Sylabus
I. Letters and Sounds
1. Introducing letters and sounds. Sound classification. Typical listening and pronunciation problems of Czech students studying English. Minimal sound pair [æ]-[e].
2. Short and long vowels. Minimal sound pairs [ɑ:]-[ʌ], [ɔ:]-[ɒ], [æ]-[ɜ:].
3. Schwa [ə]. Its role, influence and importance in English.
4. Consonants. Minimal sound pairs [v]-[w], [n]-[ŋ]. Consonants at the end of words [p]-[b], [t]-[d], [s]-[z].
5. Diphthongs. [eə], [ɪə], [ʊə], [oʊ]. II. Syllables, Words and Sentences
6. Introducing syllables. Consonants at the start of syllables.
7. Consonants at the end of syllables. Pronouns and contracted forms.
8. Verb to be, auxiliary verbs, pronouncing short words (a, of, or).
9.Joining words. III. Conversation
10. Understanding conversation. Grouping words. Rhythm. Tones.
11. Introduction to emphatic stress. Tones in new and old information.
12. Asking and checking tones. Continuing and finishing tones.
13. Agreeing and disagreeing tones. High tones. The course materials:
1. Baker, A. (2006). Ship or Sheep? Book and Audio CD Pack: An Intermediate Pronunciation Course (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
2. Hancock, M. (2017). English Pronunciation in Use Intermediate (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
3. Hewings, M. (2004). Pronunciation Practice Activities with Audio CD: A Resource Book for Teaching English Pronunciation (Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers) (1st ed.). Cambridge University Press.
4. Hewings, M. (2017). English Pronunciation in Use Advanced (1st ed.). Cambridge University Press.
5. Marks, J. (2017). English Pronunciation in Use Elementary Book with Answers and Downloadable Audio (1st ed.). Cambridge University Press.
6. O’Connor, J. D. (1998). Better English Pronunciation (Cambridge English Language Learning) (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Anotace
This one semester course is intended for intermediate/upper-intermediate students who have studied English previously but who need further practice in English pronunciation, listening and understanding. The materials used will include natural-sound recordings and task-based listening activities which will help students to practice their top-down and bottom-up listening skills.
The course ends with a final test.
Credits and grading will be determined by students’ successful completion of homework assignments and tests, attendance, and overall effort. More details on how grades are computed will be given during the first lecture of the course.
The materials for homework assignments and classroom activities will be supplied as handouts during classes or available online a week before every class.