Speech Work: Diphthongs Contrast /i:/ and /e:/
Subject: Speech Work
Term: Second Term
Week: Week 11
Topic: Diphthongs Contrast /i:/ and /e:/
Diphthongs Contrast /i:/ and /e:/
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to
- Recognize the and pronounce the sounds /i:/ and /e:/
- Cite examples of the words containing the sounds
- Contrast the pairs with ten words each
Learning Activities
- Pupils as class, identify the sounds on the display chart; listen to the production of the sounds on MP3 player or audio player
- pupils mimic the mouth positioning model to pronounce both sounds.
- pupils in small groups, cite examples of words containing the sounds
- pupils in small groups, provide words consisting of the sounds; contrast the sounds with each other
- each group leader takes a turn to present their groupwork to the whole class for a critique
Embedded Core Skills
- Communication and Collaboration
- Critical thinking and problem solving
- Leadership skills and Personal Development
- Creativity and Imagination
Learning Materials
- Comprehension passage on common sicknesses and cures for human ailments in Nigeria
- Multi-choice and fill-in-blank questions to accompany passage
- Visual aids (e.g., charts, diagrams)
Content
In English phonetics, a diphthong is a vowel sound that starts with one vowel sound and glides to another vowel sound within the same syllable. /i:/ and /e:/ are two different diphthongs. /i:/ is typically represented by the letter combination “ee” as in the word “feet” and /e/ is represented by letter combination “ea” as in the word “beat”
The difference between the vowel sounds represented by the letters “e” and “i” can be subtle and can depend on the specific accent or dialect of English being spoken. In General American English, the vowel sound represented by “e” is typically considered to be a mid-front unrounded vowel, while the vowel sound represented by “i” is considered to be a high front unrounded vowel.
One way to differentiate between the two sounds is to pay attention to the position of the tongue and lips while pronouncing them. The “e” sound is typically pronounced with the tongue slightly farther back in the mouth and the lips slightly more rounded than they are for the “i” sound. The “i” sound is typically pronounced with the tongue positioned higher and closer to the front of the mouth and the lips are less rounded.
Another way to differentiate between the two sounds is by listening to the quality of the sound. The “e” sound is more open and less tense than the “i” sound. “i” sound is more tense and closed than the “e” sound.
It’s also worth noting that the letter “e” in English can represent different vowel sounds, like the mid-open unrounded vowel as in “bed” or the open-mid unrounded vowel as in “pet”.
The /i:/ sound is typically represented by the letter combination “ee” as in the word’s “feet”, “meet” and “seed”. Other examples of words that contain the /i:/ sound include “heat”, “seat”, “wheat”, “sleet”, “sweet” and “greet”.
The /e/ sound is typically represented by the letter combination “ea” as in the words “beat”, “heat”, “meat” and “seat”. Other examples of words that contain the /e/ sound include “head”, “bread”, “dead”, “spread”, “lead” and “plead”. Please note that examples can vary depending on the accent or dialect of English being spoken, and also, these sounds can be represented by other letter combinations in some words.
- Which word contains the /i:/ sound: a) beat b) feet c) meat
- Which word contains the /e/ sound: a) meet b) heat c) lead
- Which word contains the /i:/ sound: a) seat b) beat c) wheat
- Which word contains the /e/ sound: a) sweet b) dead c) heat
- Which word contains the /i:/ sound: a) greet b) heat c) read
- Which word contains the /e/ sound: a) bread b) seat c) meat
- Which word contains the /i:/ sound: a) sleep b) lead c) feel
- Which word contains the /e/ sound: a) head b) meat c) seat
- Which word contains the /i:/ sound: a) wheat b) dead c) feet
- Which word contains the /e/ sound: a) plead b) heat c) sweet
Lesson Presentation: Diphthongs /i:/ and /e:/
- Introduction:
- Diphthongs are vowel sounds that start with one vowel sound and glide to another vowel sound within the same syllable.
- In English phonetics, /i:/ and /e:/ are two different diphthongs.
- /i:/ sound:
- Represented by the letter combination “ee” as in the words “feet”, “meet” and “seed”.
- Other examples of words that contain the /i:/ sound include “heat”, “seat”, “wheat”, “sleet”, “sweet” and “greet”.
- /e/ sound:
- Represented by the letter combination “ea” as in the words “beat”, “heat”, “meat” and “seat”.
- Other examples of words that contain the /e/ sound include “head”, “bread”, “dead”, “spread”, “lead” and “plead”.
- How to differentiate between /i:/ and /e/:
- Pay attention to the position of the tongue and lips while pronouncing them.
- The “e” sound is typically pronounced with the tongue slightly farther back in the mouth and the lips slightly more rounded than they are for the “i” sound.
- The “i” sound is typically pronounced with the tongue positioned higher and closer to the front of the mouth and the lips are less rounded.
- The “e” sound is more open and less tense than the “i” sound. “i” sound is more tense and closed than the “e” sound.
- Practice:
- Practice differentiating between the /i:/ and /e/ sounds by listening to native speakers and repeating the sounds.
- Practice identifying words that contain the /i:/ and /e/ sounds.
- Conclusion:
- Understanding and differentiating between the /i:/ and /e/ sounds is important for accurate English pronunciation.
- With practice, the distinction between these sounds will become clearer and more automatic.