CICLO DE NIVELACIÓN

ENGLISH
PRONUNCIATION

Gimenez, Florencia
Aguirre Sotelo, Evangelina
Bombelli, Griselda
Canavosio, Andrea
Capell, Martín
Díaz, Josefina
Girardotto, Verónica
Soler, Lidia

Facultad de Lenguas, UNC.

 2019
ISBN en trámite

“Manual Ciclo de Nivelación 2019" está bajo una

Licencia Creative Commons Atribución – No Comercial – Sin Obra Derivada 4.0 Internacional.
To the Student

Exposure to and imitation of appropriate models of spoken English are essential

to the acquisition of a high performance level in pronunciation.
The activities in this handbook consist of a set of exercises aimed at providing
you with elementary practice in the recognition and production of a
number of phonological features, with special attention to English vowel
and consonant phonemes. These exercises are also expected to help you
become aware of and develop different strategies that may prove useful to
you as a learner of a foreign language and prospective EFL professional.
Such strategies include:
Using a dictionary
Resorting to the visual representation of sounds
Associating symbol and sound
Giving and receiving feedback from peers
Pronunciation self-awareness
Pronunciation self-assessment
Self-confidence
Self-monitoring
Finally, this material will help you gain an insight into English as a foreign
language, which will positively contribute to your language proficiency as a
whole.
 THE PRODUCTION OF SPEECH SOUNDS

Listen to your teacher and complete the graph with the different labels.

Adapted from http://www.personal.rdg.ac.uk/~llsroach/phon2/artic-basics.htm

 Vowel SSounds

ENGLISH SOUNDS IN FOCUS

Pure Vowel Sounds

.h9. .t9.
.H. .T.

.N9.
.?. .29.
/e/

.U.
.P.
.z.
.@9.

1. .h9. read .qh9c.

7. .N9. 7. .N9. door .cN9.

2. .H. swim .rvHl.

8. .T. 8. .T. book .aTj.

3. .d. bed .adc.

9. .t9. 9. .t9. two .st9. 2
4. .z. bat .azs.
10. .U. 10. .U. cup .jUo.

5. .@9. car .j@9.

11. .29. 11. .29. shirt .R29s.

6. .P. clock .jkPj.

12. .?. 12. .?. ladder .!kzc?.
 /i:/ vs /I/
1.a. Listen to these words. Those on the left have sound /i/ as in swim, and those on the
right have sound /I/as in read.

chip cheap

lip leap

will wheel

filled field

b. Listen again and write a number next to the words according to the order in which you
hear them.

2. Sort out these words into two groups according to whether they are pronounced
with /i/ or /I/

tip – shield – fill – kneel - tea – live – cheese – it - feel – ski - cream

/ h: / /H/

3. Complete the chart with the element that is missing in the minimal pair.

a) eat __________ f) __________ hill

b) neat __________ g) __________ grin
c) __________ bit h) teen __________
d) seat __________ i) reach __________
e) eel __________ j) __________ slip
4. Look at the following pictures. Read the sentences that describe the differences between
them and identify the vowel sounds with which the underlined letters are pronounced.

A B

a. There isn´t a guitar in picture B.

b. There isn´t a piece of meat on the table in picture B.
c. There´s a violin on the wall in picture A.
d. There are four sheep in picture A.
e. There isn´t a pig in picture B.
f. The mirror in picture A is reflecting a man with thick lips. He´s
showing his teeth.
g. There´s a fish swimming in the aquarium in picture A.
h. The person with his feet on the window is holding a cigarette in
picture B.
Adapted from Pronunciation Games (1996)
 /e/ vs / z/
5. Listen and match the picture with the correct transcription.

1. .odm. 4. .ldm.

.ozm. .lzm.

2. .gzc. 5. .admc.

.gdc. .azmc.

3 .rzj. 6. .Rzk.

.rdj. .Rdk.

