) principal verbs e.g. visit, construct Adjectives e.g. beautiful, interesting Adverbs e.g. often, carefully
Non-stressed words are considered FUNCTION WORDS such as • • • • •
Determiners e.g. the, a, some, a few Auxiliary verbs e.g. don't, am, can, were Prepositions e.g. before, next to, opposite Conjunctions e.g. but, while, as Pronouns e.g. they, she, us
Let's return to the beginning example to demonstrate how this affects speech. The beautiful Mountain appeared transfixed in the distance. (14 syllables) He can come on Sundays as long as he doesn't have to do any homework in the evening. (22 syllables) Even though the second sentence is approximately 30% longer than the first, the sentences take the same time to speak. This is because there are 5 stressed words in each sentence. From this example, you can see that you needn't worry about pronouncing every word clearly to be understood (we native speakers certainly don't). You should however, concentrate on pronouncing the stressed words clearly. Now, do some listening comprehension or go speak to your native English speaking friends and listen to how we concentrate on the stressed words rather than giving importance to each syllable. You will soon find that you can understand and communicate more because you begin to listen for (and use in speaking) stressed words. All those words that you thought you didn't understand
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
are really not crucial for understanding the sense or making yourself understood. Stressed words are the key to excellent pronunciation and understanding of English. I hope this short introduction to the importance of stress in English will help you to improve your understanding and speaking skills. Make sure to come to our chat lessons on Monday and Thursday evening to discuss these and other ideas. Email for any suggestions or topics that you would like to work on in the future. [email protected]
PRONUNCIATION
Pronunciation: Practicing Stress and Intonation I am often surprised at how focusing on the "stress - timed" quality of English helps students improve their pronunciation skills. Students often focus on pronouncing each word correctly and therefore tend to pronounce in an unnatural manner. By focusing on the stress - timed factor in English - the fact that only principle words such as proper nouns, principle verbs, adjectives and adverbs receive the "stress" - students soon begin sounding much more "authentic" as the cadence of the language begins to ring true. The following lesson extends previous lessons by developing student ears' sensitivity to the rhythmic quality of English. Aim: Improving pronunciation by focusing on the stress - timed nature of spoken English Activities: Comparison of unnaturally and naturally spoken English by looking at the tendency of some students to pronounce every word correctly. Level: Upper intermediate - recommended for upper level students who have a high level of understanding, but are having problems with fluency in communication caused by pronunciation problems. Outline:
• Begin awareness raising activities by reading an example sentence aloud to the students (for
• •
• •
• • •
example: The boys didn't have time to finish their homework before the lesson began). Read the sentence the first time pronouncing each word carefully. Read the sentence a second time in natural speech. Ask students which reading seemed more natural and why it seemed more natural. Using the ideas students come up with, explain the idea of English being a "stress - timed" language. If the students speak a syllabic language (such as Italian or Spanish), point out the difference between their own native language and English (theirs being syllabic, English stress - timed). Just this awareness raising can make a dramatic difference in such students abilities. Talk about the differences between stressed words and non-stressed words (i.e. principle verbs are stressed, auxiliary verbs are not). Write the following two sentences on the board: o The beautiful Mountain appeared transfixed in the distance. o He can come on Sundays as long as he doesn't have to do any homework in the evening. Underline the stressed words in both sentences. Ask students to try reading aloud. Point out how each sentence seems to be approximately the same length in "stress - time". Have students practice the exercise below in groups of two. By having students first read in a unnatural way and then in a natural way, students become more aware of their own tendencies to 'over-pronounce' each word. Now that the students are comfortable with listening to the stress-timed nature of English, raise their awareness about the rhythmic nature of English. Point out how important it is that they use their ears to aid them with the following exercise.
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
• Take this task to the next level by reading the following sentences aloud and have the students repeat each sentence. Each sentence is read aloud three or more times with a pause between each reading to allow students to repeat the sentence. Students should focus on imitating what they hear. o Variety is the spice of life. o I'll have bought a new house by the time Jack finishes school! o PETA has been well known for its support by famous Hollywood actors and actresses. o Why don't we catch a film tonight? o You'd be surprised at how many people find English almost impossible to understand when spoken quickly. o A great way to improve listening skills is to listen to songs that you are very familiar with and learn the words by heart. o My favorite magazine is called Wired. It focuses on cultural, business and philosophical issues surrounding the information age and its instruments. o So, as I was telling John, we had been waiting for about an hour when Frank finally showed up. o Sentences that use a number of words to express simple ideas are about as boring as overcooked cabbage. o Janet silently turned the page. • Have students create their own sentences (about five or so). Ask them to pair up and practice the previous exercise with each other. One student reads and repeats his/her sentences while the other student repeats what he/she hears.
The Music of English English is a very rhythmic language because only certain, important words are accented. For this reason, you should practice using your ear as much as possible.
Naturally Spoken English Speak through the following sentences trying to carefully pronounce EVERY word. Notice how unnatural this sounds. Next, focus on speaking the sentences stressing only content words. Tape yourself doing this and you will be surprised at how quickly your pronunciation improves! By the time he receives this letter, I will have caught the train to Paris. Following closely behind the herd was a group of filthy, disgusting vultures. I'll make sure to give him a ring the next time I'm in town. Not only are the exams required, but they are also absolutely imperative for your further education. • Hey, have you seen the new film with Bruce Willis? You know, the one where he's supposed to be a sensitive doctor.
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Subject: Can You Follow Instructions? Below are four (4) questions and a bonus question. You have to answer them instantly. You can't take your time. Answer all of them immediately. OK? Let's find out just how clever you really are. Ready? GO!!! (scroll down)
First Question: You are participating in a race. You overtake the second person. What position are you in?
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
Answer: If you answered that you are first, then you are absolutely wrong!
If you overtake the second person and you take his place, you are second! The next question. To answer the second question, don't take as much time as you took for the first question.
Second Question: If you overtake the last person, then you are...? Answer: If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong again. Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST Person? You're not very good at this! Are you? Third Question: Very tricky math! Note: This must be done in your head only. Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Try it.
Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000. Now, add 10. What is the total? Scroll down for answer. Did you get 5000? The correct answer is actually 4100. Don't believe it? Check with your calculator! Today is definitely not your day. Maybe you will get the last question right?
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
Fourth Question: Mary's father has five daughters: 1. Nana; 2. Nene; 3. Nini; 4. Nunu. What is the name of the fifth daughter?
Answer: Nunu? NO! Of course not. Her name is Mary. Read the question again
Okay, now the bonus round: There is a mute person who wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done. Now if there is a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses, how should he express himself? He just has to open his mouth and ask, so simple. KEEP THIS GOING TO FRUSTRATE THE SMART PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE
Summer English Course August 8th – September 1st, 2006
Annabella Tay
