10 Free English Pronunciation Exercises

English Pronunciation Exercises

If you’re a native-English speaker, one of your greatest assets to English Language Learners is your pronunciation.

Without a doubt, teaching the sounds of English is one skill you can bring to your classroom.

But how do you do it effectively? These English pronunciation exercises provide an excellent starting point.

1. Sounds of English

These English pronunciation exercises teach students how to place their tongues when they speak syllables.

For example, the /th/ sound puts the tip of the tongue in between your teeth. Whereas, the /s/ sound keeps the tongue behind the teeth.

2. Pronunciation Pyramid

First, everyone starts at the top of the pyramid. Next, the teacher says at a level below. Individually, students circle the word they hear.

At the bottom of the pyramid, the teacher says the word, and the students circle what they hear. The teacher also keeps track going down the pyramid. Where do you finish? It’s fun to see.

3. Minimal Pairs

For each pair, the words sound extremely similar. But they are different. Students have to keep a keen ear on what they hear.

As the teacher reads the box of his/her choice, students circle the word they hear. When you go through all the minimal pairs, check their understanding by correcting the papers.

4. Minimal Pairs Game Cards

Beforehand, the teacher has to print off the handout. They cut out every word and spreads them out on pairs of desks.

In pairs, students carefully listen to the teacher. Next, they have to find the word they hear faster than their neighbor. Finally, the student who grabs the card faster keeps it. At the end of the game, the student with the most cards is the winner.

5. Tongue Twisters

Oddly enough, tongue twisters are an effortless way to get students talking. I can’t put my finger on it why… but they probably love the challenge of it.

First, students repeat each line after the teacher. Next, the teacher demonstrates the tongue twister with lightning speed. Now, ask for volunteers to try to do it faster.

6. Similar Sentences

How much do your students pay attention to detail? Each sentence sounds similar but they are different.

You can read each sentence yourself. Or you can have your students read them. Can they find the difference between them?

7. Listening Test

This is your basic type of listening test. Can they differentiate each unique sound when you read them?

First, mix up the sounds. Next, keep track of the sounds you say. Finally, correct their papers to test their syllable recognition.

8. Rhyme Time

First, put students in groups of 3 or 4. Next, get your students to think of as many rhymes as possible for each box.

It’s the classic brainstorming competition. Bring out your stopwatch because the group with the most rhymes wins.

9. Tongue Twisters

Oddly enough, tongue twisters are an effortless way to get your students talking. Practice each tongue twister, and have your students try to show off their English skills.

Pro tip: they love it if you can say a tongue twister in their native language.

10. Valentine’s Day Cards

In our Valentine’s Day Card Sheet, students finish the rhyme from the classic poem “Roses are red, violets are blue…”.

First, hand out the paper with an example rhyme for the poem. Next, review it with your students. Finally, let your students create a rhyme for “Roses are Red, Violets are Blue”.

English Pronunciation Exercises

Speaking like a true native English speaker is one of the goals of an English Language Learner. A good place to start achieving this goal is by meticulously going through all the sounds of English.

Of course, just basic conversation is important too. That’s where you can practice these 101 ESL conversation topics to get them speaking.

These 10 English pronunciation exercises can be reworked in several ways – in pairs, individually, or as a class.

How do you like teaching pronunciation? What works and what doesn’t? Please let us know what are some of your English pronunciation exercises in the comment section below.