Editorial
These ideas were presented at the 43rd IATEFL International Conference, Cardiff, UK

Some Ideas on How to Make Pronunciation More Fun

Emine Oguz, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Emine Oguz is a teacher for EFL students at the Preparatory School at the Eastern Mediterranean University in Famagusta, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus for 18 years. She is interested in learner centered activities and maximizing learner involvement in the language learning process. She has given workshops on international conferences presenting her self-created activities in these areas.Email: emine.oguz@emu.edu.tr

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Stress Bingo
Stressed words in sentences
Short endings (1)
Short endings (2)

Stress Bingo

Aim: To practise stressed syllables.
Interaction: Pairs, individual work, whole class
Time: 15 minutes
Materials: Bingo cards
Procedure:

1. The Ss are given bingo cards where there are words that the T chooses randomly from previous lessons and/or according to their aims.
2. The Ss are asked to check where the stress is either from their dictionaries and/or with their partners.
3. The T decides on a card to win before the lesson and shows a number from 1 to 3 which indicates the stressed syllable in the words on the bingo cards.
4. The St who has the same order with what the T shows is the winner.

Stressed words in sentences

Aim: To practise stressed words in sentences
Interaction: Pairs
Time: 10-15 mins
Materials: None
Procedure:

1. T asks (shows on BB/OHP) ‘How can you say this sentence by giving it 6 different meanings, stressing a different word each time?’ and elicits Ss’ responses, e.g.:
   
   John gave me the blue book.
     1      2      3   4     5     6
   
   
   1. Not Tom
   2. Not bought
   3. Not you
   4. Not any (a certain blue book)
   5. Not red
   6. Not magazine
2. Ss write 5 sentences and they read the sentences aloud to their partners stressing a different word each time and their partners say ‘Not ___’ as shown in the example.

Short endings (1)

Aim: To practise short endings
Interaction: Whole class
Time: 10-15 mins
Materials: Cards with verbs in the Past Simle Tense with short endings
Procedure:

1. Prepare small cards with verbs in the past tense.
2. Ss are given cards (as many as possible for each)
3. Model the activity first.
4. Ss sit in a circle. The number of the Ss should be one more than the number of the chairs so that a St will have to stand in the middle of the circle each time.
5. Stand up in the middle and read aloud a verb.
6. Students whose verbs are pronounced the same as the T’s move and try to catch a chair to sit.
7. Then, T gets the Ss to continue in the same way.
8. In order to indicate that the Ss pronunced the word correctly, T claps his/her hands.
9. T asks the Ss who changed their seats to pronunce their words. If they cannot pronunce it correctly, they are out of the game.
10. The one who cannot sit reads aloud his/her word.

Short endings (2)

Aim: To practise short endings
Interaction: Whole class
Time: 10-15 mins
Materials: None
Procedure:

1. Ss stand in rows facing the BB (if there are 16 Ss in class, 4 in each row) and T stands where s/he will be able to see all Ss at the BB.
2. T calls the ones in the first place to go to the BB.
3. T says a V2 with a /d/, /ıd/ or /t/ ending.
4. The group with the most points is the winner.

Please check the Pronunciation course at Pilgrims website.