CONTENT

UNIVERSIDAD ESPECIALIZADA DE LAS AMÈRICAS

DEPARTAMENTO DE INGLÈS

Module: 1

Title: The vowels of English

General Objective: Analyze the importance of the new subject based on the course studied before.

Duration: 4 Weeks

Competence: Describes the difference between phonetic and phonology in class to get the accurate concepts after some discussions in the sessions.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE

Ø  Discover the principles of phonetics through active participation.

Ø  Construct a didactic chart to identify the appropriate classification of the vowels organ positions.

Ø  Recognize the importance of the proper management of vowels organ positions to an effective oral communication.

CONTENT

Ø  Classification of Vowels

·         The High Front

·         The Mid Front

·         The Low Front

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

·         Brainstorming about “The importance of Phonetics in the English Language”

·         Express ideas about vowels concept from previous knowledge

·         Description of different types of speech organ positions, using technological resources (PPT).

·         Watch a video to practice the speech organ positions.

·         Practice the vowels sounds through an oral presentation in group of 2 students.

·         Make a chart in a cardboard according to vowels organ positions.

·         Transcribe the vowels according to the speech organ positions, individually.

·         Read a paragraph to practice the vowels organ position.

ASSESSMENT

Diagnostic:

• Brainstorming
• Checklist
• (Auto-evaluation)

Formative:

• Workshops
• Dialogue
• Cardboard Chart
• Rubric
• (Hetero-evaluation)

Summative:

• Transcription
• Production
• Rubric
• (Hetero-evaluation)

TOPIC

"VOWELS"

VOWEL CLASSIFICATION

Vowels are characterized by:

Ø  Tongue Height

Ø  Tongue Advancement

Ø  Lip Rounding

Ø  Tense/ Lax Vowel

It is important to note that a vowel is produced with no constriction or blockage of the vocal tract.

Tongue Height

The tongue is the main articulator for vowels. Therefore, it is important on where it is placed. The height can be characterized by being either high, mid, or low.

Tongue Advancement

The tongue is also characterized by being either front, central, or back.

Lip Rounding

The lips are characterized by being either retracted or rounded. This is shown in the difference between “moon" and "mean".

      Retracted: ALL of the front vowels are classified as retracted, as well as unstressed mid-central vowels, and one low-back vowel.
/i, ɪ, e, ɛ, æ, ɑ, ə, ʌ/

      Rounded: Most of the back vowels are classified as rounded.
/u, ʊ, o, ɔ, ɚ, ɝ/

 Tense/ Lax Vowel

The vowels can also be characterized by being either a tense vowel or a lax vowel.

      Tense vowel: These tend to be longer in duration and may require more effort. Also, it can end open syllables.
/i, e, u, o, ɔ, ɑ, ɝ/

      Lax vowels include: /ɪ, ɛ, æ, ʊ, ə, ʌ, ɚ/. Lax vowels never end a stressed open syllable.

VOWEL QUADRILATERAL

A vowel quadrilateral is very useful in memorizing the tongue height and advancement. From the above image, it is easy to determine where each vowel falls. However, memorizing the vowel quadrilateral is only half the battle. Another important memorization tool is to provide keywords for each vowel. By doing this, it will make it much easier to determine what sound each vowels represents.

Front Vowels

      /i/ : High, front, retracted, tense vowel. Keywords include "key", "seeks", "reach", "piece".  

/rid/ = read     /mit/ = meet    /brizd/ = breezed    /klin/ = clean    /did/= deed

        /ɪ/ : High, front, retracted, lax vowel. Keywords include "king", "stink", "prince".

 /mɪt/ = mitt    /pɪk/ = pick    /kɪst/ = kissed    /ɪndid/ = indeed

    /e/: High-mid, front, retracted, tense vowel. Keywords include "inmate", "rotate", "essay".

/ɪnmet/ = inmate        /ribet/ = rebate

      /ɛ/ : Low-mid, front, retracted, lax vowel. Keywords include "met", "etch", "where".

 /stɛr/ = stare    /smɛl/ = smell    /hɛvi/ = heavy    /blɛst/ = blessed

      /æ/ : Low, front, retracted, lax vowel. Keywords include "trash", "jazz", "stand".

/klæn/ = clan    /præns/ = prance    /pækt/ = packed    /dræg/ = drag

Back Vowels

      /u/ : High, back, rounded, tense vowel. Keywords include "chew", "moon", "truth", "loot".

/spun/ = spoon    /tun/ = tune    /rut/ = root    /mud/ = mood    /flu/ = flu

      /ʊ/ : High, back, rounded, lax vowel. Keywords include "could", "should", "bull", "hood".

/gʊd/ = good    /stʊd/ = stood    /wʊd/ = would

      /o/ : High-mid, back, rounded, tense vowel. Keywords include "bOdacious" and "rOtation".

This is used when the syllable that contains this vowel is not stressed.

      /ɔ/ : Low-mid, back, rounded, tense vowel. Keywords include "frog", "off", "vault", "haul".

/spɔrt/ = sport    /stɔrd/ = stored    /sprɔl/ = sprawl

      /ɑ/ : Low, back, retracted, tense vowel. Keywords include "bond", "stop", "car", "watch".

/wɑnt/ = want     /stɑrvd/ = starved    /frɑst/ = frost

Central Vowels

     /ə/ : Mid, central, retracted, lax vowel. Keywords include "Astound", "ransOm", tunA".

This is used when the syllable that contains the vowel is unstressed.

pinət/ = peanut    /plətun/ = platoon

      /ʌ/ : Low-mid, back-central, retracted, lax vowel. Keywords include "rub", "flood", "pUblic".

This is used when the syllable that contains the vowel is stressed.

/robʌst/ = robust   

   /ɚ/: Mid, central, rounded, lax vowel. Keywords include "pERtain", "runnER", "harbOR".

This is used when the syllable that contains the vowel is unstressed.

   /ɝ/ : Mid, central, rounded, tense vowel. Keywords include "third", "curse", "sERvice".

This is used when the syllable that contains the vowel is unstressed. /fɝr/ = fur    /lɝn/ = learn