6. Listen to the following pairs of words. Are they pronounced with the SAME vowel
sound or a DIFFERENT one?

a. Same Different f. Same Different

b. Same Different g. Same Different
c. Same Different h. Same Different
d. Same Different i. Same Different
e. Same Different j. Same Different
7. Listen to these sentences and circle the word you hear.

a. A trek / track through the dense forest.

b. They meshed /mashed potatoes and squash.
c. He won a bet / bat in a party last night.
d. Ellen / Allen came over this morning.
e. The heavy pedals / paddles were difficult to move.
f. All sorts of gems / jams were displayed in the souvenir shop.

/z/ vs /
/V
8. a. Listen and circle the drawing of the word you hear. Then add the missing symbol
to the phonemic transcriptions.

.j----o. .j ----o.

.g----s. .g----s.

.a----f. .a----f.

.j----s. .j-----s.

.j----a. .j----a.
b. Listen to the sentences and write the word you hear.

1. The ______ was hidden behind the clothes.

2. Black ______ are very common.
3. George bought a straw ______ in a tiny village a month ago.
4. Be careful! That ______ looks really nasty.
5. She put her ______ down on the table.
6. You should wash that ______.

9. Listen to these verbs and circle the one you hear –Past Simple or Past Participle.

Infinitive Past Simple Past Participle

Begin Began Begun

Drink Drank Drunk

Ring Rang Rung

Run Ran Run

Sing Sang Sung

Swim Swam Swum

Stink Stank Stunk

Adapted from Headway Intermediate Pronunciation (1990)

10. Listen and write down the word you hear. Then add the missing phonemic symbol to
the transcription.

a. ____________________ .sq------j. f. __________________ .l ---- c.

b. ____________________ .!----Mjk. g. ____________________ /b.....s/
c. ____________________ /r…..g/ h. ____________________ .q-----R.
d. ____________________ /f…..n/ i. ____________________ .jq-----R.
e.___________________ .l-----sR. i� ____________________ .k-----j.

/a:/ vs /2:/
11. Listen and match the word with the correct vowel sound /a:/ or /3:/.

/@:/ /2:/

cart birth fur purse scarf dirt

12. Listen to your teacher and circle the word you hear.

a) bath birth e) far fur

b) barn burn f) farm firm
c) cart curt g) fast first
d) dart dirt
13. Listen to these sentences and complete the blanks with the missing symbol.

a. The puppies´.a ---- S. will be inside the house.

b. Bob´s .e ---- l. is growing by leaps and bounds.
c. The .e ----rs. bus leaves London at 7 o´clock.
d. .a ---- s. is not coming tonight.
e. The guards checked our .o ---- rHy. before going into the stadium.
f. That .c --- s. on the wall looks terrible.

/P/ vs /N9/
14.a. Listen to these words. Those on the left have sound .P. as in clock, and those
on the right have sound .N9. as in door.

cot caught

fox forks

not nought

often orphan

pot port

shot short
spot sport

was wars

scotch scorch

cock cork
b. Listen again and circle the word you hear.

http://davidbrett.uniss.it/phonology/vowel%20sounds/MinimalPairsCotCaught/Minimal%20Pairs%20Cot%20v.%20Caught1.html

15. Listen to the following sentences and identify words that contain .P.-

- I drink a hot cup of coffee for breakfast everyday.

- My dog has got a pot with lots of bones.

- Stop moaning! It´s impossible to concentrate!

- I received a box of chocolates for my birthday.

- The doctor wasn´t in the hospital when I called him.

16. a. The past and past participle of some irregular verbs are pronounced with
.N9.- Can you mention them while you write them in the box below?
b. Now listen and repeat them.

fought - bought - thought - caught -

brought - taught

c. Complete the following sentences with the correct verb from the box. Then, practice
reading the sentences in a loud voice.

- England ............. against Argentina in 1982.

- I ........... about you all day yesterday.

- My sister .............. a cold last week.

- John ........... English when he was young.

- I´ve ............. you a present.

- My family ………... a puppy last month.

17.What are these? Look at the following pictures and sort out their names according to
the sounds with which they are pronounced- .P. or .N9.
 .P. .N9.

/T/ vs /u:/
18. Although the following words are all spelled with .T., they are pronounced with
different vowel sounds. Listen and group them accordingly.

