Aural Discrimination: Vowel Sounds /ʌ/ and /ɜ:/ Primary 4 (Basic 4) Second/Third Term Week 5 English Studies

AURAL DISCRIMINATION: SOUNDS /ʌ/ and /ɜ:/ SECOND/THIRD TERM WEEK 5 ENGLISH STUDIES

ENGLISH STUDIES

SECOND/THIRD TERM

WEEK 5

PRIMARY 4 (BASIC 4) 

THEME – SPEECH WORK 

TOPIC – SOUNDS /ʌ/ and /ɜ:/ 

LEARNING AREA

1. Introduction

2. Miminal Pairs

3. Pronunciation Practice/Oral Drills

4. Summary and Lesson Evaluation

5. Practice Exercise/Homework/Test Questions and Answers

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

1. identify the vowel sounds /ʌ/ and /ɜː/.

2. pronounce words containing the sounds correctly.

3. distinguish between words containing /ʌ/ and /ɜː/.

4. listen carefully and identify the sounds in spoken words.

5. use words containing the sounds in simple sentences.

ENTRY BEHAVIOUR

The pupils can already identify and pronounce some vowel sounds. This lesson will help them distinguish between the vowel sounds /ʌ/ and /ɜː/.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

The teacher will teach the lesson with the aid of:

1. Flashcards containing words with /ʌ/ and /ɜː/.

2. Pronunciation charts.

3. Whiteboard and marker/chalkboard and chalk.

4. English Language textbook.

5. Audio recordings (if available).

6. Pupils’ notebooks and writing materials.

METHOD OF TEACHING

Choose a suitable and appropriate methods for the lessons.

Note – Irrespective of choosing methods of teaching, always introduce an activities that will arouse pupil’s interest or lead them to the lessons. 

REFERENCE MATERIALS

1. Scheme of Work

2. 9 – Years Basic Education Curriculum

3. Course Book

4. All Relevant Material

5. Online Information

CONTENT OF THE LESSON

INTRODUCTION

Aural discrimination is the ability to listen carefully and distinguish between different speech sounds. It helps pupils develop good pronunciation, listening, speaking, reading, and spelling skills.

In English, some vowel sounds may sound similar, but they are pronounced differently. In this lesson, pupils will learn to identify and distinguish between the vowel sounds /ʌ/ and /ɜː/.

Examples of Sound /ʌ/

• cup

• sun

• bus

• run

• hut

Examples of Sound /ɜː/

• bird

• girl

• nurse

• shirt

• church

MINIMAL PAIRS

Sounds /ʌ/ – /ɜː/

• bun – burn

• cut – curt

• luck – lurk

• bus – burst

• hut – hurt

PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE/ORAL DRILLS

Repeat After the Teacher

1. Sound /ʌ/

• cup

• sun

• bus

• run

• hut

2. Sound /ɜː/

• bird

• girl

• nurse

• shirt

• church

3. Minimal Pairs

• bun – burn

• cut – curt

• luck – lurk

• hut – hurt

• bus – burst

SUMMARY

Pupils learned how to identify, pronounce, and distinguish between the vowel sounds /ʌ/ and /ɜː/ through listening activities, pronunciation drills, and practice exercises.

PRACTICE EXERCISE/ASSIGNMENT/TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

A. Circle the Word with the /ʌ/ Sound

1. cup – bird

2. sun – girl

3. bus – nurse

4. run – shirt

5. hut – church

B. Circle the Word with the /ɜː/ Sound

6. cup – bird

7. sun – girl

8. bus – nurse

9. run – shirt

10. hut – church

C. Pronounce the Following Words

11. cup

12. sun

13. bird

14. nurse

15. shirt

ANSWERS

1. cup

2. sun

3. bus

4. run

5. hut

6. bird

7. girl

8. nurse

9. shirt

10. church

PRESENTATION

To deliver the lesson, the teacher adopts the following steps:

1. The teacher introduces the vowel sounds /ʌ/ and /ɜː/ and pronounces them clearly.

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils listen carefully and repeat the sounds after the teacher.

2. The teacher presents words containing the /ʌ/ sound.

Examples:

• cup

• sun

• bus

• run

• hut

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils repeat the words and identify the /ʌ/ sound.

3. The teacher presents words containing the /ɜː/ sound.

Examples:

• bird

• girl

• nurse

• shirt

• church

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils repeat the words and identify the /ɜː/ sound.

4. The teacher writes pairs of words on the board and pronounces them.

Examples:

• bun – burn

• cut – curt

• luck – lurk

• hut – hurt

• bus – burst

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils listen carefully and identify the differences in pronunciation.

5. The teacher drills the pupils on the correct pronunciation of the minimal pairs.

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils repeat the words individually and in groups.

6. The teacher pronounces words randomly and asks pupils to identify whether they contain the /ʌ/ or /ɜː/ sound.

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils listen and identify the correct sound.

7. The teacher guides pupils to use some of the words in simple sentences.

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils make oral and written sentences using the words.

8. The teacher corrects pupils’ pronunciation and provides further practice where necessary.

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils repeat the words correctly and make corrections.

9. The teacher summarizes the lesson by revising the sounds /ʌ/ and /ɜː/ and their examples.

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils participate in the lesson summary and answer oral questions.

CONCLUSION

To conclude the lesson for the week, the teacher revises the entire lesson and links it to the following week’s lesson.

LESSON EVALUATION 

Teacher asks pupils,

1. mention two words with the /ʌ/ sound.

2. mention two words with the /ɜː/ sound.

3. pronounce: cup and bird.

4. pronounce: hut and hurt.

5. state the difference between the sounds /ʌ/ and /ɜː/.