ELI 80
Pronunciation
A: Most second language learners do not hear the difference between / / as in “see” and
/ / as in “sit.” Practice the following sounds in words and see if you can tell the difference.
1.
6.
eat, it,
2.
bit, beat, 7.
each, itch,
hit, heat,
11. team, Tim,12. sin, seen,
3.
8.
rich, reach,
least, list,
13. rid, read,
4.
9.
sit, seat, 5. feet, fit,
dip, deep,10. seek, sick,
14. steal, still 15
hill, heal
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Now listen to the instructor and circle the word in the parenthesis being read.
I am (heating/hitting) the pan.
Did you (slip/sleep) on the floor?
The (beads/bids) look quite good.
Who found the (sheep/ship)?
When did she (leave/live)?
Did you (feel/fill) the box?
7.
The boy was (beaten/bitten).
B:
Another troublesome pair is the difference between / / as in “all” and /
/ as in
“no.” Distinguish the vowels of the following pairs of words.
1.
5.
9.
bowl, ball,
coat, caught
saw, sew,
2. Paul, pole,
3.
6. bought, boat, 7.
10. close, clause
call, coal
walk, woke
4
8.
coast, cost
choke, chalk
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Now listen to the instructor and circle the word in the parenthesis being read.
A (bowl/ball) is on the table.
Put it in the (hole/hall) where we’re away.
I’m interested in the (loan/lawn).
He took the (coal/call) in the basement.
We all know his voice is (low/law).
Can you (pose/pause) by the desk?
C:
The final troublesome pair is the difference between /
/ as in “do” and /
/ as in
“book.” Distinguish the vowels in the following pairs of words.
1. pool, pull,
2. full, fool, 3. Luke, look, 4. who’d, hood,
1.
Now listen to the instructor and circle the word in the parenthesis being read.
Don’t (pool/pull) them right now.
2.
3.
He whispered “(fool/full).”
We all cried, “(Luke/Look)!”