Speech Work: Revision: Aural Discrimination of Diphthongs – Basic 6 English Lesson Note (First Term)

What are Diphthongs?

Diphthongs are vowel sounds that change from one sound to another within the same syllable.

Diphthong Practice:

1. /əʊ/ and /aʊ/ sounds:

• /əʊ/ sound (like in “know”): show, flow, grow, slow, throw
• /aʊ/ sound (like in “cow”): how, now, brown, town, found

2. /eɪ/ and /eə/ sounds:

• /eɪ/ sound (like in “day”): way, play, rain, came, make
• /eə/ sound (like in “bare”): care, share, fair, hair, wear

3. /ɪə/ and /eə/ sounds:

• /ɪə/ sound (like in “here”): near, clear, dear, fear, year
• /eə/ sound (like in “there”): where, chair, stairs, pear

Exercise A – Sound Recognition

Listen and circle the correct word:

1. know / now
2. hair / here
3. slow / snow
4. care / clear
5. brown / grown
6. fair / fear

Exercise B – Word Pairs Practice

Read these word pairs aloud. Pay attention to the different sounds:

1. show – how
2. bear – beer
3. hair – here
4. grow – ground
5. wear – we’re
6. flow – flower

Exercise C – Complete the Sentences

Choose the correct word:

1. The (cow/know) is grazing in the field.
2. Please (wear/where) your school uniform.
3. I can (here/hear) the birds singing.
4. The old man has grey (hair/here).
5. Do you (know/now) the answer?