Aural Discrimination Consonants – Basic 4 English Lesson Note (First Term)

Aural discrimination of consonants is the skill of hearing the difference between two similar consonant sounds, such as /f/ and /v/.

Behavioural objectives

1. Explain what voiced and voiceless consonant sounds are.
2. Identify the sounds in the pairs /f/ and /v/, /θ/ and /ð/, and /s/ and /z/.
3. Tell which sound in each pair is voiced and which is voiceless.
4. Pronounce pairs of similar words correctly.
5. Listen to a word and say which sound it contains.

What is aural discrimination?

Aural discrimination is the ability to hear and tell apart sounds that are close to each other.

• Aural: to do with hearing.
• Discrimination: telling one thing from another.
• Why it matters: wrong sounds can change the word and its meaning, for example “thin” and “fin”.

What are consonant sounds?

Consonant sounds are speech sounds made when the air from the lungs is blocked or squeezed by the lips, teeth or tongue.

• Vowel sounds: made with the air flowing freely, as in /a/, /e/ and /i/.
• Consonant sounds: made with the air partly blocked, as in /f/, /s/ and /z/.
• Sound and letter: a sound is what we hear, and a letter is what we write. Slanting lines // show a sound.

What are voiced and voiceless consonant sounds?

A voiced sound makes the throat vibrate, and a voiceless sound does not.

• Voiced sound: the vocal cords vibrate, as in /v/, /ð/ and /z/.
• Voiceless sound: the vocal cords do not vibrate, as in /f/, /θ/ and /s/.

How can you tell if a sound is voiced?

1. Place your fingers lightly on your throat.
2. Say the sound alone and hold it, for example /v/.
3. If you feel a buzz, the sound is voiced.
4. If you feel no buzz, the sound is voiceless.
5. Compare with the other sound in the pair, for example /f/.

What are the pairs of voiced and voiceless consonants?

This lesson has three pairs, and in each pair one sound is voiceless and the other is voiced.

What are the sounds /f/ and /v/?

• How to make them: the upper teeth touch the lower lip and air is pushed out.
• /f/ (voiceless): fan, fin, leaf, safe.
• /v/ (voiced): van, vest, leave, save.

What are the sounds /θ/ and /ð/?

• How to make them: the tip of the tongue rests lightly between or behind the teeth.
• /θ/ (voiceless): thin, thank, three, bath.
• /ð/ (voiced): then, there, though, bathe.
• Note: both sounds are written “th”, so listen carefully to tell them apart.

What are the sounds /s/ and /z/?

• How to make them: the tongue is near the ridge behind the upper teeth and air hisses out.
• /s/ (voiceless): price, sip, race, bus.
• /z/ (voiced): size, zip, rays, buzz.
• Note: the letter “s” can sound like /z/, as in “rose”.

What is pronunciation practice for these sounds?

Pronunciation practice uses pairs of words that sound alike but differ in one sound.

1. Read the first word aloud.
2. Read the second word aloud.
3. Listen for the sound that changes.
4. Repeat each pair slowly, then at normal speed.

Practice A: /t/, /f/ and /θ/

Practice B: /d/, /ð/ and /θ/

Practice C: /s/ and /z/ in the endings of words

Practice D: /s/ and /z/ and other sounds

How can the teacher test listening?

1. Say one word from a pair, for example “van”.
2. Ask pupils to say whether they heard /f/ or /v/.
3. Ask them to put a hand on the throat and say if it buzzed.
4. Repeat with words from the other two pairs.

Evaluation

1. What is a voiced sound? Give one example.
2. Which sound in each pair is voiceless: /f/ or /v/, /θ/ or /ð/, /s/ or /z/?
3. Which sound do you hear at the start of “then”: /θ/ or /ð/?
4. Say “price” and “prize”. Which word ends with a voiced sound?
5. Write one word that contains /v/ and one that contains /f/.

Assignment

Write three pairs of words, one pair each for /f/ and /v/, /θ/ and /ð/, and /s/ and /z/, and read them aloud to a family member.