ESOL pronunciation: stage 2 (level 1-2)

What is the course about?

This course concentrates on aspects of connected speech. You will build on the work you did in Stage 1, but now the focus shifts from individual sounds to fluent everyday speech.

What will we cover?

You will learn about and practise linking between words as well as rhythm and stress at word level and in your normal everyday speech. You will discover how some sounds change, are lost or added depending on the situation - for example, whether they are followed by certain other sounds or you are stressing a word or not. You will also continue the work you did in Stage 1 on how to make and recognise individual sounds as well as read and write phonetically.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Link effectively.
• Identify when and how certain consonants change and pronounce these changes appropriately.
• Identify when and how certain vowel sounds change and pronounce these changes appropriately.
• Identify stressed syllables within words
• Pronounce stressed and unstressed syllables effectively so they are clearly distinguished
• Approximate to English rhythm and understand how it compares to the rhythm of your own language
• use the phonemic script confidently to help you improve your pronunciation.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This is a Level 1-2 ESOL course aimed at students who are intermediate to upper-intermediate (B2-C2). You need to have completed City Lit's Stage 1 Pronunciation course or a similar course elsewhere.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

You will learn in a supportive and welcoming environment. The tutor will help you discover the important parts of pronunciation for yourself rather than just telling you. You will learn how to analyse language so that you can practise outside the classroom. The course will be dynamic and creative with a lot of interaction – you will work in pairs, small groups and sometimes as a whole class. Your tutor will also work with you individually. You will need to do some homework every week and use Google Classroom outside the class as well as record yourself each week.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

There are no other costs. It will be useful to bring a phone with a camera and/or recording facility on it plus a pen, paper and folder.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

There are many courses you can do before, during or after this course. These include:
• ESOL - communication skills for life and work (level 1 speaking and listening) / (level 1 reading and writing)
• ESOL - communication skills for life and work (level 2 speaking and listening) / level 2 reading and writing)
• Workplace communication skills: customer care and front of house hospitality (ESOL level 1-level 2)
• A mile in my shoes: how to tell a story (level 1-2)
• Business English communication skills: from negotiating to report writing to presentations (level 2)
• Business English communication skills: communicating, managing, selling (level 2)
• English dialogue: speaking, listening, pronunciation, performance (level 1-2)
• Matters of opinion (level 2)
• ESOL and making podcasts: pronunciation, presentation, expression (level 1-2)
• ESOL: communication skills for work and life - formal, informal, polite, challenging conversation and writing (level 1-2)

You can also do classes in the maths and digital skills areas.
For more information, talk with your tutor or contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 4582 0423.