Aural Discrimination /a: / and /ɔ:/ Primary 4 (Basic 4) Term 2 Week 4 English Speech
Subject : English Grammar
Class : Primary 4
Term : Second Term
Week : Week 4
Topic :
Aural Discrimination /a: / and /ɔ:/ Primary
4 (Basic 4) Term 2 Week 4 English Speech
Learning Objectives : By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to
- distinguish between the sounds /a: / in Chop and sound /ɔ:/ in bird, /a/ in bag and
/a:/ in shop. - recognize the sounds in words.
- draw the contrast between sounds when they use the words
- make simple sentences to bring out their meaning
Learning Activities :
- Pupils, as a class distinguish between the two sounds by giving examples
- Pupils in small group, list words the sound can be articulated
- Pupils in pairs, draw several examples of contrast of the two sounds
- Pupils, as individuals, identify the two sounds in a short passage.
- Pupils, as a class,
pronounce and recognize
the sounds in words and
sentences. - Pupils, in small groups,
distinguish between the two
sounds. - Pupils, think and draw a
contrast between the
sounds when used in
words. - Each pupil makes correct
sentences and identifies the
sounds and their meanings
Embedded Core Skills :
- Communication and Collaboration
- Creativity and Imagination
- Critical thinking and problem solving
Materials:
- Charts on Diphthongs
- Video clips of the sound pronounced
- Audio of both sounds
- Chart of pronouncing dictionary
Content :
Aural Discrimination /a: / and /ɔ:/
Aural discrimination is the ability to distinguish between different sounds, particularly those that are similar. In the case of /a:/ and /ɔ:/, these are two vowel sounds that are commonly found in English words.
The sound /a:/ is a long vowel sound that is pronounced with the mouth open wide and the tongue pressed down low. Examples of words with this sound include “car,” “start,” and “part.”
On the other hand, the sound /ɔ:/ is also a long vowel sound, but it is pronounced with the mouth slightly rounded and the tongue positioned in the back of the mouth. Examples of words with this sound include “more,” “bore,” and “door.”
To practice aural discrimination between these two sounds, you could try the following exercises:
- Pronunciation drills: Have your students practice pronouncing words with /a:/ and /ɔ:/ in isolation, as well as in sentences. You can start with simple words and gradually increase the difficulty level. For example, “far” and “for,” “hard” and “horde,” “start” and “storm,” etc.
- Minimal pair exercises: Minimal pairs are pairs of words that differ by only one sound, such as “cot” and “caught.” Create a list of minimal pairs that contain /a:/ and /ɔ:/, and have your students identify which sound they hear in each word.
- Listening exercises: Play audio recordings of words that contain /a:/ and /ɔ:/, and have your students identify which sound they hear. You can also play recordings of sentences that contain both sounds and have your students identify which sound they hear in each word.
By practicing aural discrimination between these two sounds, your students will become more confident in their ability to distinguish between similar sounds in English, which will improve their overall English speech and communication skills.
Aural Discrimination of Diphthongs
Examples in sentences
/a:/ sound:
- The car went far down the road.
- Mark had a hard time starting the car this morning.
- The party started when the music began.
/ɔ:/ sound:
- The dog barked at the door.
- The store had more apples than I expected.
- George got bored waiting for his friends.