Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Obama's 'Yes We Can' Speech

Useful for practicing phrase level intonation.


I want to congratulate Senator Clinton on a hard-fought victory here in New Hampshire.

A few weeks ago, no one imagined that we’d have accomplished what we did here tonight. For most of this campaign, we were far behind, and we always knew our climb would be steep.

But in record numbers, you came out and spoke up for change. And with your voices and your votes, you made it clear that at this moment – in this election – there is something happening in America.

There is something happening when men and women in Des Moines and Davenport; in Lebanon and Concord come out in the snows of January to wait in lines that stretch block after block because they believe in what this country can be.

There is something happening when Americans who are young in age and in spirit – who have never before participated in politics – turn out in numbers we’ve never seen because they know in their hearts that this time must be different.

There is something happening when people vote not just for the party they belong to but the hopes they hold in common – that whether we are rich or poor; black or white; Latino or Asian; whether we hail from Iowa or New Hampshire, Nevada or South Carolina, we are ready to take this country in a fundamentally new direction. That is what’s happening in America right now. Change is what’s happening in America.

You can be the new majority who can lead this nation out of a long political darkness – Democrats, Independents and Republicans who are tired of the division and distraction that has clouded Washington; who know that we can disagree without being disagreeable; who understand that if we mobilize our voices to challenge the money and influence that’s stood in our way and challenge ourselves to reach for something better, there’s no problem we can’t solve – no destiny we cannot fulfill.

Our new American majority can end the outrage of unaffordable, unavailable health care in our time. We can bring doctors and patients; workers and businesses, Democrats and Republicans together; and we can tell the drug and insurance industry that while they’ll get a seat at the table, they don’t get to buy every chair. Not this time. Not now.

Our new majority can end the tax breaks for corporations that ship our jobs overseas and put a middle-class tax cut into the pockets of the working Americans who deserve it.

We can stop sending our children to schools with corridors of shame and start putting them on a pathway to success. We can stop talking about how great teachers are and start rewarding them for their greatness. We can do this with our new majority.

We can harness the ingenuity of farmers and scientists; citizens and entrepreneurs to free this nation from the tyranny of oil and save our planet from a point of no return.

And when I am President, we will end this war in Iraq and bring our troops home; we will finish the job against al Qaeda in Afghanistan; we will care for our veterans; we will restore our moral standing in the world; and we will never use 9/11 as a way to scare up votes, because it is not a tactic to win an election, it is a challenge that should unite America and the world against the common threats of the twenty-first century: terrorism and nuclear weapons; climate change and poverty; genocide and disease.

All of the candidates in this race share these goals. All have good ideas. And all are patriots who serve this country honorably.

But the reason our campaign has always been different is because it’s not just about what I will do as President, it’s also about what you, the people who love this country, can do to change it.

That’s why tonight belongs to you. It belongs to the organizers and the volunteers and the staff who believed in our improbable journey and rallied so many others to join.

We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can withstand the power of millions of voices calling for change.

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics who will only grow louder and more dissonant in the weeks to come. We’ve been asked to pause for a reality check. We’ve been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope. For when we have faced down impossible odds; when we’ve been told that we’re not ready, or that we shouldn’t try, or that we can’t, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a people.

Yes we can.

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.

Yes we can.

It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom through the darkest of nights.

Yes we can.

It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.

Yes we can.

It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballot; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.

Yes we can to justice and equality. Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity. Yes we can heal this nation. Yes we can repair this world.

Yes we can.

And so tomorrow, as we take this campaign South and West; as we learn that the struggles of the textile worker in Spartanburg are not so different than the plight of the dishwasher in Las Vegas; that the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in America’s story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea –

Yes. We. Can.


Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Sacramento Words

Sacramento Pronunciation Practice Recordings


Stores
  • Banana Republic
  • Barnes & Noble
  • Bass
  • Book Warehouse
  • Bose
  • Brooks Brothers
  • Calvin Klein
  • Chico's
  • Claire's Accessories
  • Coach
  • Converse
  • Dressbarn
  • Eddie Bauer 
  • Guess
  • Izod
  • Jelly Belly
  • Jockey
  • Kasper
  • Kenneth Cole
  • Lane Bryant 
  • Levi's
  • LancĂ´me
  • Macy's
  • Marshalls
  • Nordstrom
  • Motherhood Maternity
  • Nautica
  • Nike
  • PacSun
  • Perfumania
  • Puma
  • Quiksilver
  • Saks Fifth Avenue 
  • Sports Fever
  • Styles for Less
  • Tommy Hilfiger
  • Van Heusen
  • Wilsons 
  • Gymboree
  • OshKosh B'gosh
  • Stride Rite
  • Naturalizer
  • Nine West
  • Rocky Mountain 
  • Chocolate Factory
  • Samsonite
  • Vitamin World
  • Wilsons Leather Outlet
  • Zales
Food & Drink




  • Starbucks
  • Tall
  • Grande
  • Venti
  • Latte
  • Cappucino
  • Frappuccino
  • Caffe Mocha
  • espresso
  • caramel macchiato
  • falafel
  • hummus
  • babaganoush
  • feta cheese
  • tzatziki
  • spicy vinaigrette
  • dijon mustard
  • chipotle
  • Cinnamon battered French toast
  • fluffy hotcakes
  • short stack
  • tall stack
  • granola
  • sausage links
  • cajun seasoned salmon filet
  • Alaskan crab claw meat
    smothered in Hollandaise sause
  • three egg omelet
  • parmesan cheese
  • soup du jour
  • garlic croutons
  • jalapeno peppers
  • portabella mushroom
  • chicken pita
  • calamari
  • mozzarella sticks
  • tacos pescados
  • chicken enchiladas
  • fettuccine creole
  • cheese tortellini
  • ravioli & meatball
  • golden nugget cream ale
  • earls hopfarm auburn ale
  • total eclipse black ale
Streets & Places



  • California State University Sacramento
  • Napa Hall
  • Hornet Stadium
  • Capistrano Hall
  • Calaveras Hall
  • Mariposa Hall
  • Sequoia Hall
  • Sutter Hall
  • El Dorado Hall
  • Arden Fair Mall
  • Bella Vista High School
  • Burbank High School
  • Carmichael Library
  • Colonial Heights
  • Crocker Art Museum
  • Jesuit High School
  • Kaiser Rancho Cordova
  • McClellan Aviation Museum
  • Radison Hotel
  • Red Roof Inn
  • Elk Grove
  • Lake Tahoe
  • Carson City
  • Reno
  • San Fransisco
  • Petaluma
  • Berkeley
  • San Mateo
  • San Jose
  • Palo Alto
  • Stanford
  • Concord
  • Modesto
  • Sonoma
  • Folsom Boulevard
  • El Dorado Freeway
  • Dos Coyote
  • Hoppy Brewing Company
  • Giovanni's Pizzaria
  • Riverfront Park
  • Bradshaw Road
  • Riverwood Shopping Center
  • La Riviera Drive

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Pronunciation Practice Sites

Pronunciation Clinic Independent Practice Options

Top Practice Sites
 Other Sites
Sources of Practice Audio

Chatbots are automated chat tools that can be pre-programmed say certain things
or  interact with users. Text to speech chatbots allow you to create a speaking character (or  avatar)
Instructional Videos
  RachelsEnglish.com:

Stress and Intonation Videos 


Monday, April 18, 2011

U.S. States & Capital Cities

U.S. States & Capital Cities
Jennifer ESL Video - Part #1  Part#2  Part#3
Audio File
Capital State Capital State
Montgomery 
Juneau 
Phoenix
Little Rock 
Sacramento 
Denver 
Hartford 
Dover
Tallahassee
Atlanta
Honolulu 
Boise
Springfield 
Indianapolis 
Des Moines 
Topeka 
Frankfort 
Baton Rouge 
Augusta 
Annapolis
Boston 
Lansing 
St. Paul 
Jackson 
Jefferson City 
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona,
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
    Helena
Lincoln
Carson City 
Concord 
Trenton 
Santa Fe 
Albany 
Raleigh 
Bismarck 
Columbus 
Oklahoma City 
Salem 
Harrisburg 
Providence 
Columbia 
Pierre 
Nashville 
Austin 
Salt Lake City 
Montpelier 
Richmond 
Olympia 
Charleston 
Madison 
Cheyenne 
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Sentence Practice

