sentences.) Students listen and !ll in the blanks with the full
forms of the words they heard. Finally, discuss why certain
words were hard to hear and how their sounds changed
compared to their citation forms. For example:
What do you __want to__ do today?
I _ have to ___ do my homework.
Practicing connected speech
Sticky blocks: To show how words “stick together” in
connected speech, write words on small wood or plastic
blocks. Attach a small magnet to one end of each one and a
piece of steel to the other. While saying phrases or sentences
with linking, put the blocks together to show that words join
together, just like magnets. Velcro can also be attached to the
ends of the blocks instead of magnets. (Celce-Murcia et al.
2010)
put it on
put it on
È
Modeling clay shapes: In a similar way, have students
make shapes of modeling clay, such as Plasticine or Play-Doh,
to represent individual words. The shapes can be simple
balls, or if your students are feeling creative, they could be
shaped like the things the words represent. While saying
phrases or sentences using linking, students push the clay
shapes together to illustrate how words are linked together.
(This activity can be a bit messy.)Transparent overlays: Write words in large letters on
rectangles of transparent plastic in di"erent colors. Overlap
the edges of the words to show how the sounds blend, just as
the colors of the pieces blend. This is especially good for
palatalization, which makes a new sound out of two original
sounds, just as two colors blend to make a new color. This
works especially well on an overhead projector, if you have
one available.Don’t you? ⇒ Don’tyou?
/ˈdownt yuw/ ⇒ /ˈdownʧə/Sheets of thin, transparent plastic can be found in many
hobby shops. Transparent vinyl in light colors is also sold in
some fabric shops to be used as tablecloths or protective174