TEFLChina.org -- teaching > speaking > /l/ vs /r/ pronunciation -- lesson plan

Pronunciation / l / vs. / r / --Roger Chrisman, October 20, 1995

Intermediate to advanced, large and small classes.
Speaking, pronunciation of /l/ and /r/.
30 minutes -- break it into two 15 minute lessons with at least a day's rest between.
T (Teacher)
SS (Students)
S1, S2, S3..(1st Student, 2nd Student, 3rd Student...)

Pronunciation lessons require a high level of concentration from students. So break this lesson over two 15 minute sessions with at least a day's rest between.

For Attention pointers -- minimal pairs -- draw a big rock with a "green" frog on it and a big paddle lock with a "gold" key in it, on the blackboard. Or even better, for realia bring a rock and a lock to class. My Chinese university class liked it when I used the realia.

For Inductive generalization draw diagrams of the tongue's position in the mouth for / r / and / l / respectively, on the blackboard (/ r / curls back inside the mouth and / l / touches the tip of the tongue to the alveolar ridge -- the gum just behind the teeth).

You can print this lesson out and take it to class with you. Have fun and send me feedback by clicking on my name.

You may also use this lesson plan as a model for other minimal pair pronunciation lesson plans. It takes some time to think up the minimal pair words. Share your lesson plan to the Teahouse.

Attention pointer -- minimal pairs

T: Notice the first sounds in these words:
Lock <--Point to a picture of a lock or hold up a key & padlock
Lock <--Prite "L" on the picture or on the board
Rock <--Point to a picture of a rock or hold up a rock
Rock <--Write "R" on the picture or on the board

T: Please repeat after me:

1. Initial Position lock rock lamp ramp light right lent rent lies rise load road lack rack loot root 2. Medial Position flog frog gold gourd bowling boring plowed proud climb crime gloom groom bloom broom hold hoard elect erect 3. Final Position tool tour pole pour deal dear real rear heal here dial dire

Inductive generalization

T: Does the tip of your tongue touch your gum ridge when you pronounce / l / in "lock"? SS: Yes
T: Does the tip of your tongue touch the back of your front teeth when you pronounce / l / in "lock"? SS: No
T: Does the tip of your tongue touch your gum ridge when pronouncing / r / in "rock"? SS: No
T: Do you raise the tip of your tongue and curl it back without letting it touch the top of your mouth when you pronounce / r / in "rock"? SS: Yes
T: Yes, when you pronounce / r / in "rock" (point to the picture of a rock) you raise the tip of your tongue and curl it back inside your mouth, without letting it touch the top of your mouth. -Use a picture of the oral cavity to illustrate the tongue position.

Recognition practice

Same/Different Drill

T: Tell me if the sounds you hear are the same or different:

Gesturing to each picture--> Moving away from board--> Calling on individuals--> T: lock rock lock lock lock rock light right ramp ramp rent lent lies rise gold gourd room room frog frog tool tour loom room gold gourd dear deal pole pour kneel near SS: Different
SS: Same
SS: Different
S1: Different
S2: Same
S3: Different
S4: Different
S5: Different
S6: Same
S7: Same
S8: Different
S9: Different
S10: Different
S11: Different
S12: Different
S13: Different

T: Very good. Now let's try it with sentences:

This is a tough lock. That is a tough rock. SS: Different

We need a bigger room. We deed a bigger room. SS: Same

What a marvelous tour. What a marvelous tool. SS: Different

I lent them my house. I rent them my house. S1: Different

Calvin peeled into the classroom. Calvin peered into the classroom. S2: Different

This is a marvelous tour. This is a marvelous tour. S3: Same

She needs a room. She needs a loom. S4: Different

Kneel to the Queen. Near to the Queen. S5: Different

I rent him three horses. I rent him three horse. S6: Same

Those trucks have big loads. Those trucks have big roads. S7: Different

Identification sound drill

T: Tell me which sound you hear. Say "L" when you hear / l /, and say "R" when you hear / r /.

Point to the lock picture--> Move away from the board--> Call on individual students--> T: lock rock lent rent tour tool lies rise lamp lamp leak reek near kneel peel peer road load light right ramp ramp SS: L
SS: R
SS: L - R
S1: R - L
S2: L - R
S3: L - L
S4: L - R
S5: R - L
S6: L - R
S7: R - L
S8: L - R
S9: R - R

Pseudo communication drill

Point at the lock picture--> Point at the rock picture--> T: Excellent, very good.
      Now, when I ask you, "Which is the lock?"
          you answer, "There's a gold key in it."
      And when I ask you, "Which is the rock?"
          you answer, "There's a green frog sitting on it."
Ok--which is the lock? SS: It has a gold key in it.

Calling on individual students--> Which is the rock? SS: It has a green frog sitting on it.
Which is the lock? SS: It has a gold key in it.
Which is the lock? S1: It has a gold key in it.
Which is the rock? S2: It has a green frog sitting on it.
Which is the lock? S3: It has a gold key in it.
Which is the rock? S4: It has a green frog sitting on it.
Which is the rock? S5: It has a green frog sitting on it.
Which is the lock? S6: It has a gold key in it.

