Mastering Diphthongs for Clear Speech Work English Grammar JSS 3 First Term Lesson Notes Week 3
Subject: English Grammar
Class: JSS 3
Term: First Term
Week: 3
Age: 12-14 years
Topic: Speech Work – Diphthongs /ei/, /ai/, /ɔi/, /ƏƱ/
Sub-topic: Pronunciation and Usage of Diphthongs
Duration: 40 minutes
Behavioural Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
- Identify the diphthongs /ei/, /ai/, /ɔi/, and /ƏƱ/ in words.
- Pronounce words containing these diphthongs correctly.
- Differentiate between words with similar sounds but different diphthongs.
- Use words with these diphthongs correctly in sentences.
Keywords
Diphthong, pronunciation, /ei/, /ai/, /ɔi/, /ƏƱ/
Set Induction
The teacher plays a short audio or video clip with words that include the diphthongs /ei/, /ai/, /ɔi/, and /ƏƱ/, and asks the students to identify the sounds they hear.
Entry Behaviour
Students are familiar with simple vowel sounds and have basic pronunciation skills.
Learning Resources and Materials
- Flashcards with words that have diphthongs
- Audio recording of words with diphthongs
- Pronunciation charts
Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge
Students have learned about vowel sounds in previous lessons, and this will be an extension of that knowledge, focusing on the combination of two vowel sounds to form diphthongs.
Embedded Core Skills
- Listening and speaking skills
- Pronunciation skills
- Phonetics understanding
Reference Books
- Lagos State Scheme of Work
- NOSEC (New Oxford Secondary English Course), Page 22
Instructional Materials
- Pronunciation flashcards
- Word lists with diphthongs
Content
Diphthongs /ei/, /ai/, /ɔi/, /ƏƱ/
A diphthong is a complex vowel sound that begins with one vowel sound and glides into another within the same syllable. There are eight diphthongs in English, but we will focus on four:
1. /ei/
This diphthong is pronounced by starting with the sound /e/ and gliding into /i/.
Examples of words containing /ei/:
- race
- mace
- maize
- day
- say
- bay
- cake
- gate
- rake
- lake
- make
- break
- sake
Note: The word “says” is an exception and is pronounced with the sound /e/, not /ei/.
2. /ai/
This diphthong is formed by combining /a/ and /i/.
Examples of words containing /ai/:
- rice
- night
- rise
- might
- kite
- bright
- nice
- price
- prize
- high
- height
- dice
- time
3. /ɔi/
This diphthong is formed by combining /ɔ/ and /i/.
Examples of words containing /ɔi/:
- noise
- coin
- oil
- boy
- buoy
- moist
- loitering
- boil
- coil
- rejoice
- voice
4. /ƏƱ/
This diphthong is formed by combining /Ə/ (a schwa sound) and /Ʊ/ (as in “go”).
Examples of words containing /ƏƱ/:
- road
- load
- grow
- loan
- bold
- cold
- over
- goat
- boat
- stove
- role
- mould
15 Fill-in-the-blank Questions with Options
- The sound in the word “race” is represented by ___
a) /ai/
b) /ei/
c) /ɔi/
d) /ƏƱ/ - The word “night” contains the diphthong ___
a) /ɔi/
b) /ai/
c) /ei/
d) /ƏƱ/ - The correct diphthong in the word “noise” is ___
a) /ɔi/
b) /ei/
c) /ai/
d) /ƏƱ/ - The word “road” has the diphthong ___
a) /ai/
b) /ei/
c) /ƏƱ/
d) /ɔi/ - “Make” contains which diphthong?
a) /ai/
b) /ei/
c) /ƏƱ/
d) /ɔi/ - The sound in the word “coin” is represented by ___
a) /ai/
b) /ei/
c) /ɔi/
d) /ƏƱ/ - The diphthong in “dice” is ___
a) /ɔi/
b) /ai/
c) /ei/
d) /ƏƱ/ - “Boat” has the sound ___
a) /ai/
b) /ƏƱ/
c) /ɔi/
d) /ei/ - “Bright” contains the diphthong ___
a) /ɔi/
b) /ai/
c) /ei/
d) /ƏƱ/ - “Boy” contains the diphthong ___
a) /ɔi/
b) /ai/
c) /ei/
d) /ƏƱ/ - The correct diphthong in “grow” is ___
a) /ai/
b) /ei/
c) /ƏƱ/
d) /ɔi/ - “Break” contains which diphthong?
