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Fun Easy English Classroom February 20
 

Classroom
Today


American English
pronunciation
lesson 7
Pronunciation Lesson 7

Today in the Fun Easy English classroom you are going to learn to pronounce the sound ea as in the words friend, head, said, tell. Remember "practice makes perfect" if you want to improve your English speaking ability.
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Pronunciation: American English Lesson 7

Pronounce the sound ea as in the words friend, head, said, tell. Watch the following pronunciation videos and learn to pronounce this sound correctly.
 
Video: American English Pronunciation Lesson 7
Spelling
a any, many
ai said
ay says
e beg, get, less, men, shed, tell, ten, test, wet, yell
ea head, jealous, pleasure, weather
ie friend
u bury
 
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 relaxed.
Lips

Your lips should be unrounded.
Tongue

The front part of your tongue should be in the center 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.
any said says get
head friend many tell
jealous ten pleasure test
 
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.  _ny
2.  s_ _d
3.  s_ _s
4.  g_t
5.  h_ _d
6.  fr_ _nd
7.  t_ll
8.  t_n
9.  pl_ _sure
10.  t_st
Note: the letter or letters needed to complete each word all have the same sound.
From YOUR Teacher: Pronouncing This Sound

This sound is relatively easy to pronounce. Be sure to practice the sounds in the video above until you are perfect.
 
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 51 - A Good Habit
(Beginner - Conversation, Listening, Reading)

In this lesson Anna has a new goal - to run in a marathon. Her friend Ashley knows that training a little every day is a good idea. Will Anna be able to meet her goal?
Lesson Video

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

Anna: D.C. is a popular city for marathons! A marathon is a long race. Many marathons raise money for charity, you know - good works. A marathon is a good fitness goal too. I want to challenge myself in a marathon and maybe win a medal! Hey, there’s Ashley. Ashley! Wait for me! It’s Anna!
Anna: Ash … ley. Ash … ley.
Ashley: Are you okay, Anna?
Anna: I just ran … from over there.
Ashley: Do you want to sit down, Anna? Do you want some water? (Anna takes the bottle and tries to return it.) No thanks. You keep it.
Anna: Thanks. I didn’t know you like to run.
Ashley: I love running. In fact, this weekend, I will run in my first marathon.
Anna: Me … too.
Ashley: Really? You are running in a marathon?
Anna: Yeah. In a couple of days. Why do you ask … like that?
Ashley: What do you know about running in a marathon?
Anna: I know that there’s a lot of running and sometimes you can win a medal.
Ashley: How long have you been training?
Anna: I started today. I’ve been training for an hour … no, an hour and seven minutes!
Ashley: Anna, training a little every day is a good habit to get into. Not all at once!
Anna: Thanks for the advice, Ashley. But I’m running in a special race.
Ashley: What marathon is it?
Anna: I don’t remember the name. But the website said everyone gets a medal.
Ashley: Okay, well, good luck, Anna!
Anna: Thanks, Ashley. Good luck to you, too.
Ashley: Thank you.
Anna: Bye!
Ashley: Bye, Anna!
Anna: See you!
(At the race: an announcer calls out race information)
Anna: Hello. I am here to enter the race!
Woman: But ma’am you can’t enter the race.
Anna: What? How am I going to meet my goal?
Woman: Ma’am, this race is for children. You can’t run with the children.
Anna: Children? Children. That’s perfect. I just might win!
Woman: No, ma’am. You really can’t run with the children.
Anna: I’m sorry. Of course. I was only thinking of my goal.
Woman: Well, you can help us with our goal, which is to raise money for sick children. Would you like to help us?
Anna: I’ve just found my new goal. And I get to wear a medal. (to child who finished race) Good job!
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 gerunds and infinitives.
Pronunciation

Use this video to learn about how Americans pronounce the reduced form of "to" in sentences with infinitives.
New Words
  • challenge - v. to test the ability, skill, or strength of (someone or something)
  • charity - n. a organization that helps people in need
  • fitness - n. the condition of being physically fit and healthy
  • goal - n. something that you are trying to do or achieve
  • habit - n. something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way
  • marathon - n. a running race that is about 26 miles (42 kilometers) long
  • medal - n. a piece of metal often in the form of a coin with designs and words in honor of a special event, a person, or an achievement
  • race - n. a competition between people, animals or vehicles to see which one is fastest
  • special - adj. different from what is normal or usual
  • train - v. to try to make yourself stronger, faster, or better at doing something before competing in an event or competition
Activity

In this lesson, Anna helps at a charity event. Have you ever helped with a charity? Tell us about what you did to help. Write about it in the Facebook Comments section below. Then practice using gerunds and infinitives to talk about sports. 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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