Cook Food Look

Boot Smooth Good
Moon Stood Wool
Room Shook Foot
Book

.t9.
19. Listen to these groups of words and circle the one that is not pronounced with .T..

a. wolf – loose – hood – brook

b. wood – took – pool – rook
c. rule – puss – push - butch
d. oops! - proof – nook – hook
e. pull – duke – full – bull

/e/

Schwa is the weakest of all vowel

sounds. Consequently, it occurs
Schwa is only in unstressed syllables.
the most
common
sound in Getting it correct
the English will help you sound
Language more natural and
fluent.

Mind you!
Not all A curvaceous young
unstressed phoneme called schwa, said
"I never feel strong. It's
syllables are bizarre!
pronounced I'm retiring and meek, And
with .?. I always sound weak, But
in frequency counts – I'm
the star!"
20.Listen to these words and underline where in the word .?. occurs as a pure vowel. The
first one has been done for you.

Doctor Banana Tomorrow Difficult

Summer Level Protect Survive

Pupil Bicycle Measure Wizard

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/features/schwa/

21. Listen to these sentences and underline where .?. occurs. It may occur more than once
in each sentence.

a. It´s for you.

b. It takes a lot of time.

c. How about a cup of tea?

d. What are you doing tonight?

e. What time will you arrive at Victoria?

f. I was going to tell you.

g. The leisure centre is closed for a private function.

h. The airport is not far from the capital city.

i. The book is about pronunciation.

j. We need more financial support.

k. You need to pay attention all the time

l. It is a very thorough report.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/features/schwa/
22. Listen to the following words and place them under the right column.

horse black up hot bed ship

call bin cheque

cup lamp course class rock

dream car rich egg

/i:/ /H/ /e/ /z/ /@:/ /P/ /N:/ /U/

23. What word do the following pictures represent? Say the words aloud and match the
picture with the correct symbol. Then, check with a partner.

.d.

.z.

.U.

.@9.

.h9.

.T.

.H.
.29.

.t9.

.N9.
24. Listen and read the following dialogue and find at least one example to
illustrate all the pure vowel sounds in the English phonological system (Do not pay
attention to the underlined words yet).

CALLING THE TRAVEL AGENCY

TRAVEL AGENT (TA): Will Bridges’ Travel Agency. Good morning!

Can I help you?
SUSAN (S): Yes. I need some information, please.
TA: Yes?
S: Well, I know it’s rather late for a reservation, but we’re three
friends and we’d like to travel to Greece next July.
TA: Let’s see… Where would you like to stay?
S: We’ve been told Mikonos is one of the best islands in the
Mediterranean. Would
that be possible?
TA: It’s quite difficult in July.
Would you like to stay
at a hotel?
S: We’d rather make a self-
catering arrangement.
TA: Are you thinking of a villa
or an apartment?
S: I guess a small apartment
would be cheaper.
TA: Provided it’s not during July… Yes. You know prices are lower
out of season. How long would you like to stay?
S: About a fortnight. But it might be difficult to change dates, you
know… We’re three and have different times available.
TA: I see… How many did you say you were in the party?
S: There’ll be three of us. All girls, so we need a safe place near the
beach. But we cannot spend more than a hundred pounds a
day.
TA: For that price, you won’t have many options, I’m afraid… But,
let me find out. If you could arrange to make it in late June, I
might have a bedsitter for 75 pounds. We could accommodate
three single beds, and it's five minutes walk from the main
beach in Mikonos.
S: I’d love that. What’s the name of the beach? Have you got it
handy?
TA: Yes. It’s Super Paradise. Have you heard about it?
S: Yes! My parents went there on their honeymoon and they still
keep advising people to visit it. Anyway, I need to talk it over
with my friends, though. One
of them works during June.
She might not be able to
change dates.
TA: Well… Contact your
friends, come to an
agreement, and give me
a ring again. My name is
Arnold Smith. You’ll find
me here any working day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but not on
Saturdays. But remember we only have a month left so you
need to make up your minds I’d say today or tomorrow.
S: I will. Thank you, Arnold. You’ve been very kind.
TA: Wait! You haven’t given me your name.
S: Sorry. I’m Susan Perkins, from Kensington. Susan Perkins. P-E-
R-K-I-N-S. I’ll get back to you tomorrow without fail, Arnold.
Thank you, again. Bye.
(www.learnenglish.britishcouncil.org)
 Diphthongs

.H?. .T?.

