HomeExamination QuestionsThird TermSecondary SchoolsSchwa /ə/ Sound Speech Work English JSS 1 Second Term Lesson Notes Week 6

Schwa /ə/ Sound Speech Work English JSS 1 Second Term Lesson Notes Week 6

Lesson Note: Speech Work (English Grammar) – JSS 2, Second Term, Week 6

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Mastering the Schwa /ə/: The Most Common Sound in English

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Schwa /ə/ SoundSchwa /ə/ Sound

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Vowel Sound /ə/ Lesson: JSS 2 Second Term English Grammar

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Learn how to identify and pronounce the schwa /ə/, the most common vowel sound in English, in this comprehensive JSS 2 English Speech Work lesson.

Lesson Plan

Subject: English Language
Class: Junior Secondary School 2 (JSS 2)
Term: Second Term
Week: 6
Age: 11–13 years
Topic: Speech Work
Sub-Topic: Vowel Sound /ə/
Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioral Objectives

At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

  1. Recognize the /ə/ (schwa) sound in spoken and written English.
  2. Identify the /ə/ sound in unstressed syllables of words.
  3. Pronounce the /ə/ sound correctly in various contexts.
  4. Differentiate the /ə/ sound from other vowel sounds.

Keywords

  • Schwa sound
  • /ə/
  • Pronunciation

Set Induction

The teacher will write the word banana on the board and ask the students to pronounce it. The teacher will highlight the unstressed vowel sounds in ba-na-na and introduce the schwa /ə/ sound.

Entry Behavior

Students have some familiarity with vowel sounds from previous lessons and can recognize stressed and unstressed syllables.

Learning Resources and Materials

  1. Flashcards with schwa /ə/ words.
  2. Audio recordings of words containing the schwa sound.
  3. Phonetic chart for reference.

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

The teacher will remind students about long and short vowel sounds and introduce /ə/ as the most common and neutral vowel sound in English.

Embedded Core Skills

  • Listening
  • Speaking
  • Pronunciation

Content

The Schwa /ə/ Sound

  1. What is the /ə/ Sound?
    • The /ə/ (schwa) is the most common vowel sound in English.
    • It is a short, neutral, and unstressed sound.
    • It occurs in unstressed syllables of words.
  2. Pronunciation Tips
    • The mouth is relaxed, and the tongue is in a mid-central position.
    • The sound is very short and subtle.
  3. Examples of Words with the /ə/ Sound
    • banana (bəˈnænə)
    • teacher (ˈtiːtʃə)
    • computer (kəmˈpjuːtə)
    • about (əˈbaʊt)
    • sister (ˈsɪstə)
  4. Common Contexts of the Schwa /ə/
    • Unstressed syllables: ba-na-na.
    • Articles: a book (/ə bʊk/).
    • Prepositions: to the park (/tə ðə pɑːk/).
  5. Word Pairs with Schwa and Other Sounds
    • About (/əˈbaʊt/) vs. Absorb (/æbˈzɔːb/)
    • Sofa (/ˈsəʊfə/) vs. Soft (/sɒft/)

