stress words

A language learner needs to engage with a word many times, preferably in different ways, in order to really learn it - identifying and practising word stress can provide one or two of those engagements

INTRODUCTION:

A language learner needs to engage with a word many times, preferably in different ways, in order to really learn it - identifying and practising word stress can provide one or two of those engagements

Why word stress is important.

Mistakes in word stress are a common cause of misunderstanding in English. Here are the reasons why:

*Stressing the wrong syllable in a word can make the word very difficult to hear and understand.

*Stressing a word differently can change the meaning or type of the word.

*Even if the speaker can be understood, mistakes with word stress can make the listener feel irritated, or perhaps even amused, and could prevent good communication from taking place.

Why word stress is important

What is words stress ?

When we stress syllables in words, we use a combination of different features. A stressed syllable combines five features:

What is word stress?

It is l-o-n-g-e-r

It is LOUDER

It has a change in pitch

It is said more clearly

It uses larger facial movements

It's important to learn spelling patterns for these sounds. Here are some of the most common:

Spelling patterns of sounds

ay - (diphthong ei sound) play, say, may

au - (long a sound) fault, launch, haunt

augh - (long a sound) caught, taught, daughter

augh - (short a sound as in 'cat') laugh

ee - (long ee sound) tree, see, three

ea - (long ee sound) each, peach, teach

ea - (short e sound) dead, head, health

ea - (long ee sound) break, steak, great

eu - (long u sound) deuce, sleuth

ei - (diphthong ei sound) beil, eight, weigh

ey - (diphthong ei sound) they, grey

eigh - (diphthong ei sound) eight, freight

eigh - (long ee sound) seize

eigh - (diphthong ai sound) height

ie - (long ee sound) thief, pice

ie - (long i sound) die, tie

oo - (long u sound) moo, boo

oo - (short u sound) book, foot

oa - (long o sound) boat, moat

oe - (long o sound) hoe, Joe

oi - (diphthong oy sound) soil, toil

ou - (long o sound) soul, your

ou - (short u sound) tough, rough

ue - (long u sound) cue, muse

ui - (long u sound) fruit, juice

Counting Syllables

You can check how many syllables a word has

Counting syllabes

Words are made up of letters and those letters create syllable sounds. You can recognize a syllable by remembering that each one contains a vowel sound. For example, in the word computer, there are three syllables: com / pu / ter. The word bike, however, has only one syllable.

Word Syllable Stress

Word syllables

stress

In multi-syllable words, the stress falls on one of the syllables while the other syllables tend to be spoken quickly. This leads to sounds that are not clear (muted) on unstressed syllables. In order to improve your pronunciation, focus on pronouncing the stressed syllable clearly.

However, don't be afraid to mute (not say clearly) the other unstressed vowels.

For example:

Listen to these specific examples:

PersonNEL

TOtally

InDUstrial

ToMAto

FanTAstic

Exercise

Count the number of syllables in each of these words

house

jacket

glasses

encyclopedia

employer

information

troublemaker

thought

happy

incoherent

Activities

to practice

As a conclusion

Conclusion

I will say that is very important to always be attentive with the students to explain them the correct stress of the words. Because not being aware about this little things can become something bigger latter. Like not understanding someone when is talking , because doesnt know the correct stress of the words. So, in my opinion is important to always include in your teaching class some activities of stress sounds.

REFERENCES