Speech Work: Sound /I:/ – JSS1 English Lesson Note (First Term)

The sound /i:/ is a long vowel, as in seat, meet and key. It is pronounced by holding the tongue in the same position for longer than for the short vowel /I/, as in sit. Students practise by comparing pairs such as seat and sit, or deep and dip.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Pronounce words that contain the long sound /i:/.
2. Name the difference between the long /i:/ and the short /I/.
3. Pronounce pairs of words such as seat and sit so that the two vowels sound different.
4. Give pairs of words that show the contrast between /i:/ and /I/.

Which words have the sound /i:/?

The vowel /i:/ is found in these words:

• seat, meet, police, seize, read
• field, key, quay, people, amoeba

What is the difference between /i:/ and /I/?

There is a great difference between the long /i:/ and the short /I/. The difference is shown by keeping the tongue longer in the same position for /i:/ than for /I/.

Vowel contrast

Evaluation

1. Find five pairs of words that show the contrast between the short /I/ and the long /i:/, as in the examples above.

Assignment

Read about vowel contrast between /i:/ and /I/.

Reference

Oral English for Schools and Colleges, page 16.