NS 2.0 Module 2 Workbook

WORKBOOK
MODULE TWO
Mastering Key Vowels [A]
This workbook will accompany you throughout the first vowel
module (Module 2). Many of the exercises are on the website as
well, but we recommend working with the workbook so you can
organize it all in one place, write your answers, and take notes.
Your 90-Day goal
Write your 90-day goal here as well.
If you haven’t set one yet, click here to do it.
MODULE TWO VOWELS [A]

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Ⓒ Hadar Shemesh International and New Sound. All rights reserved.
Defining priorities
When we work on sounds, it’s important to identify how important each sound
is to your overall clarity and speaking confidence.
This is why, as we go through the sound lessons, you’ll be asked to analyze

each sound, and identify the importance of the sound to your overall clarity
as high, medium, or low.
Your focus should be on things that:

● prevent you from sounding clear
● interfere with your flow
● make you feel too self-conscious
Types of mistakes:
● High Priority: Critical mistakes that make you sound unintelligible
● Medium Priority: Mild mistakes that mostly bother you or interfere with
your clarity
● Low Priority: insignificant mistakes that don't interfere with your clarity
By the end of the vowel modules, you’ll have gained more clarity around the
importance of each of the sounds you’ve learned and practiced, as well as
other sounds that exist in the language. That way, you’ll be able to prioritize
what to focus on when practicing during the program and afterward.
Important note: The program teaches the key vowels in English. You should go
through each of the sound lessons in the program fully, no matter how the
sound is prioritized in the program. In fact, it’s better to prioritize the sound for
yourself after working on it, rather than before.

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Prioritizing sounds will also help you become more intentional when speaking,
and help you focus on the most essential elements of your speech in your
future practice.
Here’s a quick reminder of the stages you need to go through on your way to
acquiring a new sound:
1. Perception
2. Pronunciation
3. Creating new speaking habits
4. Intentional speaking
5. Prioritizing
Tracking and Organizing Your Vowel Sounds
Use this chart to help you organize and prioritize your vowel sounds and
your practice as you’re going through the program.
It’ll help you know what you need to focus on during the program and
beyond.
This chart will also help you keep all your recordings and notes in one place.
At the end of each lesson, make sure to come back and fill out the chart.

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The Process of Learning a New Sound in this Program
Before each lesson, you’re going to be asked to record a sentence that will
help you in your self-analysis of the sound. It will allow you to understand
better what you need to work on, and will also be used as a reference to track
your progress. It’s always great to have a ‘before-and-after’ recording to
measure your progress!

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Lesson 2.2:
Primary Stress
Pronunciation
To stress a syllable, make the vowel in that syllable longer and higher in pitch.
Part 1: Watch the video.
Part 2: Download the practice sheet and practice the full
page once.

5
Lessons 2.3:
The Schwa: /ə/ as in ABOUT
Pronunciation
Relax your jaw, tongue, and lips, and release a very short sound.
Spelling Patterns
Any vowel or combination of vowel letters can represent the schwa sound.
Spelling Example
a around
e open
i pencil
o bottom
u focus
y analysis
ai certain
ia official
ie efficient

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io education
eo surgeon
iu Belgium
ou famous
iou anxious
Part 1: Self-analysis
1. Record the following sentence
The famous professional dancer is going away on holiday tomorrow.
(You can use this tool to record the sentence, and then track your recordings in your
prioritizing vowels chart. Here’s a link that explains how to record yourself.)

7
2. Compare and answer
Now listen to this recording and answer the following questions:
● On a scale of 1-10 how similar was your pronunciation of this vowel
sound to the recording, to your ears*
* We know you might not be able to tell with full accuracy. This is designed to help you
quantify how you feel about your pronunciation of this sound. Also, try to focus only on
the vowel. It’s impossible to focus on everything.
● On a scale of 1-10 how aware are you of this vowel sound when
speaking?
1- I am not aware of this sound
10 - I try to avoid this sound as much as I can
Part 2: Watch the videos about the schwa and the
schwa+r

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page once.
Part 4: Watch the practice guide and answer the
following questions.
Practice Guide - The schwa /ə/
If you felt the sound wasn’t always accurate, would you say that you
pronounced a sound that is based on the vowel letter?
yes, at least sometimes
no, but I put too much emphasis on the schwa sound
I have no idea
If you selected yes, make sure you ignore the spelling and relax your mouth
when you pronounce the schwa. Compare the pronunciation of the schwa
and the pronunciation of the pure vowel sound you’re substituting the sound
with. How are they different? Once you recognize that, it’s easier to change it.