a) /ai/
b) /ei/
c) /ɔi/
d) /ƏƱ/ - “Price” has the diphthong ___
a) /ai/
b) /ei/
c) /ɔi/
d) /ƏƱ/ - The word “voice” contains the diphthong ___
a) /ɔi/
b) /ai/
c) /ei/
d) /ƏƱ/ - The sound in “mould” is represented by ___
a) /ai/
b) /ei/
c) /ƏƱ/
d) /ɔi/
15 FAQs with Answers for Better Understanding
- What is a diphthong?
- A diphthong is a complex vowel sound that glides from one vowel to another within the same syllable.
- How do I pronounce the diphthong /ei/?
- Start with /e/ as in “bed” and glide into /i/ as in “see.”
- Can you give an example of a word with the diphthong /ai/?
- “Night” is an example of a word with the /ai/ diphthong.
- How is the diphthong /ɔi/ pronounced?
- Start with the /ɔ/ sound as in “saw” and glide into /i/ as in “see.”
- Which diphthong is found in the word “road”?
- The diphthong /ƏƱ/ is found in “road.”
- Does “says” contain the /ei/ diphthong?
- No, “says” is pronounced with the /e/ sound, not /ei/.
- What is the correct diphthong for “coin”?
- The diphthong for “coin” is /ɔi/.
- How do I pronounce the diphthong /ƏƱ/?
- Start with the schwa sound /Ə/ and glide into the /Ʊ/ sound as in “go.”
- Is “cake” an example of the /ei/ diphthong?
- Yes, “cake” contains the /ei/ diphthong.
- Which diphthong is used in the word “dice”?
- The diphthong /ai/ is used in “dice.”
- Can you give an example of the diphthong /ɔi/?
- “Boy” contains the /ɔi/ diphthong.
- What sound is in “make”?
- “Make” has the diphthong /ei/.
- How do I pronounce the diphthong /ai/?
- Start with /a/ as in “father” and glide into /i/ as in “see.”
- Does “bright” contain the /ai/ diphthong?
- Yes, “bright” contains the /ai/ diphthong.
- How is the diphthong /ƏƱ/ used in words like “goat”?
- It combines the schwa sound /Ə/ with /Ʊ/, gliding from the unstressed vowel to the final vowel sound.
Presentation
Step 1: The teacher explains what diphthongs are and introduces the four diphthongs to be covered in the lesson.
Step 2: The teacher writes examples of each diphthong on the board and demonstrates their pronunciation.
Step 3: The teacher guides the students to practice pronouncing words with each diphthong and use them in sentences.
Teacher’s Activities
- Provide examples of words with each diphthong.
- Demonstrate correct pronunciation.
- Help students practice the pronunciation of diphthongs.
Learners’ Activities
- Listen to the teacher’s examples.
- Pronounce words with diphthongs in pairs or groups.
- Write down sentences using the words with diphthongs.
Assessment
- Pronounce the following words: “cake,” “night,” “coin,” “road.”
- Identify the diphthongs in the words “make” and “bright.”
- Write three words with the diphthong /ɔi/.
- Use the word “goat” in a sentence.
Evaluation Questions
- What is a diphthong?
- How is the diphthong /ei/ pronounced?
- Give two examples of words with the diphthong /ai/.
- What is the correct diphthong in the word “coin”?
- Pronounce the diphthong /ƏƱ/.
- What diphthong is found in the word “race”?
- How do you pronounce the diphthong /ɔi/?
- Write three words with the diphthong /ƏƱ/.
- Give an example of a word with the diphthong /ai/.
- What is the sound in the word “lake”?
Conclusion
The teacher goes around to mark the students’ work, corrects any mispronunciations, and provides feedback on their understanding of diphthongs.