  • It's really too late to wait. 
  • What's the low down on the raw fish law?
  • After a week, I think these leeks reek. 
  • The crew didn't' have a clue. 
  • If we flee, we'll be free. 
  • Did Blake break the plate?
  • The hail got in my hair. 
  • The meal was a mere five dollars. 
  • There were very many berries in the valley. 
  • The big cap is a simple symbol.
  • I only have half of the fee.
  • Please sit in the soft seat. 
  • There was a lot of pressure to measure the major explosion.
  • Put the sheet on the seat before you sit on it. 
  • Most of you must bowl with the red ball. 
  • She won't want to walk there.
  • The frog would leap from one leaf to another .
  • There's a ban on putting fans in a van. 
  • I wish she wasn't a witch. 
  • Who's got your goat?
  • Would she sue the zoo?
  • We hissed as we watched the conclusion.
  • We ditched the party and washed our car.
Slow Speed


Normal Speed

Tongue Twisters

From: http://www.download-esl.com/tonguetwisters/easy/easytongue.html
More Tongue Twisters at: http://www.repeatafterus.com/author.php?f=&l=Tongue%20Twister and http://www.uebersetzung.at/twister/en.htm   
  • Big black bear : A big black bug bit the big black bear, but the big black bear bit the big black bug back !Download this mp3 1/ mp3 2

  • clam cream can: How can a clam cram in a clean cream can? Download this mp3

  • Four furious friends: Four furious friends fought for the phone.  Download this mp3

  • Green glass globes: Green glass globes glow greenly.    Download this mp3

  • Ice cream : I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!.    Download this mp3

  • Sandwich sane witch: There's a sandwich on the sand which was sent by a sane witch.    Download this mp3

  • Spell New York: Knife and a fork, bottle and a cork, that is the way you spell New York.    Download this mp3

  • I saw Susie: I saw Susie sitting in a shoe shine shop.    Download this mp3


  • Medium Tongue Twisters- Try these slightly more difficult tongue twisters

     

  • Can you can a can: Can you can a can as a canner can can a can?Download this mp3

  • Copyright: When you write copy you have the right to copyright the copy you write.  Download this mp3

  • Fuzzy wuzzy: Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear, Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair, Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't very fuzzy, was he?Download this mp3

  • Good cook : How many cookies could a good cook cook If a good cook could cook cookies? A good cook could cook as much cookies as a good cook who could cook cookies.  Download this mp3

  • How many cans ?: How many cans can a cannibal nibble, if a cannibal can nibble cans? As many cans as a cannibal can nibble if a cannibal can nibble cans.  Download this mp3

  • I have got a date: I have got a date at a quarter to eight; I’ll see you at the gate,so don’t be late.  Download this mp3

  • I thought of thinking: I thought, I thought of thinking of thanking you.  Download this mp3

  • one one : One-one was a race horse.   Two-two was one too.   One-one won one race. 
    Two-two won one too.  Download this mp3

  • Peter piper: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.   A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.   If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?Download this mp3

  • Seven slick snails: Seven slick slimy snails, slowly sliding southward.  Download this mp3

  • Spell chicago: Chicken in the car and the car can go, that is the way you spell Chicago.   Download this mp3

  • Thirty three thieves: The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday.  Download this mp3

  • Two witches, two watches: If two witches would watch two watches, which witch would watch which watch?Download this mp3

  • Understand: If you understand, say ""understand"".   If you don't understand, say ""don't understand"".   But if you understand and say ""don't understand"".   how do I understand that you understand?Download this mp3

  • Whether the weather: Whether the weather be fine, or whether the weather be not. 
    Whether the weather be cold, or whether the weather be hot.   We'll weather the weather whether we like it or not.  Download this mp3


  • Difficult English Tongue Twisters

  • Betty butter: Betty bought some butter, but the butter Betty bought was bitter,
    so Betty bought some better butter, and the better butter Betty bought was better than the bitter butter Betty bought before!Download this mp3

  • Biscuit mixer: I bought a bit of baking powder and baked a batch of biscuits.   I brought a big basket of biscuits back to the bakery and baked a basket of big biscuits.   Then I took the big basket of biscuits and the basket of big biscuits and mixed the big biscuits with the basket of biscuits that was next to the big basket and put a bunch of biscuits from the basket into a biscuit mixer and brought the basket of biscuits and the box of mixed biscuits and the biscuit mixer to the bakery and opened a tin of sardines.   Download this mp3

