Vowels

Learning Objectives

Identify vowel sounds in words in order to improve pronunciation

Vowels– letters representing speech sounds made with the vocal tract open. The five vowels in English (a,e,i,o,u) can make short or long sounds

short

long

a

cat

all

plate

e

met eleven

i

sit site

o

stop hope

u

but cute

 

tips for teaching

Compare sounds in minimal pairs:

a / e bat / bet sat / set mat / met pan / pen tan / ten

ah / er park / perk bath / birth shark / shirk fast / first barn / burn

a / uh cap / cup ran / run bat / but bad / bud tan / ton

e / i pet / pit set / sit let / lit pen / pin fell / fill

e / ay met / mate ate / eight wet / wait get / gate wren / rain

i / i: ship / sheep bit / beat knit / neat chip / cheap sin / seen

oh / or dough / door flow / floor bow / bore owe / ore sew / sore

o / oh wok / woke not / note clock / cloak John / Joan cot / coat