GRADE 8 English SPORTS:OLYMPICS – LISTENING AND SPEAKING:PRONUNCIATION AND INTONATION Notes
LISTENING & SPEAKING — PRONUNCIATION & INTONATION
Topic: Sports: OLYMPICS — Subject: English (age 13, Kenya)
Learning goals
- Say common Olympics words clearly (stress, sounds).
- Use correct intonation for statements, questions and excitement.
- Notice linkings and weak forms used in spoken English.
Key vocabulary + pronunciation
Below each word: simple spelling guide (suitable for learners) and a short IPA when helpful.
- Olympics — o-LYM-pics (ə-LIM-piks) • /əˈlɪm.pɪks/ 🏅
- Athlete — ATH-lete (ATH-leet) • /ˈæθ.liːt/
- Medal — MED-al (MED-uhl) • /ˈmed.əl/ 🥇🥈🥉
- Gold / Silver / Bronze — GOLd / SIL-ver / BRONZ • /ɡoʊld/ /ˈsɪl.vər/ /brɒnz/
- Torch — torch • /tɔːrtʃ/ 🔥
- Stadium — STA-di-um (STAY-dee-um) • /ˈsteɪ.di.əm/ 🏟️
- Relay — re-LAY (ri-LAY) • /rɪˈleɪ/
- Sprint — sprint • /sprɪnt/
- Marathon — MAR-a-thon (MA-ra-thon) • /ˈmær.ə.θən/ (Kenyan runners often famous here)
- Coach — coach • /koʊtʃ/
- Record — RE-cord (stress on RE for noun) • /ˈrekɔːrd/ (verb: re-CORD /rɪˈkɔːrd/)
- Podium — PO-di-um (PO-dee-um) • /ˈpoʊ.di.əm/ 🎖️
Stress rules — what to listen for
- Many two-syllable nouns: stress first syllable. Example: ATH-lete, MED-al, STA-di-um.
- Verbs often stress the second syllable when the same word can be a noun/verb. Example: RE-cord (noun) vs re-CORD (verb).
- Put strong stress on important words in a sentence: names, action words, numbers. Weak words (and, to, the, a) are quieter and shorter.
Important sounds & common Kenyan learner notes
- /θ/ and /ð/ (“th”): practice words like three /θriː/ and the /ðə/ — place the tongue between teeth (Kenyan learners may say /t/ or /d/).
- /v/ vs /b/: victory /ˈvɪk.tər.i/ versus bickery (not a word) — practise /v/ by touching bottom lip to top teeth.
- /r/ is pronounced in English — say it lightly: e.g., record, relay.
- Short vs long vowels: sit vs seat, medal (short e) vs meet (long e).
Linking & weak forms (how words connect when we speak)
- Link final consonant to next vowel: "team athlete" → /tiːm/ + /ˈæθ.lit/ → "team-athlete" [team-athlete] with a smooth connection.
- Weak forms: the /ðə/ (before consonant) and /ði/ (before vowel or for emphasis). "the stadium" → /ðə ˈsteɪ.di.əm/
- Common reductions: "and" → /ən/ or /n/ in fast speech: "gold and silver" → "gold 'n' silver".
Intonation patterns — simple visual guides
(use your voice like a musical line)
Falling intonation
Use for statements, WH-questions, finished ideas.
Visual: —▾
Example: Kenya won the marathon. (voice falls at the end)
Use for statements, WH-questions, finished ideas.
Visual: —▾
Example: Kenya won the marathon. (voice falls at the end)
Rising intonation
Use for yes/no questions, unfinished lists, surprise.
Visual: —▴
Example: Did Kenya win a medal? (voice rises at the end)
Use for yes/no questions, unfinished lists, surprise.
Visual: —▴
Example: Did Kenya win a medal? (voice rises at the end)
Strong fall (excitement)
Use for exclamations and cheering.
Visual: —▾!
Example: What an amazing race!
Use for exclamations and cheering.
Visual: —▾!
Example: What an amazing race!
Practice sentences (say aloud — watch stress & intonation)
- Statement (fall): "Eliud Kipchoge won the marathon." — Stress: E-liud KIP-cho-ge. Fall at the end.
- Yes/no question (rise): "Did Kenya win a medal?" — Rise at the end for a real question.
- WH-question (fall): "Who won the 10,000 metres?" — Fall at the end, stress on the answer word.
- List (rising then falling): "Medals: gold, silver, and bronze." — Rise on 'gold' and 'silver', fall on 'bronze'.
- Excitement (strong fall): "What a fast finish!" — Big stress on 'fast' and strong fall at the end.
Short speaking activities (5–10 minutes)
- Shadow reading: Listen to a short clip (teacher or recording) of an Olympic report. Repeat each sentence immediately, copying stress & intonation.
- Pronunciation pairs: Practice minimal pairs aloud:
- three / tree — three /θriː/ (use tongue between teeth)
- very / berry — /v/ vs /b/ (bottom lip to top teeth for /v/)
- Intonation check: Students form pairs. Pupil A reads a sentence as a statement; Pupil B reads same sentence as a question. E.g., "They completed the relay." vs "They completed the relay?"
- Report practice: Take 1 minute to announce a result: "Kenya's team wins the relay! The runners were fast — they set a new national record." Use excitement intonation for the first sentence and falling tones for facts.
Short dialog — mark stress & intonation
Teacher: "Who won the marathon?" (WH — falling)
Student: "Eliud Kipchoge won it!" (stress on KIP, strong fall for excitement)
Tips for better speaking
- Listen to Kenyan sports reports or short clips (radio or TV) — copy the speaker's rhythm.
- Record your voice on a phone and compare: check stress and whether your sentence falls or rises where it should.
- Use natural contractions in speech: "They've set a record" (they've = /ðeɪv/) — sounds natural in fast speech.
- Speak clearly, not too fast. Focus on stressed words to make meaning clear.
Quick quiz — check yourself
- Which syllable is stressed in "athlete"? (Answer: first — ATH-lete)
- Does a yes/no question usually end with rising or falling intonation? (Answer: rising)
- How do you say "the" before a consonant sound? (Answer: /ðə/)
- Pronounce: "podium" — mark the stressed syllable. (Answer: PO-di-um — stress on PO)
Small visual: rising and falling intonation lines
Use these notes to practise a little every day — 5 minutes repeating words and 5 minutes copying intonation from a short news clip. Good luck — and try announcing an Olympic result to a friend!