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If you feel that you overemphasize the schwa, focus on making the vowel
sound very short, and invest less energy when producing it.
If you have no idea, play your recording vs. the recording sample in slow
motion and see if you can hear the difference. In addition make sure you
focus on making the syllable of the primary stress longer and higher in pitch.
Practice Guide Notes:
Taking into consideration your answers to the previous questions, and how
effective your practice was, would you say that this sound is high priority,
medium priority, or low priority?
Remember:
High priority means that this sound is crucial for your clarity. Medium priority
means that this sound is not crucial, yet you might be conscious of it, or it
might be challenging for you to pronounce it, even though it comes across
rather clearly. And low priority means that the way you pronounce the sound

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might be different from standard pronunciation, yet you barely notice it, and it
generally doesn’t make you sound unclear.
The schwa is important but is not crucial for clarity, this is why we recommend
assigning it medium or low priority.
Once you have marked its priority, add it to your priority chart.
Part 5: Intentional Practice

Practice the sound by answering the following question. Be aware of how you
pronounce this specific sound rather than focusing on all sounds in your
answer.
Question: Got a hobby? What is it? If you don’t have a hobby,
what hobby would you like to have?
(You can use this tool to record and track your recordings and save it to your personal vowel
chart.)

11
Lesson 2.4:
/æ/ as in CAT
Pronunciation
Drop your jaw and bring the tip of your tongue to rest behind the bottom
teeth. The front side of your tongue should be flat and low, while the back of
your tongue is high. Remember to pull your lips to the sides a bit.
Spelling Patterns
Spelling Example
a happy
au laugh
Adam laughed when he saw his cat trying to catch a rat.
(You can use this tool to record and track your recordings.)

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1
● Have you noticed if some words with this vowel sound were more
challenging than others? If so, what were they? Do they have something
in common?
Remember: The more challenging words are going to require more practice.

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speaking?
1- I’m not aware of this sound
Part 2: Watch the video
page once.

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Practice Guide - /æ/ as in CAT
If you felt the sound wasn’t always accurate, would you say that your /æ/...
sounds like /e/ or /ɛ/ as in ‘bed’
sounds like the /a/ in ‘father’ or /ʌ/ in ‘cup’
If you selected /e/ in your practice, make sure you...
1. open your mouth more
2. pull the lips to the sides
3. make sure the back part of the tongue is higher than the front
4. transition from /e/ to a neutral “A” sound and stop midway
If you selected /ʌ/ or /a/ in your practice, make sure you...
1. push the tongue forward
2. pull the lips to the sides a bit
3. raise your tongue a bit in the back
4. start with pronouncing /e/ and gradually shift to /æ/

15
medium priority, or low priority? Once you have marked it, add it to your
priority chart.

answer.
Question: What were you doing this time last year? Or 5 years ago?
chart.)

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Lesson 2.5:
/ɑ/ as in FATHER
Pronunciation
Drop your jaw, relax your tongue, and pull it slightly back. The back of your
tongue should be low and your lips relaxed.
Spelling Patterns
Spelling Example
a spa
o honest
aw dawn*
au author*
augh caught*
ough fought*
al talk*

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In General American English, words such as those above marked with * can
be pronounced either with the FATHER vowel /ɑ/, or with a higher, more
rounded vowel /ɔ/. In the program they will mostly be pronounced with /ɑ/,
but you may hear it pronounced both ways and should eventually choose the
pronunciation you feel most comfortable with.
The author talked with his audience about popular coffee shops in Boston.
1

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● Have you noticed if some words or phrases with this vowel sound were
more challenging than others? If so, what were they? Do they have
something in common?
Remember: some words are going to require more practice.
speaking?