  • Doctor doctoring: When a doctor doctors a doctor, does the doctor doing the doctoring doctor as the doctor being doctored wants to be doctored or does the doctor doing the doctoring doctor as he wants to doctor? Download this mp3

  • Mary Mac: Mary Mac's mother's making Mary Mac marry me.   My mother's making me marry Mary Mac.   Will I always be so Merry when Mary's taking care of me? Will I always be so merry when I marry Mary Mac?  Download this mp3

  • Nature watcher: Out in the pasture the nature watcher watches the catcher.   While the catcher watches the pitcher who pitches the balls.   Whether the temperature's up or whether the temperature's down, the nature watcher, the catcher and the pitcher are always around.   The pitcher pitches, the catcher catches and the watcher watches.   So whether the temperature's rises or whether the temperature falls the nature watcher just watches the catcher who's watching the pitcher who's watching the balls.   Download this mp3
    by Sharon Johnson

  • Wish to wish: I wish to wish the wish you wish to wish, but if you wish the wish the witch wishes, I won't wish the wish you wish to wish.  Download this mp3

  • Dotsub Sources of Pronunciation Practice

    From DotSub

    Thursday, April 7, 2011

    Pronunciation Practice Videos

    Pronuncation Practice Videos
    (to download video, RIGHT click the titles/save link as)
    The Lovely Bones

    Grandma is here! Grandma! Grandma is here!

    What's my mother here?
    - Look, you're not coping, ok?

    Len's worried, I'm worried, your mother offered to help.

    You invited her here?

    - Darling.

    Hello, mother.
    - Look at you! Are you eating?

    Is this all of it?
    - Don't be ridiculous! That's just my make-up.

    Oh, you're as handsome as Hell, Jack.
    - Lindsey, honey, are you going to say hello?

    The child hates me.
    So, What will it be, Jack?

    Actually, I'm not drinking these days.
     Ah, that's your problem in a nutshel


    Away We Go

    GLORIA: Okay, we have news.

    It's big.

    What is it?
    We're leaving in June.

    We're finally doing it.

    You're leaving in June?

    GLORIA: Mmm-hmm.

    The baby's due in July.

    Right. To Antwerp. City of light.

    Well, that's not...
    No, you're not.

    Yeah, we are. It's gonna be superb.

    No. And don't say that word.

    We thought you'd be proud of us.

    We've been talking about this for 15 years.

    And now we can finally do it.

    You're leaving a month before the baby's born?

    You're moving 3,000 miles away from your grandchild.

    I think it's more than 3,000, isn't it, Jerry?

    I think so.

    Friends - I'm Engaged

    Ross: Hey, what’s going on?
    Chandler: Hey.
    Ross: I found a note on my door, "Come to Monica’s quick, bring champagne and a Three Musketeers bar."
    Joey: (grabbing the candy bar) Yeah I’ll take that.
    Ross: What’s up?
    Chandler: Monica and I are engaged.
    Ross: Oh my God. (Hugs Chandler.) Congratulations.
    Chandler: Thanks.
    Ross: Where is she?
    Monica: (yelling at the top of her lungs) I’m engaged!!!!!! I’m engaged!!!!
    Joey: Yeah, she’s been out there for twenty minutes, I’m surprised you didn’t hear her on the way over.
    Ross: Oh, I thought it was just a kid yelling, "I’m gay! I’m gay!"
    Rachel: Yeah, no that guy moved.
    Ross: Can I bring her in?
    Phoebe: Oh no, let her stay out there. It’s sweet.
    Monica: I’m getting married!!!! I’m gonna be a bride!!!! (Someone else yells at her.) No, I will not shut up because I’m engaged! (He yells again.) Ohh, big talk! Huh, why don’t you come over here and say that to me?! Huh, buddy?! Yeah, my fiancee will kick your ass! (Chandler starts to look worried.) Come on, apartment 20! Apartment 20!
    Chandler: (To Ross) Okay, you get her in here. (To Joey) You bolt the door. I’ll be in the closet.

