Simple Past REGULAR VERBS Pronunciation Game

31/5/2015

Practising the pronunciation of REGULAR VERBS in the SIMPLE PAST is often underestimated due to the fact that everyone concentrates on learning the irregular verbs, deeming regular verbs to be easy. It is only when students read aloud in class that this necessity becomes apparent, often making my very long hair stand on end!

As a result many years ago I made up this Simple Past REGULAR VERBS Pronunciation Game which you can download below.

1. First of all I refresh the students' memory by dividing the blackboard into three and distinguishing between the three pronunciations as on the photocopy.

2. We practise all together as I write some examples of verbs in three columns on the board.

3. Depending on the level of the students, I then leave it on the board to consult or rub it off.

4. Now it's time to divide the class into two teams and distribute one set of verbs to one team and a different set of verbs to the other team.  NO WRITING is allowed as this is an oral skill to be practised.

5. The first team starts by each reading just one verb in turn until someone makes a mistake.

6. Then the other team reads theirs, just one verb per person until someone makes a mistake.

7. Then the first team STARTS FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE LIST again, but this time with another person reading so as NOT to always have the same people reading the same identical verbs as before.

8. The game proceeds taking turns, ALWAYS STARTING FROM THE TOP OF THE LIST AGAIN, until one team manages to read their list completely with making a mistake!

9. All this repetition helps them to fix the pronunciation in their minds and be more aware of it.

10. If there is time at the end of the lesson we also read "The Story of Willy the Kid" taken from the age-old Streamline Departures, filling in the gaps and pronouncing the verbs correctly (see download). There is also a very nice audio* of it to listen to and we even act it out time-permitting.

* LISTEN TO AUDIO  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxXou87go7Q

Hope you have fun with it!
Susan