1. Compiled by Bernard Kang
Oral Communications
P.E.A.R
Pronunciation
Expressiveness
Articulation and
Rhythm and Fluency
Compiled by Bernard Kang or

2. Pronunciation
Tests on the accuracy of saying a word using particular sounds.
Students are usually tested on the following:
Ability to pronounce words with multiple syllables
Ability to pronounce uncommon words
Ability to pronounce words with ‘th’ in them
Ability to pronounce commonly mispronounced words

3. Examples from TYS 2009 Day 1 Memorabilia Ornamental Opportunity
Authentic
Bustling
Market
Vastness
Thought

4. Pronunciation
In most situations, a student should be able to use phonetics to decipher the pronunciation, however, there will be cases where it is not so straightforward.
Example:
Eg. Names – Samuel, Peter, Jane
What about Chloe? Michaela? Charlotte?
Examples from TYS:
Barbara (2008 Day2)
Vikram (2008 Day 6)
You will NOT be penalised for pronouncing names of people incorrectly so why is this important?

5. Pronunciation
The same principle applies to words. Often, we are misled into inaccurate pronunciation of certain words because of their spelling. Students must be adequately exposed and trained to ensure that they are able to identify these words.
Sometimes simple words are so commonly mispronounced by Singaporeans that we do not realise that they are incorrect.
Example: Sword, Wednesday
(Fun Fact: Do you know that Singapore is one of the few countries where we pronounce ‘flour’ as ‘flar’? )

6. Let’s recapitulate (ree-kuh-pich-uh-leyt) : How do u pronounce these words?
Calendar
Colleague
Potential
Sword
Extra
Second
Pressure
Ticket
Wednesday

7. More Commonly Mispronounced Words (ADD THEM TO YOUR LIST!)
SG Pronunciation?
Liase
Lie-us
Soften
Sof-ten
albeit ?

8. More Commonly Mispronounced Words (ADD THEM TO YOUR LIST!)
Correct Pronunciation
Liase
Lee-ay-s
Soften
Sof-en
albeit
Awl-bee-it

9. More Commonly Mispronounced Words
SG Pronunciation?
gesture
gas-ture
repetitive
rep-per-te-tive
Itinerary
Itinery
Subtle
Sub-tle
Genuine
jen-yoo-wine

10. More Commonly Mispronounced Words
Correct Pronunciation
gesture
Jes-cher
repetitive
re-pet-i-tive
Itinerary
ahy-tin-uh-rer-ee
Subtle
suht-l
Genuine
jen-yoo-in

11. More Commonly Mispronounced Words
SG Pronunciation
Debt
debt
Debris
De-bris
Apparatus
Er-pear-rey-tus
Athlete
Air-the-lete
Abalone
Air-ber-lon

12. More Commonly Mispronounced Words
Correct Pronunciation
Debt
det
Debris
duh-bree, dey-bree
Apparatus
ap-uh-rat-uhs, -rey-tuhs
Athlete
ath-leet
Abalone
ab-uh-loh-nee

13. CHALLENGE How do you pronounce… Giraffe? (TYS 2009 Day 1)
What if it was a …
Hippopotamus instead?

14. Expressiveness: Dialogue – Feelings Pitch and Tone for Effect

15. Expressiveness
Expressiveness is an important component in Oral Communication because it shows feelings and character. It also sets the tone of the atmosphere and setting.
Dialogue – More often than not, there will be dialogue in your reading passage. As a result, you must be adequately prepared to express different kinds of feelings in the speaker.
Pitch and tone for effect – Pitch and tone is how you vary your voice to suit the passage as you read it aloud.

16. Group Work! Get into groups of six.
In your groups, practice the different ways of saying the rhyme as indicated in the slide.

17. Rationale
Dramatisation of verses is a good way to practice expressiveness. You would realise that the same verse can be read in different kinds of moods and feelings, thus sounding different under the different settings.

18. Try this! HE’S HERE! HE’S HERE! SURPRISE! Birthday Party
Somebody switch off the lights!
Oh no, I’ve spilled the drinks!
Move the presents out of the way.
Everybody hide!
You’re squashing me.
I’ve lost my party hat.
Who’s sitting on my toe?
Ouch! Ouch!
Sh… Sh…
He’s opening the door…
SURPRISE!

19. Conclusion
Pronunciation – Students must be careful when reading the passage and note the words that they must pay special attention to during their preparation.
Expressiveness – Students must learn to project feelings and how to vary their pitch and tone when reading the passage
REMEMBER: THE KEY WORD IS PRACTICE!

20. Task Students to refer to 2006 Day 1 in their Oral Communications TYS.
Using a PENCIL, identify and underline the potential difficult areas which you would need to pay attention to in your reading (e.g. contractions, past tense).
Take about 3 minutes to read through the passage aloud to yourself, paying close attention to the areas which you have identified.
In pairs, take turns to read to each other. The listener’s job is to judge if the reader has read the passage accurately.
Teachers can get students who have read well to read to the class.

21. Reading Aloud-Reminders
There are SEVEN main things oral candidates must look out for in reading passages: (COPY THIS DOWN)
Tenses
Plural Forms
End consonants
Punctuation (Passage)
Punctuation (Dialogue)
Contractions in grammar
‘Th’ sounds