As mentioned in the previous article: Listen carefully!, we need our ears, eyes, mouth and hands to remember and write words correctly, but keep in mind that learning how to listen to sounds is fundamental.
Right from the first Hello! (or Good morning! or Good afternoon!) exchanged with the pupils at the start of the session, it is possible to teach how to listen.
Brewster, J. Ellis, G. and Girard, G. 1991. The Primary English Teacher’s Guide
Homophones have different spellings but are pronounced in the same way: sea/sea, for/four, hear/here, to/too/two, eight/ate. English is not “phonetic” and this means that the sound and spelling do not always match.
How can I help young learners to focus on sounds and train the ear?
Songs, rhymes, chants and nursery rhymes are a fun way to introduce younger learners to the sounds of English and are easy to remember. Here is an example:
Jack and Jill, went up the hill,
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.
Suggestions
Create a character with a name of the sound you would like to focus on:
- Jill (/dz/)
- ask your students to think of another name with this sound: Jack, Joan, John
- Ask your students to draw a picture of the character.
- Think about the things Jill likes. Get students to write a list.
- Ask students to think about words with the same sound: jam, jelly, jacket, jeep, jar, jigsaw puzzle and joy.
Make up sentences activity:
- Jill likes bread and jam.
- Jill loves jigsaw puzzles and jelly.
- Jack likes green jeeps.
- Jack and Jill are in the jeep.
This is a fun and creative way to focus on sounds and improve spelling.
