| Grade Level: | Beginner (with more than 1 year of English learning experience) |
| Supporting Materials: | Comprehensive Phonetic Symbols Practice |
| License: | CC BY-NC (Attribution – Non-Commercial) |
| Standards: | Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) |
Course introduction
This set of materials is for beginner English learners who already have about one year of study. The course focuses on comprehensive practice with phonetic symbols. At the beginner level, we include phonetic hints to help you build your ability to read and recognize phonetic symbols step by step.
Benefits of finding phonetic sounds
- Link pronunciation and spelling: Understand how sounds connect to how words are written.
- Increase sound awareness: Get more sensitive to correct word pronunciation and rely less on rote memorization.
- Build self-correction skills: Learn to notice and fix your own pronunciation.
- Strengthen future skills: Lay a solid foundation for listening and speaking practice.
How to use
Print the materials
- Print everything: Have a complete paper copy for easy reading and writing anytime.
- Focus better on paper: Paper helps you stay focused and reduces distractions from devices.
Read aloud practice
- Follow the phonetic hints: Read words and sentences out loud using the provided hints.
- Use your mouth muscles: Speaking the sounds helps you remember each phoneme.
- Repeat for fluency: Read several times until it feels natural and smooth.
Silent reading practice
- Read in your head: Say the phonetic symbols and words silently to build fast recognition.
- Point as you read: Use your finger to mark phonemes to coordinate eyes and brain.
Find-the-sound tasks
- Locate target sounds: Follow the instructions to find words in a sentence that contain specific phonemes.
- Practice in steps: Read aloud first, then read silently, and finally write your answers to reinforce memory.
Step by step progress
- Use the hints well: Beginner materials include phonetic hints—use them to grow your symbol-reading ability.
- Increase difficulty over time: As you improve, cover the hints and try to read independently.