Phonetic exercises for junior students to improve their self-control and self-evaluation
методическая разработка по английскому языку (5 класс)

Phonetic exercises for junior students to improve their self-control and self-evaluation:

1. Slow and Steady Sound Challenge         
   Set a timer for 30 seconds, and have the children practice pronouncing a list of phonetic sounds or words slowly and clearly. Encourage them to focus on their articulation and pace. After the timer goes off, ask them to evaluate how well they controlled their speech. Questions for self-evaluation could include: 
   - Did I pronounce each sound clearly? 
   - Was I focused, or did I rush? 
   Have them reflect on what they could improve next time.

2. Phonetic Freeze Dance 
   Play music and let the kids dance around. When the music stops, call out a phonetic sound or word. Children must freeze and say the word or sound correctly before continuing to dance. This exercise encourages self-control as they need to stop moving and focus. After each round, have them share how they felt about their control. Did they freeze quickly? Did they say the word correctly?

3. Mirror Me Phonetics 
   Pair up the children and have them face each other. One child will say a phonetic sound or word, and the other must mimic it perfectly. This encourages concentration and self-correction as they listen closely to each other. After each turn, encourage them to evaluate: 
   - Did they control their voice to match the sound? 
   - Did they pay attention to their partner's pronunciation? 
   Each child should provide positive feedback to their partner, reinforcing the learning experience.

4. Phoneme Pairs Game 
   Prepare pairs of cards, each with a different phonetic sound or word. Spread the cards face down. Children take turns flipping two cards over to find a matching pair of sounds. Before they flip, they must take a deep breath to control their excitement. If they make a match, they say the pair of words or sounds aloud. After each turn, encourage them to evaluate: 
   - Did I stay calm while searching? 
   - How well did I pronounce the sounds? 
   This encourages both self-control and phonetic practice.

5. Rhyming Countdown 
   Choose a phonetic sound and set a timer for one minute. Challenge the children to come up with as many rhyming words as they can while focusing on pronouncing each word clearly. When the time is up, they should evaluate: 
   - How many rhymes did I create? 
   - Did I pronounce each word correctly? 
   This activity combines phonetic skills with self-assessment in managing their time.

6.  Sound Detective 
   Create a list of phonetic sounds or syllables and distribute them to the children. Each child chooses one sound to focus on while the rest of the class makes a variety of words or sentences containing that sound. The child must listen carefully and raise a hand only when they hear their chosen sound. Afterward, they evaluate themselves on: 
   - Did I listen carefully to catch the sound? 
   - How well did I control my excitement when I heard my sound? 
   This encourages active listening and self-discipline during the activity.

7.  QR Code Coloring Exercise

Materials Needed:
   - Printed images of the QR code with missed dots on the right side.(Delete a line of dots in advance using a scan app on your phone or ‘’Paint” on your computer)
   - Coloring materials (black markers or crayons).
   - A sound playback device (like a speaker or computer) to play the minimal pairs.

 Preparation:
   - Ensure each child has a printed QR code image.
   - Prepare a list of minimal pairs of sounds, for example, focusing on the short "i" and long "i" sounds (e.g., "dip - deep").

How to Conduct the Exercise:
   - Explain to the children that they will listen to some words.
   - If they hear a word with a long "i" sound (like in "deep"), they should color in the missing dot in the QR code with black.
   - If they hear a word with a short "i" sound (like in "dip"), they should leave the space uncolored.

Listening Activity:
   - Play the minimal pairs of sounds one by one.
   - Pause after each word to give children time to respond.

Completion:
   - Once they have finished coloring the QR code, check the completed images.
   - Discuss the sounds heard and clarify any mistakes.

Final Step:
   - Show them how the completed QR code links to a useful video on the topic.
   - Allow children to scan their QR codes to view the video.

Wrap-Up:
   - Encourage children to share what they learned about the vowel sounds.
   - Discuss the importance of sound recognition in reading.

Phonetic exercises for secondary school students

1. Phonetic Errors Analysis 
   Have students listen to a recording of a speech or presentation made by a proficient speaker. Ask them to write down any phonetic errors they notice in their own pronunciation compared to the speaker. Afterward, they should practice repeating the phrases focusing on correcting those errors. Finally, students evaluate themselves by answering: 
   - What specific sounds do I struggle with? 
   - How did I manage my frustration or impatience during practice?

2. Slow Speech Practice 
   Assign each student a paragraph or a set of sentences to read aloud. Before they read, instruct them to take a deep breath and slow down their pace to ensure clarity. After reading, they should record themselves and play it back. In pairs, students should provide feedback on pronunciation and clarity. Each student then reflects on: 
   - Did I maintain control over my speaking speed? 
   - How could I improve my pronunciation on specific sounds?

3. Phonetic Reflection Journals 
   Encourage students to keep a phonetic reflection journal. Each week, they should choose a phonetic topic (e.g., challenging sounds, intonation, rhythm) and write about their experiences practicing it. They can also include recordings of their attempts. They should assess: 
   - What strategies helped me improve? 
   - How did I handle setbacks or challenges in mastering these sounds and techniques?

These exercises can help students focus on their phonetic skills while fostering self-regulation and self-reflection!