19
page once.
Practice Guide - Open Vowels
If you felt the sound wasn’t always accurate, would you say that your /ɑ/...
sounds like a neutral O sound
sounds like a neutral A sound
If you selected a neutral O in your practice, make sure you...
1. relax your mouth and drop your jaw
2. relax the back of the tongue
3. visualize as if you have something hot at the back of the mouth
4. hold out the sound as you practice

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If you selected a neutral A in your practice, make sure you...
1. open your mouth more
2. pull your tongue more to the back
3. round your lips just a bit
priority chart.

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answer.
Question: What talent do you wish you had?
chart.)

22
Lesson 2.6:
/ʌ/ as in CUP
Pronunciation
Relax your jaw and lips. Raise the middle of the tongue just a bit, and release a
very short sound. It should sound like a slightly stressed schwa.
Spelling Patterns
Spelling Example
u tub
o color
oe does
oo blood
ou touch

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My son doesn’t like the color of my husband’s butternut squash.

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● Have you noticed if some words or phrases with this vowel sound were
more challenging than others? If so, what were they? Do they have
something in common?
(Remember: some words are going to require more practice.)
speaking?

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page once.
Practice Guide - /ʌ/ as in CUP
If you felt the sound wasn’t always accurate, would you say that your /ʌ/...
sounds like an O sound when it’s spelled with an O
sounds similar to /a/ as in ‘father’
If you selected the O sound in your practice, make sure you...
1. bring your tongue a bit forward
2. don’t round your lips
3. remind yourself of the schwa sound, and try to keep it similar to the
schwa
If you selected /a/ in your practice, make sure you...
1. don’t open your mouth too much
2. make the vowel very short and abrupt

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priority chart.

answer.
Question: What’s the last dream you remember?
What do you think it was about?
chart.)

27

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NS 2.0 Module 2 Workbook

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WORKBOOK

This workbook will accompany you throughout the first vowel

module (Module 2). Many of the exercises are on the website as

well, but we recommend working with the workbook so you can

Your 90-Day goal

Write your 90-day goal here as well.

If you haven’t set one yet, click here to do it.

MODULE TWO VOWELS [A]

This is why, as we go through the sound lessons, you’ll be asked to analyze

Your focus should be on things that:

MODULE TWO VOWELS [A]

Tracking and Organizing Your Vowel Sounds

your practice as you’re going through the program.

MODULE TWO VOWELS [A]

your progress. It’s always great to have a ‘before-and-after’ recording to

measure your progress!

MODULE TWO VOWELS [A]

Part 1: Watch the video.

Part 2: Download the practice sheet and practice the full

MODULE TWO VOWELS [A]

The Schwa: /ə/ as in ABOUT

MODULE TWO VOWELS [A]

The famous professional dancer is going away on holiday tomorrow.

MODULE TWO VOWELS [A]

Now listen to this recording and answer the following questions:

● On a scale of 1-10 how similar was your pronunciation of this vowel

sound to the recording, to your ears*

the vowel. It’s impossible to focus on everything.

1- I am not aware of this sound

10 - I try to avoid this sound as much as I can

Part 2: Watch the videos about the schwa and the

MODULE TWO VOWELS [A]

Part 4: Watch the practice guide and answer the

Practice Guide - The schwa /ə/

pronounced a sound that is based on the vowel letter?

yes, at least sometimes

no, but I put too much emphasis on the schwa sound

MODULE TWO VOWELS [A]

Practice Guide Notes:

medium priority, or low priority?

MODULE TWO VOWELS [A]

generally doesn’t make you sound unclear.

assigning it medium or low priority.

Part 5: Intentional Practice

Question: Got a hobby? What is it? If you don’t have a hobby,

what hobby would you like to have?

MODULE TWO VOWELS [A]

Adam laughed when he saw his cat trying to catch a rat.

MODULE TWO VOWELS [A]

Now listen to this recording and answer the following questions:

● On a scale of 1-10 how similar was your pronunciation of this vowel

sound to the recording, to your ears*

the vowel. It’s impossible to focus on everything.

MODULE TWO VOWELS [A]

1- I’m not aware of this sound

10 - I try to avoid this sound as much as I can

Part 2: Watch the video

Part 3: Download the practice sheet and practice the full

Part 4: Watch the practice guide and answer the

MODULE TWO VOWELS [A]

sounds like /e/ or /ɛ/ as in ‘bed’

sounds like the /a/ in ‘father’ or /ʌ/ in ‘cup’

If you selected /e/ in your practice, make sure you...