.dH. .?T. .NH.

.d?.

.`H. .`T.

.dH. rain .qdHm.

.`H. eye .`H.

.NH. toy .sNH.

.?T. rose .q?Ty.

.`T. house .g`Tr.

.d?. chair .sRd?.

.H?. beer .aH?.

.T?. tourist .!sT?qHrs.

25. In each pair, circle the word you hear.

1. two tour 10. bite boat

2. cheer chair 11. tail tile
3. day die 12. add aid
4. Clare clear 13. boot boat
5. cell sail 14. how hear
6. clone clown 15. firm fame
7. oil owl 16. cut Kate
8. ray row 17. caught coat
9. buy boy 18. more mow

26. Identify what words the following pictures represent and complete the transcription
with the correct diphthong.

.r ----k. .sR ----.

.jk --- my. .a --- s.

.m --- y. .j --- s.

.a ---. .g ---.
 27. Listen to the pronunciation of the following words. Pay attention to the diphthong in
each word and then put the words in the corresponding bubble.

bear ice brain toy boat beer

mouse tour chair bike coin phone
ear cow poor chain

/eH/

/T?/ /aH/

/e?/ /NH/

DIPHTHONGS

/H?/ /aT/

/?T/
28. Listen to these sentences and complete the blanks in the phonemic transcriptions with
the symbol for the diphthong you hear.

a) The NAME Sudoku is Japanese, meaning single numbers.

/n …. m/

b) But the GAME is believed to be an American invention,

.f ---- l.
CREATED by a man named HOWARD Garns.
.jqH! ---- sHc. .!g ---- ?c.
c) The earliest KNOWN examples of the game were published in
.m ---- m.
NINETEEN seventy nine.
.!m ---- msh9m.

d) In the nineteen EIGHTIES, the game APPEARED in Japan under

/!---- sHy/ .?!o ---- c.
the name Sudoku.

e) In recent years, NEWSPAPERS in Britain began publishing the

.!mit9yo ---- o?y.
game.

f) And last YEAR, its popularity spread back to the UNITED

.!i ---- / .it9!m ---- sHc.
STATES.
.rs ---- sr.

g) NOW the games are FOUND in several MAJOR American

.m ---- . .e ---- mc. .!l ---- cY?.
newspapers, in bookstores, and on the Internet.

h) You can even PLAY Sudoku on cellular TELEPHONES.

.ok ---- . .!sdkHe ---- my.

i) Sudoku is DESIGNED to be played BY one person.

.cH!y ---- mc. .a ----.
j) The rules of the game are simple, ALTHOUGH completing it can
.N9k!C ---- .
be extremely difficult, especially HIGHER-level Sudoku games.
.!g ---- ?.

http://www.manythings.org/listen/sudoku.html
29. Listen and then read the dialogue in exercise 24 paying special attention to the
pronunciation of the underlined words. Then, group them in the corresponding column.

/eH/ /aH/ /NH/ /aT/ /?T/ /H?/ /e?/ /T?/

For further practice on vowel sounds, visit the following sites:

http://www.esltower.com/PRONUNCIATION/interactive/Vowel%20sounds%20 phonetic%
20exercise%20-%20output/quizmaker.html

http://www.esltower.com/PRONUNCIATION/interactive/Single%20vowel%20s ounds%
20practice%20-%20output/quizmaker.html

http://www.esltower.com/PRONUNCIATION/interactive/vowelsoundsquiz.qzpp /index.html

http://www.btinternet.com/~eptotd/vm/vowelmachine/vowelmachine.htm
 CONSONANT SOUNDS
Place of Bilabial Labio- Dental Alveolar Post- Palatal Velar Glottal
articulation dental alveolar
Manner of
articulation

Plosive o a s c j f

Pencil Bag Ten Dog

.!odmrk..azf. Cat Gift
.sdm. .cPf. .jzs..fHes.