15 Fill-in-the-Blank Questions (Evaluation)

  1. The schwa sound is commonly found in ___ syllables.
    a) stressed b) unstressed c) loud d) silent
    (Answer: b)
  2. The vowel sound in the first syllable of about is ___.
    a) /æ/ b) /ə/ c) /e/ d) /o/
    (Answer: b)
  3. Which word contains the schwa sound?
    a) Soft b) Absorb c) Banana d) Full
    (Answer: c)
  4. The word teacher ends with the ___ sound.
    a) /ə/ b) /e/ c) /ʌ/ d) /i/
    (Answer: a)
  5. Identify the vowel sound in computer.
    a) /ə/ b) /uː/ c) /iː/ d) /ʌ/
    (Answer: a)
  6. The schwa sound is always ___.
    a) stressed b) unstressed c) loud d) silent
    (Answer: b)
  7. The second syllable of sister has the ___ sound.
    a) /ə/ b) /i/ c) /e/ d) /ʌ/
    (Answer: a)
  8. Which vowel sound is most common in English?
    a) /ə/ b) /e/ c) /uː/ d) /o/
    (Answer: a)
  9. The article a in the phrase a book is pronounced as ___.
    a) /eɪ/ b) /ə/ c) /ʌ/ d) /a/
    (Answer: b)
  10. The first syllable of around contains the ___ sound.
    a) /ə/ b) /a/ c) /æ/ d) /o/
    (Answer: a)
  11. The schwa sound is produced with the mouth ___.
    a) tense b) relaxed c) wide d) closed
    (Answer: b)
  12. The vowel sound in the last syllable of sofa is ___.
    a) /ə/ b) /a/ c) /o/ d) /i/
    (Answer: a)
  13. The preposition to in to the park is pronounced as ___.
    a) /tʊ/ b) /tə/ c) /tuː/ d) /ta/
    (Answer: b)
  14. The schwa sound is often called the ___.
    a) loudest sound b) softest sound c) most common sound d) rarest sound
    (Answer: c)
  15. Which word has the schwa sound in its first syllable?
    a) Sofa b) Banana c) Father d) Soft
    (Answer: b)

15 FAQs with Answers (Class Activity Discussion)

  1. What is the schwa sound?
    It is the most common vowel sound in English, produced in unstressed syllables.
  2. Give an example of a word with the schwa sound.
    Banana.
  3. How is the schwa sound pronounced?
    With a relaxed mouth and a very short, neutral sound.
  4. Is the schwa sound stressed or unstressed?
    Unstressed.
  5. Which syllable in computer contains the schwa sound?
    The first syllable (kəm).
  6. What is the phonetic symbol for the schwa sound?
    /ə/.
  7. Why is the schwa sound important?
    It helps in accurate pronunciation of unstressed syllables.
  8. Does about contain the schwa sound?
    Yes, in the first syllable.
  9. What part of speech often uses the schwa sound?
    Articles and prepositions.
  10. Can the schwa sound occur in stressed syllables?
    No, it is only in unstressed syllables.
  11. What is the vowel sound in the article a?
    The schwa sound /ə/.
  12. Is the schwa sound short or long?
    It is short.
  13. What is the position of the tongue when producing the schwa sound?
    Mid-central.
  14. Does the word sister end with a schwa sound?
    Yes, it does.
  15. How can the schwa sound improve pronunciation?
    By making speech sound more natural and fluent.

Presentation Steps

Step 1: Revision of the Previous Topic

  • The teacher will review the /ɜː/ sound.

Step 2: Introduction of the New Topic

  • The teacher will introduce the /ə/ sound with examples and explain its importance in pronunciation.

Step 3: Student Contributions and Corrections

  • Students will identify and pronounce words with the schwa sound.

Teacher’s Activities

  1. Explain the schwa sound and its occurrence.
  2. Provide examples of words with the schwa sound.
  3. Correct students’ pronunciation.

Learners’ Activities

  1. Listen to the teacher’s explanation and examples.
  2. Practice pronouncing words with the schwa sound.
  3. Identify the schwa sound in words and sentences.

Assessment

  • Ask students to identify and pronounce the schwa sound in the following words: about, teacher, banana, computer, sofa.

Evaluation Questions

  1. What is the schwa sound?
  2. How is the schwa sound pronounced?
  3. Give three examples of words with the schwa sound.
  4. Which syllables usually contain the schwa sound?
  5. Identify the schwa sound in teacher.
  6. Is the schwa sound long or short?
  7. Why is the schwa sound important in English?
  8. What is the phonetic symbol for the schwa sound?
  9. Differentiate the schwa sound from /ɜː/.
  10. Name a word with the schwa sound in its first syllable.

Conclusion

The teacher will summarize the lesson, emphasizing the significance of the schwa /ə/ sound in improving pronunciation and fluency in English. Students will be encouraged to practice using the sound in conversations.

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