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Fun Easy English Classroom February 8
 

Classroom
Today


American English
pronunciation
lesson 4
Pronunciation Lesson 4

Today in the Fun Easy English classroom you are going to learn to pronounce the sound o as in the words coat, grow, toe, woke. Remember "practice makes perfect" if you want to improve your English speaking ability.
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Pronunciation: American English Lesson 4

Pronounce the sound o as in the words coat, grow, toe, woke. Watch the following pronunciation videos and learn to pronounce this sound correctly.
 
Video: American English Pronunciation Lesson 4
Spelling
eau beau, bureau
ew sew
o joke, smoke, woke
oa coast, coat, soap, throat
oe toe
oo brooch
ou although, shoulder, soul
ow blow, grow, low, mow
 
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.
bureau sew joke coat
toe brooch although blow
woke soap shoulder grow
 
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.  bur_ _ _
2.  s_ _
3.  c_ _t
4.  t_ _
5.  br_ _ch
6.  alth_ _gh
7.  bl_ _
8.  w_ke
9.  sh_ _lder
10.  gr_ _
Note: the letter or letters needed to complete each word all have the same sound.
From YOUR Teacher: OMG

Oh My Gosh. Hey cool today you learned 1/3 of this popular expression. The Oh in Oh My Gosh is the sound in this pronunciation lesson.
 
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 39 - It’s Unbelievable!
(Beginner - Conversation, Listening, Reading)

In this lesson Anna sees an ad for a hair product on television. Her friend Pete is in the ad, so she believes that the product is a good one. She learns that she cannot believe everything she sees in television ads.
Lesson Video

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

Anna: Hello! Winter weather in Washington, D.C. can be really windy. And wind messes up my hair. It is really windy today. Look at my hair. Will it be windy this weekend? I’ll listen to the news. I am tired of my untidy hair.
Pete: Are you tired of your untidy hair?
Anna: Yes. Yes, I am. And it’s … uncomfortable.
Pete: Is it … uncomfortable?
Anna: Yes. Yes, it is! Hey, is that … Pete?
Pete: Hi. I’m Pete. And I have the perfect product for you -- Hair Be Good!
Pete: Just spray Hair Be Good on your hair … wrap in a towel … and you are done! Hair Be Good works and it’s inexpensive. One can costs only $10! So, go online and order your Hair Be Good today!
Anna: Hair Be Good sounds perfect! And I can trust Pete! I am buying some right now. Okay, I will order one can of Hair Be Good for $10. I’ll pay with a credit card. My delivery will arrive in 2 days. Awesome!
Anna: It arrived! I'll use it before I go to work. Okay, Hair Be Good, make my untidy hair tidy! No, make it … fabulous!
Amelia: Hi, Anna.
Anna: Hello, Amelia!
Amelia: Anna, you look … different.
Anna: Thanks! I used a new product called Hair Be Good.
Amelia: Well, it’s not.
Anna: It’s not what?
Amelia: Good. Your hair does not look good.
Anna: Oh, no! This is not good.
Amelia: Why don’t you go home and take care of … this.
Anna: Good idea.
Pete: Hi, Anna!
Anna: Hello, Pete.
Pete: Is something wrong?
Anna: This is wrong!
Pete: What did you do to your hair?
Anna: Hair Be Good did this to my hair.
Pete: Ah, you bought it!
Anna: Yes, I bought it. You said in your ad it was a perfect product. This is not perfect. This is imperfect!
Pete: It’s unbelievable!
Anna: I believed your ad, Pete. It was dishonest!
Pete: Anna, you don’t believe everything you see in ads, do you?
Anna: No, Pete. Just the ones with my friends.
Pete: Your hair will be okay. Just wash it ... a couple of times.
Anna: Thanks. Thanks a lot, Pete! Here, here's your product! You should call it "Hair Be Really Bad!" Until next time, Pete! Till next time.
Listening

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

In this video, learn how to say the new words. Then learn about using negative prefixes with adjectives.
Pronunciation

Use this video to learn about the pronunciation of the words "comfortable" and "uncomfortable."
New Words
  • can - n. a closed metal container that is usually shaped like a cylinder and that holds food, drink, or other liquids
  • delivery - n. something that is taken to a person or place or something that is delivered
  • dishonest - adj. not honest: such as saying or likely to say things that are untrue
  • imperfect - adj. having mistakes or problems or not perfect
  • fabulous - adj. very good
  • inexpensive - adj. low in price or not expensive
  • order - v. to place an order for (something): such as to request (something) from a company
  • product - n. something that is made or grown to be sold or used
  • spray - v. to put a stream of small drops of liquid on (someone or something)
  • tidy - adj. clean and organized or not messy
  • towel - n. a piece of cloth used for drying things
  • unbelievable - adj. difficult or impossible to believe
  • uncomfortable - adj. causing a feeling of physical or mental discomfort
  • untidy - adj. not neat or clean
  • wrap - v. to cover (something) by winding or folding a piece of material around it
Activity

In this lesson, Anna believed an ad she saw on television. It was not a good decision. Do you believe the ads you see on television? Why or why not? Write about it in the Facebook Comments section below. Then practice talking about ads. 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.
 
Hey Students,

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