Pronunciation Clinic

Optional support — your core lesson stays exactly as it is.

🧩 Supplementary Practice

Extra practice — Pronunciation Clinic

Need the words to stick? Recognise, recall, then use them.

Extra support for language you've already met.

Step 1 · Let's Understand

Sounds & rhythm — words & phrases

Recognise it, remember it, then use it.

Recognise the meaning

Recognise

Match each word with its meaning.

think /θ/

three /θ/

thanks /θ/

this /ð/

mother /ð/

ship /ɪ/

sheep /iː/

sit /ɪ/

Answer, then check.

Group the words

Notice

Group by sound.

Voiceless /θ/think /θ/ · three /θ/ · thanks /θ/
Voiced /ð/this /ð/ · mother /ð/
Short /ɪ/ship /ɪ/ · sit /ɪ/
Long /iː/sheep /iː/ · seat /iː/

Words in real phrases

Chunks

Say each one aloud. Copy the rhythm.

I think so.

think /θ/

Three coffees, please.

three /θ/

Thanks a lot!

thanks /θ/

This is my friend.

this /ð/

My mother is here.

mother /ð/

Can you remember?

Recall

Say the word first, then check.

Use it

Write 3 sentences about you using words from sounds & rhythm.

Step 2 · Let's Practise

Extra speaking practice

Model first, then say it yourself.

Model language

Chunks

Listen, then say each phrase twice.

Which one did I say?

I said /ɪ/ or /iː/?

Again, please.

Slower, please.

Now you try.

Guided speaking

Speak

Pairs: take turns reading 5 minimal pairs. Your partner ticks which one you said (ship/sheep, sit/seat, it/eat, live/leave, fit/feet).

Use: "Which one did I say?"
Use: "I said /ɪ/ or /iː/?"
Use: "Again, please."
Use: "Slower, please."

Model answer

1) I THINK THREE THANKS are enough. 2) THIS is my MOTHER and FATHER. 3) The SHIP and the SHEEP are HERE. 4) SIT in your SEAT. 5) She is a great PHOtographer. 6) I WANT to GO HOME at SEVEN.

Complete the conversation

Practise

Choose the natural reply.

B: …
B: …
B: …

Answer, then check.

Challenge

Speak

Now do it again with no notes. Speak for 60 seconds.

Talk about sounds & rhythm without stopping.

Step 2 · Let's Practise

Common difficulties

The parts learners usually find hard in this lesson.

Pronunciation: All four areas — practice drills

Chunks

(1) /θ/ vs /ð/: tongue between teeth, soft air. (2) /ɪ/ short, /iː/ long with smile. (3) Word stress: 1 syllable is loudest. (4) Sentence rhythm: stress NOUNS, VERBS, ADJECTIVES; weaken articles, prepositions.

/θ/ I think three thanks.

/ð/ This is the mother.

ship — sheep / sit — seat / it — eat

PHO-to / pho-TOG-ra-pher / pho-to-GRAPH-ic

I WANT to GO HOME at SEVEN.

Tricky ones — say it, then check

Recall

These are the parts beginners often get wrong.

Common difficulties

Practise

Slow down and choose carefully.

Content words = LOUD; small words =
Voiced 'th' is in…

Answer, then check.

Step 3 · Let's Use It

4 areas: sounds, pairs, word stress, rhythm

Strengthen the grammar from this lesson — a different route into it.

Quick explanation

Understand

Pronunciation has 4 areas: (1) tricky sounds like 'th' /θ/ /ð/; (2) minimal pairs like ship/sheep; (3) WORD stress (the strong syllable); (4) SENTENCE rhythm (content words louder, small words quick).

/θ/ think, thanks, three
/ð/ the, this, mother
/ɪ/ ship — /iː/ sheep

Notice the pattern

Notice

Read the sentences. What is the same in each one?

/θ/ think, thanks, three
/ð/ the, this, mother
/ɪ/ ship — /iː/ sheep
PHOto — phoTOgrapher — photoGRAPHic

Choose the right form

Practise

One answer only. Take your time.

/θ/ is in…
/ð/ is in…
Sheep has the sound…
In 'PHOTOgrapher' stress is on…

Answer, then check.

Fix the mistake

Common mistakes

Each sentence has one wrong word. Write it correctly.

I thank this is great.

I see five ship.

Please seat down.

Build the sentence

Build it

Put the words in the right order.

Ithinkthisisthree

Shipandsheepsounddifferent

Englishhasastrongrhythm

Answer, then check.

Make it yours

Use it

Write 2–3 true sentences about you using 4 areas: sounds, pairs, word stress, rhythm.

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