Pronunciation and Speaking Skills for Intermediate Level English
Going to Bed / Getting Up
Guide to common phrases used to ask someone to repeat something in English for English learners and classes.
Going to Bed / Getting Up
Guide to common phrases used to ask someone to repeat something in English for English learners and classes.
Telephoning English
Five short English conversations which focus on telephoning in English to be used to practice telephoning English.
Asking for Things
Guide to common phrases used for asking and requesting things in English for English learners and classes.
Speaking Practice Online for English Learners
Short listening exercises for beginning and intermediate level ESL learners to help them practice speaking.
Apologizing in English
Guide to common phrases used for apologizing in English for English learners and classes.
Getting a Driver's License at the DMV
Intermediate level dialogue for roleplay with follow up multiple choice quiz. This reading focuses on filling out forms for a driver's license at the DMV.
ESL Intonation - Stress Types
ESL intonation help with a guide to the four basic types of sentence stress including information about tonic stress and intonation units.
First Name, Last Name or Title?
Discussion of the correct use of informal and formal forms when speaking about and to people including when to use last names, titles and first name only.
Pronunciation - Silent Letters
A guide to when not to pronounce silent letters in English for English language students and ESL EFL classes.
Word Stress Patterns in English
This page introduces the eight most common word stress patterns in English with listening examples.
Sound Scripting - Word Stress and Intonation
Intonation and Stress - Key to Understanding and Being Understood when speaking English
Asking for Information
The most common language formulas used when asking for information with examples and a construction table.
Being Vague or Imprecise
Sometimes it's impossible to be exact and when need to be imprecise when giving information. Here are the a number of the most common formulas in English for being imprecise.
Demanding Explanations
Sometimes, things happen that we would like explained and we must demand explanations. For example, if you have just bought a new computer and there is a problem, but the shop assistant says that the guaranty does not cover the problem.
Business English - Hardware Deductions
Business English dialogue with follow up multiple choice questions for in-class use and reading comprehension practice.
How to Improve Your Pronunciation
This "how to" focuses on improving your pronunciation through the recognition of the "time-stressed" character of English.
Intonation and Stress: Key to Understanding
This feature takes a look at how intonation and stress influence the way English is spoken and how paying attention to this important factor can improve your pronunciation immediately - no kidding!
Making Small Talk for English Learners
Many English students are more interested in making effective small talk than knowing correct grammar strucutres - and rightly so! Here are some tips to improve small talk skills.
Minimal Pairs - 'ae' and 'eh'
'ae' as in 'cat' and 'eh' as in 'let'
Minimal Pairs - 'ae' and 'u'
'ae' as in 'Cat' and 'u' as in 'Boot'
Minimal Pairs - 'au' and 'ir'
'au' as in 'caught' and 'ir' as in 'earn'
Dialogue: The City and The Country
Dialogue for roleplay with follow up multiple choice quiz. This reading focuses on the use of the comparative form.
Minimal Pairs - 'eh' and 'uh'
'eh' as in 'let' and 'uh' as in 'up'
Offering Help
The most common language formulas used when offering help with examples and a construction table. Especially helpful for learners who work in a shop and need to help clients in English.
Pronunciation: Word Stress - Changes in Meaning
When you are speaking English the words you stress can change the underlying meaning a sentence. Even simple sentences can have many levels of meaning based on the word you stress. This feature provides examples and an exercise to help you improve your pronunciation through correct word stress.
Giving Directions
Role play practice focusing on asking for and giving directions including key vocabulary and questions used to provide directions.
Vertical Register Usage
Introduction to register use for ESL learners and teachers including examples of a hierarchy of vertical register.
The following series of pronunciation exercises combines words beginning with the same diphthong pr vowel sound followed by similar vowel sounds. Voiced and voiceless consonants are paired by sounds.