Homophones, diagraph,minimal pair, tongue twister

Pronunciation of the long /ei/ sound, here are a few tips: 1. Focus on Mouth Position: Start with your mouth slightly open. Your tongue should be low in your mouth, then glide up towards the roof as you pronounce the sound. The lips start more relaxed and move slightly closer together as you finish the sound. 2. Practice with Words: Use words like “say,” “play,” “day,” and “cake.” Focus on elongating the /ei/ sound. Break the words down, first saying the /ei/ sound by itself and then in the context of the word. 3. Minimal Pairs Practice: Compare words that differ only in the vowel sound, such as “bed” (with a short /e/) and “bade” (with the long /ei/). This will help you distinguish between similar sounds and refine your pronunciation. 4. Recording Yourself: Record yourself saying words with the /ei/ sound and compare your pronunciation with native speakers. You can use pronunciation apps or online dictionaries with audio features. 5. Slow Down: At first, slow down your speech when practicing the /ei/ sound. This allows you to focus on correct tongue and mouth movement. Gradually increase speed as you become more comfortable. 6. Use Visual Aids: Watching videos that show mouth movements for the /ei/ sound can also be helpful. Seeing how others form the sound can give you a better understanding. Exercises 1: long /ei/ sound: Part 1. Word Repetition Drill - Say the following words slowly, focusing on the long /ei/ sound: - Day - Play - Stay - Gate - Train - Face - Rain - Cake - Break - Table Repeat each word multiple times, gradually increasing your speed. Part 2: Sentence Practice - Practice these sentences, emphasizing the long /ei/ sound: 1. "They say it's a great day to play." 2. "The rain came late, but it didn’t stay." 3. "I baked a cake and ate it by the lake." 4. "We trained all day for the big race." 5. "Can you wait by the gate?" Part 3: Minimal Pairs Practice - Focus on pairs of words where the only difference is the vowel sound. Pronounce each pair carefully, paying attention to the difference: - bed vs bade - pen vs pane - met vs mate - pet vs pate - set vs sate Part4: Rhyming Words Exercise - Practice saying groups of words that rhyme and share the long /ei/ sound: - Say: day, lay, pay, ray, way - Make: cake, fake, lake, rake, take - Train: brain, chain, drain, gain, pain Part 5: Listening and Imitation - Listen to native speakers or pronunciation videos where the /ei/ sound is used prominently. Pause and imitate what you hear. - You can find such content in songs, podcasts, or YouTube videos. Try to mimic the exact mouth movements and intonation. Part 6: Reading Aloud - Read aloud from a book or article, and each time you encounter a word with the /ei/ sound, slow down and focus on pronouncing it correctly. - You can highlight words with the /ei/ sound beforehand and practice them in context. Part 7: Recording and Playback - Record yourself reading sentences or words with the /ei/ sound and then listen back. Compare your pronunciation to a native speaker’s, and note areas for improvement. Part8:Tongue Twisters Try saying tongue twisters to improve your control over the /ei/ sound: - "Ray's gray tray is the same as Fay's." - "Eight apes ate eight cakes."