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Fun Easy English Classroom January 20
 

Classroom
Today


American English
pronunciation
lesson 3
American English Pronunciation Lesson 3

Today in the Fun Easy English classroom you are going to study pronunciation lesson 3. You are going to learn to pronounce the sound oo as in the words food, shoe, to, true. Remember "practice makes perfect" if you want to improve your English speaking ability.
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Pronunciation: American English Lesson 3

Pronounce the sound oo as in the words food, shoe, to, true. Watch the following pronunciation videos and learn to pronounce this sound correctly.
 
Video: American English Pronunciation Lesson 3
Spelling
ew brew, crew, stew
o do, to
oe canoe, shoe
oo food, fool, noon, pool
ou soup, through, you
u rude
ue blue, true
ui fruit, juice
 
Note: the red letters all have the same sound
 
Sound: Voiced and Unvoiced

This is a VOICED sound which means Your Vocal Cords DO vibrate when making this sound.
You CAN LISTEN to your Vocal Cords vibrating if you cover your ears with your hands.

Try covering your ears with your hands as Akiko is doing in the picture.

Now make the sound of this lesson. Can you listen to your vocal cords vibrating?
VERY GOOD
You CAN FEEL your Vocal Cords vibrating if you place your hands on your neck.

Try placing your hands on your neck as Akiko is doing in the picture.

Now make the sound of this lesson. Can you feel your vocal cords vibrating?
VERY GOOD
The following diagram shows the most important parts of your head and mouth used for pronouncing the sounds of English. It also shows the location of your Vocal Cords.
 
Position: Mouth, lips, and tongue

The following descriptions explain the proper mouth, lips, and tongue position when you make this sound.
Mouth

Your mouth should be slightly tense.
Lips

Your lips should be rounded and in the same position as when you kiss someone.
Tongue

The back part of your tongue should be in the upper part of your mouth.
Practice video

Listen to the video and practice repeating each word.
 
 
Pronunciation practice words

Look at your mouth in a mirror and practice pronouncing the following words. Make sure your mouth, lips, and tongue are in their proper positions.
brew do shoe food
soup rude true fruit
to noon through juice
 
Note: the red letters all have the same sound (watch the video above)
 
Test: Pronunciation word test

Choose the correct letter or letters to complete each of the following words.
1.  br_ _
2.  sh_ _
3.  f_ _d
4.  s_ _p
5.  r_de
6.  tr_ _
7.  fr_ _t
8.  t_
9.  n_ _n
10.  j_ _ce
Note: the letter or letters needed to complete each word all have the same sound.
From YOUR Teacher: Pronouncing oo

Hey this is really a fun English sound to pronounce. Tomorrow go and find someone you like and kiss them. If they act really surprised say you were simply practicing the oo sound in English. lol.
 
Additional Lessons
About These Lessons

The following classroom lessons are great for students who want additional conversation, listening, and reading practice.
  • Conversation Lesson - Beginner Level. Let's Learn English conversation lesson with a conversation video, a video script, audio listening practice, video speaking practice, video pronunciation practice, a new words section, and a writing activity.
Conversation Lesson 20 - What Can You Do?
(Beginner - Conversation, Listening, Reading)

In this lesson Anna meets her friend Pete in a coffee shop. Pete needs a job. Can Anna help him to find the right job for him?
Lesson Video

