1.

2 Phonetics race

Pre-activity (5 minutes)
Aim
To be the first to match words with their
• Write the following words on the board and ask students for the
pronunciation:
descriptions by “decoding” words in
surfboard / blackboard / message board / cupboard
phonetic script
• Write the phonetic script of the first three words on the board:
Language /"s3rfbOrd/ /"bl&kbOrd/ /"mesIdZbOrd/
Phonetic script Underline the sound /Or/ in each word and give the
Pronunciation pronunciation—point out that it is like the word or.

Skills
• Ask students to find the correct pronunciation of cupboard /"kVb@
rd/ in a dictionary and highlight the different pronunciation of
Speaking board.
Lesson link • Give further transcriptions of words with difficult pronunciations
and get students to figure them out, e.g., recipe /"res@pi/,
Use after Unit 1, SB p. 8 receipt /re"sit/, laugh /l&f/, enough /I"nVf/.
Materials
One copy of the worksheet for each pair of Procedure (15 minutes)
students • Explain that students are going to have a race to match words in
Dictionaries phonetic scripts with their descriptions.
• Put students into pairs and give each pair a worksheet.

HANGMAN
• Explain that they have to find a word in phonetics that matches
the description then write the word with its correct spelling. If
3
they get stuck, they should move on to the next question. They
4 have five minutes to complete the task.
6
• Check the answers when the time limit is up or when the first
pair has finished. Insist on correct pronunciation, encouraging
7 students to self-correct, or get the rest of the class to help them.

2 9 10
Answers
8 1. chat 6. Japan 11. shampoo
2. April 7. dictionary 12. sunglasses
11 12 3. thirty-three 8. fridge 13. boring
5 4. towel 9. bear 14. text message
5. chemistry 10. sugar 15. queen

1
Extension (15 minutes)
• Play Hangman using phonetic symbols instead of letters. Think
of a word, e.g., computer /k@m"pjut@r/, and write a dash on the
board for each of the nine symbols. Students try to guess the word
by calling out sounds at random. Write in any correct sounds.
Each wrong sound called out makes up one line of the hangman
picture. Look at the picture. There are twelve lines in total. The
class wins the game if they guess the word before you finish
the picture.

4 Unit 1.2 • Phonetics race Teacher’s notes

 American Headway 3 Resource Book

WORDS IN PHONETIC SCRIPT

"taU@l be@r kwin
"eIpr@l S&m"pu tS&t
TErti"Tri "sVngl&sIz "kemIstri
dZ@"p&n "bOrIN "dIkS@neri
frIdZ "tekst mesIdZ "SUg@r

DESCRIPTIONS
1. talk to your friends chat
___________________
2. a month of the year ___________________
3. a number ___________________
4. something you take to the gym ___________________
5. a school subject ___________________
6. a country ___________________
7. something that can help you learn English ___________________
8. something you find in the kitchen ___________________
9. an animal that lives in a forest ___________________
10. something you can put in coffee ___________________
11. something you use to wash your hair ___________________
12. something you wear ___________________
13. an adjective ___________________
14. something you can send ___________________
15. a member of a royal family ___________________

PHONETIC SYMBOLS

vowels i I U u @ E O & V A

diphthongs ir Ur Er eI OI aI oU aU

consonants p b t d tS dZ k g f v T D

s z S Z m n N h l r j w

© Oxford University Press Photocopiable Unit 1.2 • Phonetics race 5