Mini Pronunciation Lessons for Improving Final Consonant Articulation

Many English language learners' first languages do not include final consonants, so articulating these in English can be challenging. Suzanne McCurdy, PhD candidate at the University of Minnesota and passionate pronunciation-teaching proponent, created simple 30-45 minute lessons to help teachers work on these sounds with learners. The series includes seven simple lessons that address three sounds each and repeat the same three steps:

• Step 1: Mouth exercises to build awareness and strength
• Step 2: Backward-build up to give learners the opportunity to repeat final consonants several times
• Step 3: Discrimination to give learners meaningful practice hearing the difference between minimal pairs (i.e. rye/rice, cow/couch, rye/ripe) and articulating them

Lessons with image handouts: 

Lesson 1: m, k, r

Lesson 2: n, v, r

Lesson 3: n, t, s

Lesson 4: ch, p, s

Lesson 5: st, nk, z

Lesson 6: nk, ld, d

Lesson 7: ld, sh, rk