Fricative e u S C r y R Y g
Fish Van Sun Zebra Shoe Television
.eHR..uzm. .rUm. .!ydaq?. .Rt9. .!sdkHuHYm.
Thumb Father Hand
.SUl. .e@9C?. .gzmc.

Affricate sR cY

Cheese Jet
.sRh9y. .cYds.

Nasal l m M

Mouse Rain
.l`Tr. .qdHm. King
.jHM.

Approximant v q i

Whale Xn,xn
.vdHk. Write
.q`Hs. .!i?T i?T.

Lateral k

Light
.k`Hs.
/p/ vs /b/ /t/ vs /d/ /k/ vs /g/
30. To produce the sounds at the beginning of each of the following words, there is
complete closure of the articulators and then the air kept in your mouth is released
suddenly. Listen and repeat the words.

/p/ /b/ /t/ /d/ /k/ /g/

pay back talk dance kind give
park buy table date cook gate
page better tourist disco coffee guess
purple borrow tidy dollar colour going
postman business tennis different kitchen garden

31. Listen and circle the word you hear.

a. peas bees h. time dime o. coat goat

b. pad bad i. tame dame p. cap gap
c. peg beg j. Ted dead q. came game
d. pen Ben k. tense dense r. class glass
e. pies buys l. tie die s. card guard
f. peach beach m. tomb doom t. K gay
g. porn born n. tear dear u. cave gave

32. Tom, Deborah, Kathy, Gary, Pam and Barbara are thinking about presents they would
like for their birthdays. Tom wants things that begin with the sound /t/, Deborah with the
sound /d/, Kathy with the sound /k/, and so on. What presents do they each want? Make
sentences like these:

• Tom wants trousers. • Deborah wants a dictionary.

 Who wants most presents?
Who wants fewest presents?
Can you suggest some other presents they might like?

/f/ vs /v/
33. Listen and repeat the following words.

feel after leaf off coffee phone autograph very

laugh travel every have leave five seven
34. Listen and complete the transcription of the following words with /f/or /v/.

a. .----dqh.
b. .a?kh9 ----.
c. .---- `Hm.
d. .!r29 ---- Hr.
e. .---iT?.
f. .cH!---- `Hm.
g.� .----zs.

35. Fill in the blanks below the picture using the words in the box.
Then, listen and repeat.

____
few - voices - fast - seventh - fine - forks - vegetables - lift - floor -
view - driving - knives

36. Listen and say these phrases and sentences.

/f/
1. Forty five 45
2. A family photo 3. I’m feeling fine
4. The fourteenth of February

5. When I asked for her autograph she just laughed.

/v/

1. We’re leaving at five past seven.

2. A visa for a seven-day visit.

3. Stephen lives in a village.

Adapted from English Pronunciation in Use. Elementary. (2007)

/S/ vs /C/

To make the sound /S/, touch the back of your upper teeth with your tongue. Push
out air between your teeth and your tongue. /S/ is a voiceless sound. To make the
sound /C/, do the same but use your voice.
37. a.The letters th can be pronounced /S/ or /C/. Put these words into the columns below
according to the pronunciation of the letters th.

grandfather other them three north

thing clothes athlete health
month their leather

/S/ /C//
north grandfather

b. Listen and check your answers. Practise reading the words.

38. Read these mini-dialogues out loud with a partner. Then, write the correct symbols on
top of the words that contain the sounds .C. or .S..

A: Sorry I broke those plates.

B: That’s all right. I didn’t really like them.

A: There are your theatre tickets!

B: Thanks a lot.
A: It’s Tom’s birthday on Thursday.
B: Yes, and I haven’t got him anything.

A: Do you like my leather trousers?

B: I think they’re great!

A: How much is that watch worth?

B: About thirty pounds.

A: This music’s boring.

B: Shh! My brother likes the Beatles!

Adapted from New Headway Pre- Intermediate (2001).

 /s/ vs /z/
39. Listen and repeat these words.

