Lesson Plan ericaroqueteacher@gmail.

com
Pronunciation Project

Sentence Intonation – 10-minute lesson plan

Lesson Objectives:
• Students produce statements, questions, and lists in spoken English with correct
intonation
Necessary materials:
• Sentence intonation rules and exercise handout
Task and time Step-by-step Purpose
Present the topic Use your hands to show how intonation works Present the topic,
~1 min differently for different types of sentences. Look at get your students
the arrows and use them with your hand gestures to intrigued about the
emphasize intonation. Say these sentences out loud: different
intonations the
I like cake language has.

Do you speak English?

Where are you from?

I need to buy detergent, apples, noodles and butter

Statement Explain that whenever you make a statement, Introduce the rule
intonation and whether it is positive or negative, the intonation of intonation for
practice falls at the end of the sentence. statements and have
~1 min Have your students repeat or hum after you. Make the students
sure to make your hand gestures. practice it
I like cake.
I don’t speak Russian.
I study every day.
I go to church on Sundays.
I am not tall.
Yes/No questions Whenever you have yes/no questions, the Introduce the rule
intonation and intonation rises. of intonation yes/no
practice Have your students repeat or hum after you. questions and have
~1 min Are you going to eat out tonight? the students
Do you speak English? practice it
Can you read Mandarin?
Wh-questions Wh-questions when they ask for information. Introduce the rule
intonation and Have your students repeat or hum after you. of intonation Wh-
practice When can we do this again? questions and have
~2 min Where are you from? the students
What time is it? practice it
How are you?
Wh-questions when they ask for clarification.
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Pronunciation Project

I’m sorry, I forgot. Where are you from?

Sorry, I didn’t hear. What time is it?
Where are we going to dinner again?
List intonation 70% of native speakers make lists in an up, up, up, Introduce the rules
and practice down intonation. of intonation for
~2 min spoken lists have
I need to buy detergent, apples, noodles and butter the students
practice it
30% of native speakers make lists in and down,
down, down, down intonation. It is not wrong, just
less common.

I need to buy detergent, apples, noodles and butter

Production Have the students do some exercises on the handout Students put into
~4 min and draw arrows to what the intonation should be. practice the
Encourage them to say the words out loud. knowledge they
Go over the answers later have just acquired.
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Pronunciation Project

Sentence Pronunciation Rules

1. Declarative statements
I like cake.
I don’t speak Russian.
I study every day.
I go to church on Sundays.
I am not tall.

2. Yes/No questions
Are you going to eat out tonight?
Do you speak English?
Can you read Mandarin?

3. Wh-Question
a. Asking for information:
When can we do this again?
Where are you from?
What time is it?
How are you?

b. Wh-questions when they ask for clarification:

I’m sorry, I forgot. Where are you from?
Sorry, I didn’t hear. What time is it?
Where are we going to dinner again?
4. List Intonation
a. 70% of native speakers:

I need to buy detergent, apples, noodles and butter

b. 30% of native speakers:

I need to buy detergent, apples, noodles and butter

Lesson Plan ericaroqueteacher@gmail.com
Pronunciation Project

Sentence intonation exercise

1.
A: What is your name?

B: My name is John.

2.
A: What time is it?

B: It’s three thirty.

A: I’m sorry, What time is it?

3.
A: Do you want to go out on Friday?

B: Definitely!

4.
A: What do we need from the store?

B: We need potatoes, broccoli, and tomatoes.

5.
A: Can you swim?

B: No, I can’t

6.
A: Are you from China?

B: No, I’m from Taiwan