1. PRONUNCIATION: USING IPA EFFECTIVELY
OPEN TUTORING SESSION
PRONUNCIATION: USING IPA EFFECTIVELY
May, 2010

2. Objectives Identify phonetic symbols and their corresponding sounds.
Identify the most important differences between the phonetic systems of Spanish and English and the most common difficult sounds for Spanish speakers.
Get familiar with some resources that are available to practice pronunciation.

3. In your experience… /θ/ /æ/ /ʌ/ /Ʒ/ What is the IPA?
Have you ever had problems while pronouncing some sounds in English? Which ones?
Do you recognize or know which sound is represented by any of the following symbols?
/ʃ/ /ɔ/
/θ/ /æ/
/ʌ/ /Ʒ/

4. IPA
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) contains letters of the alphabeth that you already know.
Consonants
/b/, /d/, /f/, /ɡ/, /k/, /l/, /m/, /n/, /p/, /s/, /t/, /v/, /z/.
Vowels
/a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/

5. Consonants

6. Consonants

7. Strategy Try to learn the correct way to pronounce and draw the symbols that are different to the normal written letters.
/ʃ /
shirt passion
/Ʒ/
usual vision
/θ/
thanks think
/ŋ/
ring sink
/ð/
that brother
/ʧ/
future teacher
/ʤ/
jet biology

8. Exercise Practice the pronunciation of these words with the sounds
/ʃ/ /ʒ/ /ʤ/ /ʧ/ /ð/ /θ/ /j/
Vision
Shoe
Chose
Jacket
Young
Thanks
There
/'vɪʒən/
/ʃu:/
/tʃu:z/
/'dʒækət /
/jʌŋ/
/θæŋks/
/ðer /

9. Exercise Find the phonetic transcription of the following words and then practice their pronunciation
Measure
Charity
January
Yet
Through
Then
Sing

10. Exercise Find the phonetic transcription of the following words and then practice their pronunciation
Measure
Charity
January
Yet
Through
Then
Sing
/'meʒər /
/'tʃærəti/
/'dʒænjueri /
/jet/
/θru:/
/ðen/
/sɪŋ/

11. Vowel Sounds
/a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/

12. Strategy Try to learn the correct way to pronounce and draw the symbols that are different to the common alphabet letters.
/ʊ /
book good
/ɪ /
in his
/ə/
the about
/ɜ/
birthday first
/ɔ/
board door
/æ/
thanks bag
/ʌ/
but ugly

13. Exercise Practice the pronunciation of the words below
Should
Banana
Cut
Cat
Turn
Call
Ship
/ʃʊd/
/bə'nænə /
/kʌt/
/kæt/
/tɜ:rn/
/kɔ:l/
/ʃɪp/

14. Foot Class Bird Mall Shin about
Exercise Find the phonetic transcription of the following words and then practice their pronunciation
Foot
Class
Bird
Mall
Shin
about

15. Foot Class Bird Mall Shin about /fʊt/ /klæs / /bɜ:rd / /mɔ:l / /ʃɪn/
Exercise Find the phonetic transcription of the following words and then practice their pronunciation
Foot
Class
Bird
Mall
Shin
about
/fʊt/
/klæs /
/bɜ:rd /
/mɔ:l /
/ʃɪn/
/ə'baʊt/

16. Tongue Twisters
Picky people pick Peter Pan Peanut-Butter, 'tis the peanut-butter picky people pick.
I wish to wish the wish you wish to wish, but if you wish the wish the witch wishes, I won't wish the wish you wish to wish.
How many boards Could the Mongols hoard If the Mongol hordes got bored?

17. Why is the use of the IPA necessary?
IPA makes the learning of pronunciation easier
IPA allows learners to work autonomously on pronunciation
IPA makes the association of words with the same pronunciation easier: to, two, too /tu/
IPA allows the differenciation of words with similar endings: thought /θɔt/ though/ðoʊ/, tough/tʌf/ y through/θru/

18. Suggestions
Identify the sound and the phonetic symbol that represents it.
Practice the pronunciation of the sounds whose symbols are different from the alphabet letters.
Use the IPA every day to prepare the new vocabulary you may encounter in the following lesson. Choose at least 5 words daily.

19. By learning to use the IPA I will understand that:
As I learn new vocabulary it is important that I get familiar with its pronunciation.  
Minor changes in pronunciation can alter meanings significantly.  
There are sounds especially difficult for Hispanics since they are not present in their native language.   
I can find patterns that can help me understand how to pronounce certain words.  
This strategy is there to help you. Using the on-line tools will facilitate understanding of it.  

20. Thanks