**Subject**: English Language
**Grade Level**: Junior Secondary 2 (Equivalent to 8th Grade, US)
**Topic**: Speech Work: Word Stress
**Duration**: 60 minutes
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### **Lesson Objectives:**
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Understand the concept of word stress in English.
2. Identify stressed syllables in multi-syllabic words.
3. Properly pronounce words with the correct stress pattern.
4. Apply word stress patterns in speaking and reading.
### **Materials Needed:**
- Whiteboard and markers
- Flashcards with multi-syllabic words
- Handout with a list of words and sentences
- Audio recordings with examples
- Laptop and speakers (for playing audio samples)
- Highlighters or colored pencils
### **Lesson Procedure:**
#### **Introduction (10 minutes)**
1. **Greeting & Attendance**: Greet the students, take attendance, and briefly review the previous lesson.
2. **Hook**: Write the word "photograph" on the whiteboard. Pronounce it while changing the stress pattern and ask students which pronunciation sounds correct. Explain that today’s lesson will focus on the importance of the correct placement of stress in words.
#### **Direct Instruction (15 minutes)**
1. **Explanation**:
- Define word stress: Emphasizing a particular syllable in a multi-syllabic word, making it stand out from the others.
- Use simple examples: Write “perfect” and “banana” on the whiteboard and mark the stressed syllables (PER-fect, ba-NA-na).
2. **Rules of Word Stress**:
- Introduce basic rules for word stress in English:
- Two-syllable nouns and adjectives usually have the stress on the first syllable (e.g., TAble, CLEVer).
- Two-syllable verbs and prepositions usually have the stress on the second syllable (e.g., to beGIN, withIN).
3. **Audio Examples**:
- Play audio recordings of words with stress emphasized and have students listen and identify the stressed syllables.
#### **Guided Practice (15 minutes)**
1. **Flashcard Activity**:
- Randomly hold up flashcards with multi-syllabic words.
- Have students take turns pronouncing the words correctly, focusing on the stress pattern.
- Offer immediate feedback and correct any mistakes.
2. **Highlighting Exercise**:
- Distribute handouts with a list of multi-syllabic words and sentences.
- Ask students to read the list, highlighting or underlining the stressed syllables.
- Go over the answers as a class and discuss any ambiguities.
#### **Independent Practice (10 minutes)**
1. **Pair Work**:
- Have students pair up and exchange handouts.
- Ask them to read sentences aloud to each other, focusing on accurate word stress.
- Encourage pairs to correct each other and offer constructive feedback.
#### **Assessment/Evaluation (5 minutes)**
1. **Quick Quiz**:
- Distribute a short, written quiz with 5-7 multi-syllabic words where students need to mark the stressed syllable in each word.
2. **Oral Assessment**:
- Randomly select students to pronounce certain words aloud with the correct stress pattern.
#### **Closure (5 minutes)**
1. **Review**:
- Summarize the key points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of word stress in accurate pronunciation and clear communication.
2. **Homework Assignment**:
- Assign students to find 10 multi-syllabic words from their reading materials, mark the stressed syllables, and practice pronouncing them correctly at home.
3. **Q&A**:
- Allow time for any final questions and address any remaining confusion regarding word stress.
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### **Extension Activities:**
1. **Speech Practice**:
- Have students prepare a short speech or read a passage with correct word stress and intonation for the next class.
2. **Word Games**:
- Introduce word stress games like “Stress Jeopardy” or “Stress Bingo” for follow-up lessons to make practice enjoyable.
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By following this lesson plan, students will gain a foundational understanding of word stress in English, aiding their overall pronunciation skills and enhancing their speaking and listening abilities.