Dictations - Buying a used car

In this activity, you will listen to some words from the dictation and match them to the correct spelling.

In this activity you will count the number of words in phrases that you heard in the dictation.

This will give you practice in identifying individual words in a stream of sound.

In spoken English, we often add extra sounds between words to link our words together.

As a result, when you listen to a continuous stream of sound in English, it can be very difficult to identify the individual words.

These extra linking sounds are:

/j/   e.g.  the ^/j/ end of the film

/w/ e.g.  who ^/w/ are you?

/r/   e.g.  Here ^/r/ it is

Listen to these phrases and practise saying them aloud.

More linking sounds - Connected speech by ESOL Nexus

Complete the following task which will focus on listening for these linking sounds. Repeat them to practise good pronunciation.

Listen to this audio

Word and syllable stress examples by ESOL Nexus

While you listen, read the following information:

In natural, spoken English, we don’t pronounce each syllable with the same emphasis (word stress)  

                          o    o     O

For example:  'guarantee'  

In a phrase, we also have a mixture of weak and strong stress sounds:

                          o  O  o    o   O

For example:  ‘a single to Leeds’

                          o      O    o   o    O

                       ‘turn left at the lights’

Listen to these words and phrases from the dictation and match them to the correct stress pattern.

Get a pen or pencil and some paper ready.

Now do the whole dictation. Listen to the audio and write down everything you hear.

Important: Pause the recording if you need more time to write.

Dictation - Buying a used vehicle by ESOL Nexus

When you’ve finished, check your writing with the transcript.

Here are the first few words:

There’s no way to guarantee that ______