Watch the video and then do the activities on this page.
Video Script

Anna: Hi, there! Washington, D.C. is a great place to work. Many people here work in government and politics. But there are many other jobs. You can work at a hospital; a university. You can work in a coffee shop. Wait a minute, I think I see a friend of mine. Pete? Is that you?
Pete: Hi, Anna.
Anna: You look different. Your beard … is really big.
Pete: You don’t like it, do you?
Anna: No, no. You just look … different.
(To server) Thank you. So, what’s wrong? You look sad.
Pete: I don’t have a job.
Anna: Sorry, I can’t hear you.
Pete: I do not have a job!
Anna: Oh. I’m sorry to hear that, Pete.
Pete: I don’t have a skill.
Anna: Everyone has a skill. You need to find yours.
Pete: I don’t know, Anna.
Anna: Pete, I am good at asking questions. Let me ask you some.
Pete: Really, Anna? Can you help me?
Anna: Yes, I can. Let me help.
Pete: Sure, Anna. Maybe you can help.
Anna: Can you write code?
Pete: Sure, c-o-l-d. How is this going to help?
Anna: No, not “cold.” Code; you know, for making phone apps, or websites. You can make tons of money writing code.
Pete: Tons of money? But I can’t code.
Anna: Next question. Can you drive?
Pete: Do you mean drive a race car? It’s really hard to be a race car driver. First, you need a race car ...
Anna: No, I mean drive a taxi or drive a bus.
Pete: No, I always fall asleep when I drive.
Anna: Oh, that’s not good. Next question. Can you teach? You can be a teacher in a school.
Pete: No, I cannot teach.
Anna: Can you cook? You can be a chef in a restaurant.
Pete: No, I can’t code! I can’t teach! I can’t cook! Anna, I can’t do anything. This is sad. I’m gonna write about my feelings in my blog.
Anna: You write a blog?
Pete: Yeah, I write a blog.
Anna: How many followers do you have?
Pete: I don’t know … 59,538.
Anna: Pete, that's a lot of followers! You can make money writing!
Pete: Writing is easy. Everyone can write.
Anna: Not everyone can write well. You can be a writer!
Pete: I can be a writer. I can be a writer! I can be a writer! Thanks, Anna.
Marsha: Hi, Pete. Hi, Anna.
Pete: Hi, Marsha. Excuse me, I have to go.
Marsha: Where are you going?
Pete: I’m going to be a writer!
Marsha: Good luck, Pete!
(To Anna) He does know that it’s not easy to be a writer, doesn’t he?
Anna: There are many different jobs you can have in Washington, D.C. Pete wants to be a writer. I wish him luck. Lots of luck. Until next time!
Listening

Now practice listening to only the audio portion of the conversation.
Speaking

In this video, you can practice saying the new words and learn how to ask questions when you do not understand someone clearly.
Pronunciation

This video teaches about the shortened form of cannot and the two ways to pronounce can.
New Words
  • app - n. a computer program that performs a particular task (such as word processing)
  • beardn. the hair that grows on a man's cheeks and chin
  • blog - n. a Web site on which someone writes about personal opinions, activities, and experiences
  • chef - n. a professional cook who usually is in charge of a kitchen in a restaurant
  • code - n. - a set of instructions for a computer
  • code - v. to change (information) into a set of letters, numbers, or symbols that can be read by a computer
  • drive - v. to direct the movement of a vehicle such as a car, truck, or bus
  • easy - adj. not hard to do
  • follower - n. a person who likes and admires (someone or something) very much
  • good luck - expression. used to say that you hope someone will succeed
  • hard - adj. physically or mentally difficult
  • lot(s) or a lot (informal) lots - n. a large amount
  • hospital - n. a place where sick or injured people are given care or treatment and where children are often born
  • school - n. a place where children go to learn
  • taxi - n. a car that carries passengers to a place for an amount of money
  • teacher - n. a person or thing that teaches something
  • university - n. a school that offers courses leading to a degree and where research is done
  • website - n. a place on the World Wide Web that contains information about a person, organization, etc., and that usually consists of many Web pages joined by hyperlinks
  • well - adv. in a skillful way
Activity

In this lesson, Anna is helping her friend Pete. He needs to find a new job. How do you try to help your friends? Write about the ways you help your friends. Write in the Facebook Comments section below. Use the Activity Sheet to practice talking about jobs and skills. Click lesson activity to get the printable PDF version. The page opens to a new window.
Conversation Lessons

Study all 52 English conversation lessons. Let's Learn English conversation lessons each with a conversation video, a video script, audio listening practice, video speaking practice, video pronunciation practice, a new words section, and a writing activity. These lessons are for beginners.
Source: Voice of America
 
Additional Information
Avoid Ineffective Study Methods

The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section, and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program

Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
 
Improve Your Pronunciation by Training Your Ears

The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section, and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program

Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
 
Improve Your Long-Term Memory by Spacing Practice

The lesson includes an audio program explaining this topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section, and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program

Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
 
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