TH: this (voiced /ð/)

Objective & content

This Sound Check video (about 2 minutes 30) fixes one sound: the voiced th of this. Freya (British) and Cody (American) show the fix. Put the tongue between the teeth but switch the voice on. Feel the buzz with a hand on the throat. The hosts call think and this twins: same mouth, voice off or on. Students repeat this, that, they and mother, then one sentence: This is my mother and my brother. Then they play a three-round game: which word did you hear?

Pedagogical guide

Most first languages do not have this sound. French, German and Polish learners replace it with z or d. Italian and Portuguese learners use d or v. Dutch learners use d. Spanish learners often have a soft d already, as in nada. Ask them to move that sound between the teeth. Use the throat test from the video: the buzz must be there. Both hosts say this sound the same way: there is no British or American difference to explain here. The game tests listening only, so check the speaking yourself.

Suggested procedure

1. Before (2 min). Write this and think on the board. Ask a few students to say both words. Put a hand on the throat: where is the buzz?
2. Watch (3 min). Play the video once. Students repeat aloud when the hosts say "Try it with us", "Say it with us", "Say them with me" and "Now the whole thing, with me".
3. Game (2 min). Play the game again. Pause each time a host says the word, before the other host gives the answer. The class votes.
4. After (3 min). In pairs, one student says they or day, there or dare. The partner points to the right word on the board.

Materials & prerequisites

• The video, a screen and sound for the whole class.
• The example words are at about A1+ level. Students do not need phonetic symbols.

Assessment & extensions

Say they, day, then and den in random order. Students put a hand on the throat and show a thumb up if they feel the buzz. For more practice, add breathe and breeze.