/s/
sad city
/z/
science scream
zoo zero lazy
class glass
easy
zone exact concert lost
prize bus place
wise times

40. Listen and decide which word in the pair is said first.

ice eyes
Sue zoo
place plays
niece knees
price prize
41. Does /s/ or /z/ occur in the following words? Complete the phonemic transcriptions
with the correct sound

these isn’t certainly size pronounce

.Ch9----. .!H----ms. .!----29smkh. .----`H----. .oq?!m`tm----.

words style dress suits

.v29c----. .----s`Hk. .cqd----. .rt9s----.

please it’s
.okh9----. .Hsr.

42. Complete the dialogues with the words from the previous activity and practise reading
them aloud.

1. A: Do you like this dress? B: The ……………… ………………. you,

but…………………. the wrong………………, ………………it?

2. A: Can you ………….. …………….. …………… for me,…………..?

B: Yes, ………………
Adapted from English Pronunciation in Use. Intermediate (2003) and Elementary (2007)

/R/ vs /Y/
43. a. Listen and repeat the following words.
b. Listen again and write a number next to the words according to
the order in which you hear them.

fashion Asia
.R. .Y.
ocean usually
machine leisure
special treasure
shop television sugar pleasure
44. Does .R. or .Y. occur in the following words? Complete the phonemic transcriptions
with the correct sound.

International decision unusual shave

.$Hms?!mz----m?k. .cH!rH----m. .Um!it9----T?k. .----dHu.

revision casual confusion

.qH!uH----m. .!jz----T?k. .j?m!eit9----m.

should conclusion sure

.----Tc. .j?m!jkt9----m. .----T?.
Adapted from Pronunciation in Use. Elementary (2007).

/h/
45. a. Listen and repeat the following words.
b. Then listen and circle the words you hear.

foam home
all hall
mourn horn
young hung
come hum
heir hair

46. In the following exercise, cross out the words in which the letter -h- is
silent. Then practise with your teacher.

hotel – ahead – honour – hospital –

exhibition – humour – vehicle
 /sR/ vs /cY/
47. Listen and repeat these words:
.sR. .cY.
choke joke
batch badge
cheer jeer
search surge
chin gin
cheap jeep

48. Listen and circle the words you hear.

choking joking
batch badge
cheers jeers
searching surging
chin gin

49. a. Look at the text below. It contains words with the sounds .sR. and .cY..
Find them and put them into the correct columns.

CHARLY JAMES
Charly James, one of the most popular and charming movie and television actors at the
moment, was born in Manchester, in 1990. He comes from a very rich family who live in a large
house in a very posh neighbourhood. His father, John, is an engineer and works for a very
important company. His mother, March, helps a housing charity in the morning everyday. As
you can see, none of them has this knack for acting that Charly first discovered when he was
chosen for a commercial at the age of three.
His career rocketed from that moment onwards and, since then, he has played a range of roles
in different television series and movies. He says that having the chance to earn money doing
what he likes gives him a lot of pleasure.
 .sR. .cY.

b. Listen and check your answers. Listen again and practise saying the words.

Adapted from Headway Upper Intermediate (1991)

/w/ vs /j/
50. Listen to your teacher and repeat the following words. Then listen and circle the
words you hear.

/v/ /i/
whale Yale
well yell
whack yak
wielded yielded
walk York
woe yo

51. In the following lists of words, choose the odd one out. The first example has
been done for you.

work – York – awake = York

youth – use – would
due – few – wound
yard – ward – wait
yoghurt – stalwart - yen
Read the following passage and pick out the words containing .g.+ .v. and .i..
Put them in three columns and then read these words aloud.

New York is one of the most populous cities in the world. The heart of culture and
business, it is located in the Northeastern Atlantic Coast in the United States. It
has a long history of successes and failures. It is near Washington, D. C., the
capital of the country. Among its inhabitants are the so-called yuppies and you
may find them in the
typically yuppie neighbourhoods. In fact, it is due to this and the many business,
media, fashion, education and entertainment opportunities that this city is
considered also the capital of the world.

.g. /w/ /j/

/r/
53. Read the following words. Notice the different contexts in which /r/occurs.

real – wrong – rhythm – carry – dry – arrive

54. In the following list, underline the words in which -r- is pronounced in
Standard British English. Use a dictionary if necessary.

worst spurred

barring Cambridge
aboard abroad roam
star bar
wring
55. Read the following text. Then, as you listen to the reader, fill in the gaps with the
words you hear. After that, practise reading the text with a partner.

