Pronunciation: Part 1 answers about the news you follow
You can stress the right syllables, group your words into chunks and finish your word endings clearly in a Part 1 answer.
A quarter of your Speaking band comes from pronunciation. It is one of four criteria, and each carries the same weight.
You do not need a British or an American accent. Even the band 9 description allows an accent: it says accent has no effect on intelligibility. The examiner judges how easily you are understood, and how well you use features such as stress and chunking.
This lesson covers four of those features, and you can practise all four by yourself. You use them here on Part 1 questions about the news.
Warm-up
The odd one out
Say these four words aloud. Three are stressed on the first syllable. Which one is stressed somewhere else?
Which word has its stress in a different place?
How it works
Now, in this first part, I'd like to ask you some questions about yourself.
Let's talk about news and television.
- How do you usually get the news?
- Do you prefer to read the news or to watch it?
- Did you watch much television when you were a child?
- Has the way you follow the news changed in recent years?
Part 1 lasts 4 to 5 minutes, on familiar topics. Your pronunciation is heard in every answer, from the first one.
Four features to work on
In a longer word, one syllable is stronger: longer, louder and a little higher. JOURnalist, phoTOgrapher. In the wrong place, it can make a word hard to recognise.
Words that carry meaning are strong. Small words such as a, the, to and of are said quickly and lightly.
Group the words that belong together, with a short pause between groups: I usually read the news | on my phone | before work.
Final sounds carry grammar: -s for plurals and -ed for the past. If they disappear, your grammar sounds wrong.
Stress that moves
Words from one family can be stressed in different places:
- PHOtograph, phoTOgrapher, photoGRAPHic
- JOURnalism, journaLIStic
- PUBlic, pubLIcity
Endings help. Words that end in -tion, -ic or -ity are usually stressed on the syllable just before the ending: inforMAtion, subSCRIPtion, draMAtic, pubLIcity.
One answer, said two ways
I | usually | listen | to | the | radio | in | the | car. Every word has the same weight, so nothing stands out and the listener works harder.
I usually listen to the RAdio | in the CAR. Two groups, one strong word in each, and the small words said quickly.
Three ways to say -ed
After sounds such as k, p, s, sh and ch: liked, stopped, watched.
After most other sounds: followed, played, streamed, subscribed.
Only after t and d: posted, updated, downloaded.
Watch me do one
The question: How do you usually get the news? My answer: Mostly on my phone. I read the headlines on the train, and I've subscribed to one paper, so I get a short summary every morning.
First the chunks, the places where a speaker would breathe: Mostly on my phone | I read the headlines | on the train | and I've subscribed to one paper | so I get a short summary | every morning.
Each chunk gets one strong word, usually the last one that carries meaning: PHONE, HEADlines, TRAIN, PAper, SUMmary, MORning.
Then the endings. Headlines needs its final s, and subscribed needs its d sound. Without them, the examiner hears a grammar mistake I did not make.
Last, word stress: subSCRIBED is strong on its second syllable. Then I say the whole answer at a normal speed, with no pauses inside a chunk.
A model answer
Yes, a LOT. | When I was at SCHOOL, | we watched the news toGETHer | after DINner. | These days I mostly READ it | on my PHONE, | and I only watch a VIDeo | when something BIG happens.
Capitals mark the strongest syllable in each chunk, and each | is a short pause. The news stays light because the question already said it, so the stress goes to what is new: toGETHer. READ is strong because it contrasts with watched, and watched needs its t sound to put the answer in the past.
Practice with Elita7 questions
Five short questions on the four features, then two answers you record. Say each option aloud before you choose.
Word stress
Capitals show the stressed syllable. Say each version aloud.
Where is the stress in photographic?
The -ed sound
Say each verb aloud, then match it to the sound its -ed ending makes.
The strongest word
The examiner asks: Do you read newspapers? The answer is: Not the paper ones. I read them online.
In 'I read them online', which word should be strongest?
Where to pause
Each | marks a short pause. Say each version aloud.
Which is the natural way to say this answer?
Stress in the wrong place
Capitals show the stressed syllable. In one sentence the stress is in the wrong place. Choose it.
Which sentence contains the error?
Record: how you get the news
Answer in two or three sentences. Pause between chunks, and give each chunk one strong word.
How do you usually get the news?
Record your answer (45s maximum)
0:00 / 0:45
Set up your learning path at the top of this lesson to get band-specific feedback.
Record: when you were a child
This question is about the past, so your -ed endings matter. Make each one heard.
Did you watch much television when you were a child?
Record your answer (45s maximum)
0:00 / 0:45
Set up your learning path at the top of this lesson to get band-specific feedback.
Words to keep
Read, watch or listen to the news regularly. I follow the news mainly through one app.
The main stories of the day, or the titles above them. I read the headlines on the train.
Pay regularly to receive something. I've subscribed to one paper's website.
A short account of the main points. The app sends me a summary every morning.
Now, compared with the past. These days I mostly read the news on my phone.
During the trip from home to work. I listen to a podcast on the way to work.
Before you go
Stress the right syllable in longer words, and remember that it moves: PHOtograph, phoTOgrapher, photoGRAPHic.
Give each chunk one strong word, usually the last new one, and say the small words lightly.
Pause between chunks of meaning. A pause inside a phrase makes you harder to follow.
Finish your endings: the s on a plural and the -ed on a past verb carry your grammar.
Next: The next lesson is about the first and last paragraphs of a Task 2 essay, on a question about advertising aimed at children.