Production drill

Repetition of minimal pairs

T: Please repeat after me together.

Calling on individual students--> T: lock rock lamp ramp light right lent rent lies rise load road lack rack loot root flog frog gold gourd bowling boring plowed proud climb crime gloom groom bloom broom hold hoard tool tour pole pour deal dear real rear heal here SS: lock rock
SS: lamp ramp
SS: light right
S1: lent rent
S2: lies rise
S3: load road
S4: lack rack
S5: loot root
S6: flog frog
S7: gold gourd
S8: bowling boring
S9: plowed proud
S10: climb crime
S11: gloom groom
S12: bloom broom
S13: hold hoard
S14: tool tour
S15: pole pour
S16: deal dear
S17: real rear
S18: heal here

Opposite drill -- mixed recognition and production

T: When I say "rock," you say "lock" (point to each picture as you say its name);
and when I say "lock," you say "rock."

Point to rock as you it, then cue lock as SS say lock--> Move away from the board--> Call on individual students--> T: rock lock ramp lent right load rack boring plowed bloom hoard bold dear SS: lock
SS: rock
SS: lamp
S1: rent
S2: light
S3: road
S4: lack
S5: bowling
S6: proud
S7: broom
S8: hold
S9: board
S10: deal

Double exchange on this one!
leer S11:   real

Repetition of phrases and sentences

T: Please repeat after me, together.

His illness delayed him from completing the work. SS: . .(repeat)... . .

The law was repealed by the legislature. SS: . . . .

His life seemed to be a series of long illnesses. SS: . . . .

The view of the hills across the valley from here is perfect. SS: . . . .

Some languages read from right to left, rather than from left to right.   SS: .   . .

He who laughs last laughs best. SS: . . . .

Della's umbrella lay floating in the lake. SS: . . . .

The last line of the poem caused a good deal of laughter. SS: . . . .

The leaves turn yellow in early autumn. SS: . . . .

Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes. SS: . . . .

Every Friday Roger and Lisa go roller skating in Leonardo Park.   SS: . . . .

Correcting -- mixed recognition and production

T: I am going to say some sentences. If you hear a mistake, say the correct word or phrase I should have used.

Please be sure to rock the door behind you. SS: lock the door

That's a heavy road, let me help you carry it. SS: a heavy load

He rolls heavy barrels down a lamp. SS: down a ramp

She works at the boring alley.     S1: the bowling alley

Roger was elected Chairman of the bold. S2: of the Board

I am plowed of my friend Lucy's stellar performance.   S3: I am proud of

Turn left, then right, then light again, you wont miss it. S4: then right again

How many frogs are on the lock? S5: on the rock

Last Mid Autumn Festival I went on a grand tool to the Great Pyramids! S6: tour to the Great Pyramids!

Turn left at the stop light, then go two blocks down. The Post Office is kneel the Fire Station. S7: is near the Fire Station

Light the lamps, right the ramps. The rolling and roaring circus tigers are criming out of their cages. S8: climbing out of their cages

Two wrongs don't make a light. *Proverb*   S-9: right

Attention pointer -- minimal pairs
T: Notice the first sounds in these words: Lock <--Point to a picture of a lock or hold up a key & padlock Lock <--Prite "L" on the picture or on the board Rock <--Point to a picture of a rock or hold up a rock Rock <--Write "R" on the picture or on the board
T: Please repeat after me:
1. Initial Position lock rock lamp ramp light right lent rent lies rise load road lack rack loot root	2. Medial Position flog frog gold gourd bowling boring plowed proud climb crime gloom groom bloom broom hold hoard elect erect	3. Final Position tool tour pole pour deal dear real rear heal here dial dire
Inductive generalization
T: Does the tip of your tongue touch your gum ridge when you pronounce / l / in "lock"? SS: Yes T: Does the tip of your tongue touch the back of your front teeth when you pronounce / l / in "lock"? SS: No T: Does the tip of your tongue touch your gum ridge when pronouncing / r / in "rock"? SS: No T: Do you raise the tip of your tongue and curl it back without letting it touch the top of your mouth when you pronounce / r / in "rock"? SS: Yes T: Yes, when you pronounce / r / in "rock" (point to the picture of a rock) you raise the tip of your tongue and curl it back inside your mouth, without letting it touch the top of your mouth. -Use a picture of the oral cavity to illustrate the tongue position.