I worked late that day and I didn’t __________ home until 10 o'clock. I was very
wet because of the __________. Then, to my __________, my key didn’t fit in
the lock. So I looked closely at my keys and saw that they were the __________
ones. I had left my house keys at work. So I got back on my motorbike and
__________ back to the office to collect them. I got home very tired, so I went
to bed, __________ for half an hour, switched off the light and went to sleep.
Adapted from English Pronunciation in Use (2003)

/M/
56. Listen and repeat the pairs of words below.

sin sing
ran some rang
swimming sung
swinging

57. Listen and circle the word you hear in each case.

1. My friend likes Robin Banks / robbing banks.

2. Tom ran / rang yesterday.
3. She had a swing / swim in the garden.

English Pronunciation in Use (2003: p. 39)

58. As you read the following text, underline the words containing /M/. Then,
read them again and make sure you pronounce this sound correctly.

I always thought that studying English was a fascinating thing. However, this was
not my parents’ opinion. When I first told them I
wanted to go in for an English course of studies at university, they replied “Great!
And, what else are you going to do at college?” It was really disappointing to hear
that from mum and dad! They never imagined how hard it is to study English. They
thought it was going to be a pastime for me. After seeing me spend long hours on
learning vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation, they were convinced that a
foreign language at university is serious business. It is also a sign that they think
I’m a good student. That is great!
REFERENCES

Bowler, B. & S. Cunningham (1990). Headway Intermediate Pronunciation.

Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Bowler, B. & Parminter, S. (1992). Headway Pre-Intermediate Pronunciation.

Oxford: OUP.

Cunningham, S. & Bowler, B. (1994). Headway Upper-Intermediate

Pronunciation. Oxford: OUP.

Hancock, M. (1996). Pronunciation Games. Cambridge: Cambridge University

Press.

Hancock, M. (2003). English pronunciation in use. Cambridge: C.U.P.

Hewings, M (1993) Pronunciation Tasks: A course for pre-intermediate learners.

Cambridge: CUP.

Marks, J. (2007). English Pronunciation in Use. Elementary. UK: CUP

http://davidbrett.uniss.it/phonology/vowel%20sounds/MinimalPairsCotCaught/Mini
mal%20Pairs%20Cot%20v.%20Caught1.html

http://www.download-esl.com/tonguetwisters/easy/easytongue.html

http://www.personal.rdg.ac.uk/~llsroach/phon2/artic-basics.htm
 KEY
1b. field – cheap – filled – will – chip – wheel - lip

4. bad – bed check – cheque add – ad guess – gas / head – had / Pat – pat (verb) mash – mesh
cache – cash / cent – scent / send – sand

6. bad – bed check – cheque ad – add / guess – gas /head – had / Pat – pat / mash – mesh / cache –
cash / cent – scent sand – send

7. treck – mashed – bet – Ellen – pedals - jams

8a. cap – hut – bug – cat – cub

8b. cap – cubs – hat – cut – cup - cat

9. begun – drank – rang – run – sang – swum – stank

10. truck – uncle – rag – fan – much – mad – bus – rash – crash – luck

13. bath - firm - first - Bert – passes

14b. cot – forks – nought – orphan – pot – shot – spot - wars – scorch - cork

19. loose – pool – rule – proof – duke

25. tour – cheer – day – Clare – cell – clone – oil – row – buy – bite – tail – aid – boot – how – fame – cut –
coat - mow

31. bees – bad – peg – pen – pies – beach – born – time – dame – dead – tense – die – doom – dear – coat –
gap – came – glass – card – K - cave

34. very – believe – vine – surface – viewer – divine – fat

40. ice – eyes zoo – Sue plays – place niece – knees prize – price

43. shop - fashion - usually - machine - special – pleasure – leisure – ocean – television - treasure

45. home – hall – mourn – young – harm - hair

48. joking - batch – cheers – surging – chin

50. whale – yell – yak – wielded – York – woe

55. arrive – rain – surprise – wrong – rode – read

57. Robin Banks – rang – swing - sinking