    Kim Yun Jin on the View
     

    I had a great time, but I felt like a nerd. Do you know what I mean, because I didn't know when to start talkingI didn't know, I didn't want to be rude and start interrupting you guys and I kept going uh, uh, uhand you where so sweet, you actually turned to me and said, YunJin would you like to say something and I was like 'Thank You!”

    I was born in Korea. Came over, my whole family came over when I was ten, and my teacher said, 'You know what? Just concentrate on being a great actress and people will learn your name. 
    Like you guys did... sort of.

    Complete Video

    Wednesday, April 6, 2011

    Connected Speech Practice

    Connected Speech & Intonation Practice

    Rachel's Imiation Exercies

    Movie/TV Clips
    The Hangover
    Download Video

    Transcript:
    • Did you have to park so close?
    • Just shut up and drive before one of these nerds asks me another question
    • I don't know. I just hope your not gonna go to some strip club when you're up there.
      - It's not gonna be like that .
    • Why don't you just let that one go to voice mail
    • Where are you guys?
      - We are at the spa at the hotel
      - Cool. We're just getting some sun. Is Doug around?
    • How about you big man. Come on up here



    The Simpsons
    Download Video

    Transcript:
    • Just tell me what you want. You should know what I want. I want you to act the same way two days in a row. Uuughh! I'm not going to let you hurt me anymore.

    • Nikki, thanks for saving my life.
      - Look can we just pretend that never happened. I don't' want everyone at the school to go around thinking I like you.
      - I don't get you. You're hot, you're cold. What's your deal?
      - Oh Bart, you've got a few things to learn about women.



    The Real World
    Download Video
    • I kind of think what's kept me from putting one together is that I don't really have anything good to put on there other than that I served chicken fried steak for the past two years

    • Well, I think that the best way to proceed is to just give you something - and maybe you love it , do a great job and we're lucky to have you and maybe you hate it and we part ways. So it's as much an interview for you as it is for me. Let me give you a call later in the week with an assignment
      - That's Awesome
      - OK
      - I'm very excited
      - Good


    Chris Rock
    Download Video

    Transcript:
    • you don't need no gun control, you know what you need – we need some bullet control, we need to <man> control the bullets,. That's right. I think all bullets should cost 5000 dollars. 5000 dollars for a bullet. You know why? Because if a bullet cost 5000 dollars there won't be no more innocent bystanders.


    Thursday, March 31, 2011

    U.S. States & Capital Cities

    U.S. States & Capital Cities
    Jennifer ESL Video - Part #1  Part#2  Part#3
    Audio File
    Capital State Capital State
    Montgomery 
    Juneau 
    Phoenix
    Little Rock 
    Sacramento 
    Denver 
    Hartford 
    Dover
    Tallahassee
    Atlanta
    Honolulu 
    Boise
    Springfield 
    Indianapolis 
    Des Moines 
    Topeka 
    Frankfort 
    Baton Rouge 
    Augusta 
    Annapolis
    Boston 
    Lansing 
    St. Paul 
    Jackson 
    Jefferson City 
    Alabama
    Alaska
    Arizona,
    Arkansas
    California
    Colorado
    Connecticut
    Delaware
    Florida
    Georgia
    Hawaii
    Idaho
    Illinois
    Indiana
    Iowa
    Kansas
    Kentucky
    Louisiana
    Maine
    Maryland
    Massachusetts
    Michigan
    Minnesota
    Mississippi
    Missouri
        Helena
    Lincoln
    Carson City 
    Concord 
    Trenton 
    Santa Fe 
    Albany 
    Raleigh 
    Bismarck 
    Columbus 
    Oklahoma City 
    Salem 
    Harrisburg 
    Providence 
    Columbia 
    Pierre 
    Nashville 
    Austin 
    Salt Lake City 
    Montpelier 
    Richmond 
    Olympia 
    Charleston 
    Madison 
    Cheyenne 
    Montana
    Nebraska
    Nevada
    New Hampshire
    New Jersey
    New Mexico
    New York
    North Carolina
    North Dakota
    Ohio
    Oklahoma
    Oregon
    Pennsylvania
    Rhode Island
    South Carolina
    South Dakota
    Tennessee
    Texas
    Utah
    Vermont
    Virginia
    Washington
    West Virginia
    Wisconsin
    Wyoming

