b and v drills

These two are actually quite easy to do. You just have to remember that they are voiced.

/b/

• press your lips together and then let air explode between them.

/v/

• place your upper front teeth gently above your lower lip
• blow air gently between them, and add your voice.

drills

                                           /b/                                                    /v/           

                                        Bow                                                 Vow

                                        Buy                                                  Vie

                                        Bent                                                Vent

                                        Banish                                            Vanish

                                        Bowel                                             Vowel

                                        Rebel                                             Revel

                                        Dub                                                Dove

                                        Robe                                              Rove

/b/

1. Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble!
2. Bland blueberry cheesecake becomes boring after two days.
3. The baby’s bathtub was filled to the brim with bubbles.
4. Bounce the ball beyond the bluegrass lot.

/v/

1. Veil the bed with the bed valance.
2. Brave vandals vied with each other to use violet paint.
3. The view of the valley is very beautiful.
4. Varicose veins are not a very pretty sight.

TONGUE TWISTERS

Betty Botta bought a bit of butter. “But,” she said “this butter’s bitter. If I put it in my batter, it will make my batter bitter.” So Betty bought a bit of better butter, and it made her batter better.

Vowels vanish in my mouth; I vow that I must stop them from vanishing before they vote that I leave this place. 

L and R drills

Thanks to my students for being an inspiration and apologies for not posting for so long hahaha!

PRONUNCIATION DRILLS /r/ & /l

/l/

• lift your tongue and touch the tip of it to your upper front teeth.
• gently move your tongue backwards until it touches a small circle behind your teeth.
• place your tongue there and say /l/

/r/

• lift your tongue up so that the tip is pointed to the small circle behind your upper back teeth. However, make sure your tongue doesn't touch it.
• Hold your tongue in that position, and curl the sides of your tongue until it touches the sides of your upper back teeth
• pull your tongue back in that position as far as you can
• purse your lips so they are shaped like a small /o/ and then, say /r/

/r/                            /l/

                                                                rate                        late

                                                               fray                         flay

                                                             straw                        slaw

                                                             bore                         ball

   

/r/

1. Randy ran rapidly to the entrance.
2. Carry the silver tray upstairs.
3. Rent three boring books and read them after four pm.
4. Hurry home and curry the horse.

/l/

1. Lisa loves seeing the leaves fall in fall.
2. Light the lanterns Leo left at home.
3. Lend a hand to the people on the left.
4. Leap across the lagoon in your lovely dress, Lee.

TONGUE TWISTER

Blow, blow little breeze and Conrad’s hat seize.

Let him join in the chase while away it is whirled,

‘Till my tresses are curled,

And I rest in my place.

PRONUNCIATION DRILLS FOR /s/ & /z

PRONUNCIATION DRILLS FOR /s/ & /z

/s/

• place your tongue on the roof of your mouth
• make sure there is space for air to blow through
• hold your tongue in the position and blow air

/z/

• put your tongue in the same position as s
• make sure there is enough space to allow air to pass
• add your voice and press your tongue lightly there

Drills

                                                      /s/                                     /z/ 

                                                    seal                                   zeal

                                                    race                                  raise

                                                   sink                                    zinc

                                                  cease                                 seize

                                                  loose                                   lose

/s/

1. A swan swam over the swell.
2. Sit on the seat beside me.
3. Sally saw six silly sheep sipping shampoo.

/z/

1. Clouds appear as the sun rises.
2. The zoo’s zookeeper is a very sad man.
3. Wisdom and music are his greatest gifts.

TONGUE TWISTER

Autumn wind rises; white clouds fly.

Grass and trees wither; geese go south.

Orchids all in bloom; chrysanthemums smell sweet;

I think of my lovely lady; I can never forget.

Floating – pagoda boat across Fen River;

Across the mind-stream white waves rise.

Flute and drum keep time to sound the rowers’ song;

Amidst revel and feasting sad thoughts come;

Youth’s years how few, age how sure!