IELTS Pronunciation
Introduction
This is an introduction into pronunciation and will help you understand the basics of pronunciation. Watch the first video and answer the questions in the video to help you with the foundations of pronunciation.
Overview
- Pronunciation as a physical activity
- The 4 muscle buttons
- The 3 levels of pronunciation
- The phonemic chart
Pronunciation as a physical activity
Watch the video and answer the questions.
Video 1 : The physicality of pronunciation
As you have seen in the video above, pronunciation is more like dance, a physical activity, rather than grammar a cognitive activity. At birth we experiment with many different sounds and our parents help us and correct us. All the sound we do not need for our mother tongue disappear and we forget about them. Next, the sounds of our mother tongue become automated. This means after so much practice our muscles know how to make that correct sound automatically.
This is the problem when learning another language, your pronunciation muscles are set for your mother tongue and don’t know the correct moves for the new language. It’s the same as in dance, you are trying to learn how to dance Tango, but your body wants to use your Salsa moves, which doesn’t work. This means you need to learn again the basic moves and start from scratch learning the new dance moves. The same with English pronunciation, you will have to teach your muscles to do the right moves for English and with lots of practice this process will be automated and you will be able to use the correct English sounds.
Next we will have a look at which main muscles you need for pronunciation.
The 4 muscles buttons
Watch the video and answer the questions below
Video 2: the 4 muscle buttons
These are the 3 muscles we do use the most to pronounce words. Yes, we also use our nose for nasal sounds, and our lungs to have the air, but those 3 muscles determine the correct sound. This means you will have to learn how to move those 3 muscles and put them in the correct position to make the correct sound. Again a lot of experimenting and moving you muscles to the correct position to practice the individual sounds.
Now, lets have a look at how to experiment with the muscles buttons. Just have a look at the videos and follow the instructions.
Video 3: Vowels part 1 /i:/ and /u:/
Video 4: Vowels part 2 /i:/ and /u:/ muscle button 1, lips
Video 5: Vowels part 3 /i:/ and /u:/ muscle button 2, tongue
Video 6: The importance of experimenting with your muscles
Macmillan Sound App
Macmillan sound app is the essential app to have when you want to start working on:
- Practicing individual sounds
- Understanding phonemic script
- Doing basic pronunciation exercises
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Useful links
Speaking correction
Record your speaking and let a teacher correct and give feedback on your speaking.
Speaking examples
Have a look at some videos of people doing different parts of the IELTS exam and the comments and band score the IELTS examiner gives for them.
Speaking Part 1
Have a look at Part 1 of the Speaking exam
Speaking Part 1 topics
Have a look at the different topics and questions asked during Speaking Part 1 and prepare your self for the test.
Speaking Part 2
Have a look at Part 2 of the Speaking exam.
Speaking Part 2 topics
Have a look at the different topics and questions asked during Speaking Part 2 and prepare your self for the test.
Speaking Part 3
Have a look at Part 3 of the Speaking exam
Speaking Part 3 topics
Have a look at the different topics and questions asked during Speaking Part 2 and prepare your self for the test.