    Countries & Cities

    Countries & Cities
    Audio Practice

    Afghanistan - Kabul
    Algeria - Algiers
    Argentina - Buenos Aires
    Austria - Vienna
    Belgium - Brussels
    Canada - Ottawa
    China - Beijing
    Colombia - Bogota
    Cuba - Havana
    Denmark - Copenhagen
    Egypt - Cairo
    France - Paris
    Germany - Berlin
    Hungary - Budapest
    Iceland - Reykjavik
    India - New Delhi
    Indonesia - Jakarta
    Iran - Tehran
    Iraq - Baghdad
    Ireland - Dublin
    Israel - Jerusalem
    Italy - Rome
    Japan - Tokyo
    Kenya - Nairobi
    North Korea - Pyongyang
    South Korea - Seoul
    Laos - Vientiane
    Netherlands - Amsterdam;
    New Zealand - Wellington
    Nicaragua - Managua
    Norway - Oslo
    Philippines - Manila
    Poland - Warsaw
    Portugal - Lisbon
    Russia - Moscow
    Spain - Madrid
    Sweden - Stockholm
    Switzerland - Bern
    Syria - Damascus
    Taiwan - Taipei
    Thailand - Bangkok
    Turkey - Ankara
    United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi
    United Kingdom - London
    United States of America - Washington D.C.
    Venezuela - Caracas
    Vietnam - Hanoi

    Stress Word Practice

    Word Stress Practice

    emergency
    inexplicable
    application
    applicable
    academy
    academic
    advertisement
    contractual
    punctuation
    demonstration
    terrorism
    collaboration
    cooperative
    aristocrat

    alimony
    misrepresentation
    limitations
    subordinate
    involuntary
    cancellation
    opponent
    agenda
    homicide
    biblical
    definitive
    metropolitan
    excellence
    mon
    ogamous

    anchovy
    administer
    administration
    ingredient
    diagnosis
    Protestant
    pedagogy
    vitamin
    concentrate
    rotary
    French Fries
    Cheese Pizza
    city
    CD

    Wednesday, March 23, 2011

    Ending Consonants

    Rachel's Video: Vowel Length Affected by Ending Consonant


    A B
    1 bell belt
    2 car cart
    3 fell felt
    4 her hurt
    5 tore torn
    6 knees needs
    7 mill milk
    8 can can't
    9 ben bent
    10 Hun hunt

    I think we (can/can't) do it today.



    A B
    1 need neat
    2 rag rack
    3 hid hit
    4 mud mutt
    5 save safe
    6 ride write
    7 bud but
    8 bag back

    More Vowels - Minimal Pairs

    Rachel's Videos: 'eh' as in 'bed'   'aa' as in 'bat'   'aw' as in 'law'    'oy' as in 'toy'.'uh' as in 'butter'  'ah' as in 'father'
    Sounds of American English

    A B
    1 and end
    2 bland blend
    3 ham hem
    4 tamper temper
    5 land lend
    6 gassed guest
    7 pan pen
    8 spanned spend
    9 band bend
    10 tamp temp


    A B
    1 bat bet
    2 had head
    3 paddle pedal
    4 shall shell
    5 gnat net
    6 mat met
    7 pack peck
    8 mash mesh
    9 rack wreck
    10 past pest



    A B
    1 color collar
    2 nut not
    3 stuck stock
    4 luck lock
    5 come calm
    6 fund fond
    7 bum bomb
    8 wonder wander



    A B
    1 beg bug
    2 ben bun
    3 dell dull
    4 messed must
    5 guess Gus
    6 jest just
    7 net nut
    8 better butter



    A B
    1 all oil
    2 jaw joy
    3 paw poi
    4 brawl broil
    5 toe toy
    6 cone coin
    7 old oiled
    8 toll toil



    More Minimal Pairs
     http://streaming.ohio.edu/cas/lingCALL/vowel.htm
    http://www.fuhriman.us/la.esl/minimal-pairs.html (no audio)

