Here are the next two vowel sounds we're
going to target: // as in 'pull' and /u/ as
in 'pool'. It's important we target
these two vowels because for some people
they sound very very similar. However,
there are some big differences between
the two sounds. As you might have noticed from the symbols, the second one is long
and the first one is short. So the first one // //. Extremely short // as in pull. Notice
the shape of the lips // // they're
quite rounded. Not very rounded, but quite
rounded // // as in pull. Now the second vowel sound is long much much longer
/u/ /u/ as in pool. The lips are very rounded.
/u/ /u/ pool. Can you see that? So that's the difference between the two. The first one,
slightly rounded lips, the second one
very rounded lips. And the first one is
very short the second one long. // and
/u/. So that's the difference between
these two vowel sounds. Now let's jump to the target sound practice for the first
vowel //. Notice the spelling and
let's focus on the highlighted orange
part so you can really master this sound.
Listen to each word and repeat.
Full. Good. Foot. Would. Pushed. Book. Could.
Bush. Wolf. OK, fantastic. Now let's move
on to the second list of target sound
practice words. The second vowel, remember, is long /u/
Notice the shape of the lips /u/. Very
very rounded. So make sure you have nice
rounded lips when you pronounce these
words. Let's start.
Repeat after me. Pool. Cool. School. Chew.
Blue. Soup. Afternoon. Student. Computer.
Very well done. Now this is important part: the minimal
pairs. As I said before, many people find
it a little difficult to distinguish
between these two sounds. The minimal
pairs should clear up any confusion for
you. The minimal pairs, as I mentioned
before, are exactly the same sounds
except for one sound: the two target
sounds that we are targeting. So on the
left we have words containing the // sound, the very short vowel sound.
And on the right we have the words
containing the /u/ sound, the long vowel
sound. Listen to each pair and repeat
after me
focusing on the target sounds. Full, fool.
Look, Luke. Could, cooed. Would, wooed. Hood, who'd. Pull, pool. I hope that's
cleared up any confusion that you might
have had between the two target sounds.
Don't forget, this lesson is just to get your awareness up of these sounds.
To really start to master the sounds, use the extra resources that I give to you.
This is all part of the package to help you master the British English pronunciation.
The PDFs, the MP3s, they're all helpful.
Now let's look at the last part of this
lecture: the target sounds in use.
Sentence number one we're looking at the // sound, the very short vowel sound.
Listen and repeat. Could you please put
the books back? Now sentence two
we're looking at the /u/ sound. Students
can use the computers for two hours.
Very good. Now the last sentence we have a mix of the two target sounds. Luke, let's play
computer games at noon, then later cook
some good food.
OK, fantastic. See you in the next
lecture.