Centro Colombo Americano
Using the
IPA Effectively
OPEN TUTORING SESSION:
PRONUNCIATION
MARCH 2012
Objectives
 Get familiar with some symbols and
their corresponding sounds.
 Identify useful pronunciation
strategies.
 Get familiar with some online
resources to practice pronunciation.
In your experience...
What problems have you had to
pronounce words in English?
How similar to or different from
Spanish are the sounds of English?
How do you deal with the
pronunciation of new words?
Let’s check
How do you pronounce these words?
pleasure
profession
chocolate
brother
magic
think
Can you read the following words ?
/ˈple ʒər/
/prə ˈfe ʃən/
/ˈʧɑklɪt/
/ˈbrʌ ðər/
/ˈmæ ʤɪk/
/θɪŋk/
A series of symbols
that represent SOUNDS.
International
Phonetic
Alphabet
Transcription VS
Spelling
ICE vs. POLICE
Most of the
world’s languages
can be transcribed
using the IPA.
The IPA is great help
S
P
E
C
I
A
L
SYMBOLS CORRESPOND
TO SOUNDS
G
R
O
U
P
S
Dictionary / 'dɪkʃəneri /
STRESS
Telephone / 'teləfəʊn /
Let’s find out
Let’s practice some vowel sounds
/æ/
CAT
JAPAN
/ɜ/
BIRD
/Ə/
SECOND
/^/
UMBRELLA
/‫כ‬/
/ɒ/
HORSE
HOT
THANKS
FIRST
AGO
NURSE
STAIRS
LUCKY
SAW
COFFEE
STAMP
THIRD
COMPUTER
UGLY
SPORT
LONG
UP
TALK
CLOCK
Let`s practice
Clean clams crammed in clean cans.
klin klæmz kræmd ɪn klin kænz.
Strategies:
Use a mirror and self-assess
Let’s practice other consonant sounds
/ʃ/
/ tʃ /
/ð/
/θ/
/ŋ/
SHOWER
CHOWDER
MOTHER
THUMB
SINGER
SHEEP
CHEAP
THE
THANKS
SONG
SHIP
T-SHIRT
CHIP TEACHER
THIS
THESE
THEATER THIRTY
HONG
KONG
Let's practice
SHEEP
ʃip
SHIP
ʃɪp
CHIP
tʃ ɪp
CHEAP
tʃ ip
Strategies: Write the phonetic
transcription
Make a list of common patterns
Let's practice
I saw Susie sitting in a shoe shine shop. Where she
sits she shines, and where she shines she sits.
aj sɒ ‘suzi sɪtɪŋ ɪn ə ʃu ‘ʃajn ʃɑp. wɛr ʃi sɪts ʃi ‘ʃajnz, ænd wɛr ʃi
ʃajnz ʃi sɪts.
Strategies: Write the phonetic
transcription
Make a list of common patterns
/v/
//
/d/
/ wj
/
SHOWER
CHOWDER
MOTHER
THUMB
SHEEP
CHEAP
THE
THANKS
SHIP
T-SHIRT
CHIP TEACHER
THIS
THESE
THEATER THIRTY
Let's practice
Education is very important to educate visionaries in
a vision of education.
edʒəkeɪʃən ɪz vɛri ɪmpɔrtənt tu ɛdʒəkeɪt vɪʒənɛriz ɪn ə
vɪʒən əv edʒəkeɪʃən
Strategies: Write the phonetic
transcription
Make a list of common patterns
Let's practice
Mr. Tongue Twister tried to train his tongue to twist and
turn, and twit a twat, to learn the letter "T".
‘mɪstər. təŋ ‘twɪstər trajd tu treɪn hɪz təŋ tu twɪst ænd tərn,
ænd twit ə twat, tu lərn ðə lɛtər " ti".
Strategies:
Repeat the words outloud
Imitate a model (person – recording)
Let's practice
There those thousand thinkers were thinking
how did the other three thieves go through.
ðɛr ðəʊz ‘θaʊznd θɪŋkərz wər ‘θɪŋkəŋ haw
dɪd ðɪ ʌðər θri θivz gəʊ θru.
Strategy: Record your voice and
compare.
Use the CD ROM and websites
EXERCISE
Can you identify the following words?
/'saɪtsiɪɳ/
/ 'æbsə'lu:tli/
/ 'dɑ:kjə' mentəri /
/ə' pri:ʃieɪt/
/ 'nɔ:ʃəs/
/'rəʊləweɪ/
/ 'mænəkjʊr /
/'wɪndʃɪ:ld/
/θər' mɑ:mətər /
/ 'tʃɪrfəl /
/ 'ɡɔ:rdʒəs /
sightseeing
absolutely
documentary
appreciate
nauseous
Rollaway
manicure
windshield
thermometer
cheerful
nauseous
gorgeous
CHALLENGE
Can you write your own sentence by using the IPA
symbols?
/kænju: raɪtjʊrəʊn sentnʲs…/
Online Resources
Use a search engine (Google – yahoo)
Type key words:
IOWA phonetics
BBC English phonetics
Cambridge phonetics focus
pronunciation minimal pairs
Online Resources
Use YouTube videos
Type key words:
Daily Pronunciation
Self assessment
• Why is it important to practice the IPA
symbols?
• What strategies can you use when
practicing phonetics?
• What new symbols and sounds did you
learn today?
EVALUATION
Your opinion is very important to us.
Please fill out the feedback form
Thanks
Tutoring Team
Centro Colombo Americano