    Thursday, March 17, 2011

    Sentence Practice

    • It's really too late to wait. 
    • What's the low down on the raw fish law?
    • After a week, I think these leeks reek. 
    • The crew didn't' have a clue. 
    • If we flee, we'll be free. 
    • Did Blake break the plate?
    • The hail got in my hair. 
    • The meal was a mere five dollars. 
    • There were very many berries in the valley. 
    • The big cap is a simple symbol.
    • I only have half of the fee.
    • Please sit in the soft seat. 
    • There was a lot of pressure to measure the major explosion.
    • Put the sheet on the seat before you sit on it. 
    • Most of you must bowl with the red ball. 
    • She won't want to walk there.
    • The frog would leap from one leaf to another .
    • There's a ban on putting fans in a van. 
    • I wish she wasn't a witch. 
    • Who's got your goat?
    • Would she sue the zoo?
    • We hissed as we watched the conclusion.
    • We ditched the party and washed our car.
    Slow Speed


    Normal Speed

    Minimal Pairs

    Minimal Pairs

    Rachel's Videos:  The L Sound  The R Sound  The W Sound  Listen & Repeat Exercises
    U of Iowa's Sounds of American English

    A B C
    1 lice rice
    2 late rate wait
    3 low row woe
    4 law raw
    5 lay ray way
    6 late rate wait
    7 lane rain wain
    8 led red wed
    9 lie rye why
    10 leek reek week


    A B
    1 clue crew
    2 blue brew
    3 glass grass
    4 flee free
    5 blow bro
    6 clock crock
    7 blouse browse
    8 bled bread
    9 Blake break
    10 claw craw



    A B
    1 belly berry
    2 mole more
    3 hail hair
    4 heel hear
    5 fool four
    6 file fire
    7 deal dear
    8 meal mere
    9 rebuttal rebutter
    10 cuddle cutter




    Rachel's Videos:  The b and p sounds  *  The f and v sounds
    U of Iowa's Sounds of American English
    A B
    1 big pig
    2 bet pet
    3 bad pad
    4 mob mop
    5 cab cap
    6 rib rip
    7 symbol simple
    8 rabid rapid
    9 stable staple
    10 nabbed napped


    A B
    1 fine vine
    2 fiddle vittle
    3 flog vlog
    4 leaf leave
    5 safe save
    6 huffer hover
    7 proof prove
    8 half have


    A B
    1 bat fat
    2 boat vote
    3 pile file
    4 cab calf
    5 pry fry
    6 sappy savvy
    7 cub cuff
    8 cape cave



    A B C D
    1 bee pee fee vee
    2 berry perry ferry very
    3 buy pie fie vie
    4 bile pile file vile
    5 bail pale fail veil
    6 bay pay fay vay
    bane pain feign vane
    8 best pest fest vest



    Rachels Videos:  's' as in 'sip' ,  'z' as in 'zip' , 'sh' as in 'ship'  ,  'j' as in 'jar'  ,  'ch' as in 'char'  ,  'dj' as in 'measure'
    Sounds of American English
    A B C D E
    1 Sue zoo shoe chew Jew
    2 cass Kaz cash catch
    3 sear zir sheer cheer Jeer
    4 sane zane Shane Chain Jane
    5 lease Lee's leash leech
    6 sip zip ship chip gyp
    7 seep sheep cheap jeep
    8 leased leashed leeched



    A B
    1 major measure
    2 pressure pleasure
    3 Confucian confusion
    4 ledger leisure
    5 conclusion
    6 division
    7 exposure
    8 explosion
    9 supervision
    10 treasure
    There was a huge explosion by the shore.
    This sure is a confusing conclusion.

    A B
    1 ditched dished
    2 matched mashed
    3 hatched hashed
    4 hitched hissed
    5 watched washed
    f


    Rachel Videos:  The ih as in site Sound  * The ee as in She Sound * oh as in No sound * aw as in Law Sound  *  EE vs ih: Tense vs. Lax


    A B
    1 seat sit
    2 peak pick
    3 eel ill
    4 leave live
    5 meal mill
    6 peel pill
    7 reach rich
    8 teen tin
    9 seek sick
    10 deep dip
    11 liter litter
    12 beaker bicker


    A B
    1 boat bought
    2 low law
    3 hole hall
    4 close clause
    5 bowl ball
    6 most must
    7 won't want
    8 goat got
    9 shown Shawn
    10 oaf off
    11 coast cost
    12 woke walk