Recognition practice
Same/Different Drill
T: Tell me if the sounds you hear are the same or different:
Gesturing to each picture--> Moving away from board--> Calling on individuals-->	T: lock rock lock lock lock rock light right ramp ramp rent lent lies rise gold gourd room room frog frog tool tour loom room gold gourd dear deal pole pour kneel near	SS: Different SS: Same SS: Different S1: Different S2: Same S3: Different S4: Different S5: Different S6: Same S7: Same S8: Different S9: Different S10: Different S11: Different S12: Different S13: Different

T: Very good. Now let's try it with sentences:
This is a tough lock. That is a tough rock. SS: Different We need a bigger room. We deed a bigger room. SS: Same What a marvelous tour. What a marvelous tool. SS: Different I lent them my house. I rent them my house. S1: Different Calvin peeled into the classroom. Calvin peered into the classroom. S2: Different This is a marvelous tour. This is a marvelous tour. S3: Same She needs a room. She needs a loom. S4: Different Kneel to the Queen. Near to the Queen. S5: Different I rent him three horses. I rent him three horse. S6: Same Those trucks have big loads. Those trucks have big roads. S7: Different
Identification sound drill
T: Tell me which sound you hear. Say "L" when you hear / l /, and say "R" when you hear / r /.
Point to the lock picture--> Move away from the board--> Call on individual students-->	T: lock rock lent rent tour tool lies rise lamp lamp leak reek near kneel peel peer road load light right ramp ramp	SS: L SS: R SS: L - R S1: R - L S2: L - R S3: L - L S4: L - R S5: R - L S6: L - R S7: R - L S8: L - R S9: R - R
Pseudo communication drill
Point at the lock picture--> Point at the rock picture-->	T: Excellent, very good. Now, when I ask you, "Which is the lock?" you answer, "There's a gold key in it." And when I ask you, "Which is the rock?" you answer, "There's a green frog sitting on it." Ok--which is the lock? SS: It has a gold key in it.
Calling on individual students-->	Which is the rock? SS: It has a green frog sitting on it. Which is the lock? SS: It has a gold key in it. Which is the lock? S1: It has a gold key in it. Which is the rock? S2: It has a green frog sitting on it. Which is the lock? S3: It has a gold key in it. Which is the rock? S4: It has a green frog sitting on it. Which is the rock? S5: It has a green frog sitting on it. Which is the lock? S6: It has a gold key in it.
Production drill
Repetition of minimal pairs
T: Please repeat after me together.
Calling on individual students-->	T: lock rock lamp ramp light right lent rent lies rise load road lack rack loot root flog frog gold gourd bowling boring plowed proud climb crime gloom groom bloom broom hold hoard tool tour pole pour deal dear real rear heal here	SS: lock rock SS: lamp ramp SS: light right S1: lent rent S2: lies rise S3: load road S4: lack rack S5: loot root S6: flog frog S7: gold gourd S8: bowling boring S9: plowed proud S10: climb crime S11: gloom groom S12: bloom broom S13: hold hoard S14: tool tour S15: pole pour S16: deal dear S17: real rear S18: heal here
Opposite drill -- mixed recognition and production
T: When I say "rock," you say "lock" (point to each picture as you say its name); and when I say "lock," you say "rock."
Point to rock as you it, then cue lock as SS say lock--> Move away from the board--> Call on individual students-->	T: rock lock ramp lent right load rack boring plowed bloom hoard bold dear	SS: lock SS: rock SS: lamp S1: rent S2: light S3: road S4: lack S5: bowling S6: proud S7: broom S8: hold S9: board S10: deal
Double exchange on this one!	leer	S11: real
Repetition of phrases and sentences
T: Please repeat after me, together. His illness delayed him from completing the work. SS: . .(repeat)... . . The law was repealed by the legislature. SS: . . . . His life seemed to be a series of long illnesses. SS: . . . . The view of the hills across the valley from here is perfect. SS: . . . . Some languages read from right to left, rather than from left to right. SS: . . . He who laughs last laughs best. SS: . . . . Della's umbrella lay floating in the lake. SS: . . . . The last line of the poem caused a good deal of laughter. SS: . . . . The leaves turn yellow in early autumn. SS: . . . . Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes. SS: . . . . Every Friday Roger and Lisa go roller skating in Leonardo Park. SS: . . . .
Correcting -- mixed recognition and production
T: I am going to say some sentences. If you hear a mistake, say the correct word or phrase I should have used. Please be sure to rock the door behind you. SS: lock the door That's a heavy road, let me help you carry it. SS: a heavy load He rolls heavy barrels down a lamp. SS: down a ramp She works at the boring alley. S1: the bowling alley Roger was elected Chairman of the bold. S2: of the Board I am plowed of my friend Lucy's stellar performance. S3: I am proud of Turn left, then right, then light again, you wont miss it. S4: then right again How many frogs are on the lock? S5: on the rock Last Mid Autumn Festival I went on a grand tool to the Great Pyramids! S6: tour to the Great Pyramids! Turn left at the stop light, then go two blocks down. The Post Office is kneel the Fire Station. S7: is near the Fire Station Light the lamps, right the ramps. The rolling and roaring circus tigers are criming out of their cages. S8: climbing out of their cages Two wrongs don't make a light. Proverb S-9: right