Make sure you raise your pitch and prolong the underlined vowel in the stressed words below.

Stressed Words with /ɑ/

1. I got it.
2. I got a new job.
3. I think I got a new job.

Stressed Words with /æ/

1. I have a new class.
2. I can’t stand it.
3. I can’t stand my new class.
4. I’ll call you back.
5. …as soon as I can.
6. I’ll call you back as soon as I can.

Stressed words with /ou/

1. It’s so cold.
2. I didn’t know.
3. I didn’t know about it.
4. I didn’t know it would be so cold.

Stressed words with /i/

1. How do you feel?
2. When did he leave?
3. How did you feel when he had to leave?

Stressed words with /ɔ/

1. That’s awful.
2. It’s too long.
3. That awful novel is too long.
4. I’m exhausted.
5. I’ve been talking all day long.
6. I’m exhausted from talking all day long.

Advice from a Successful Student

“I record myself reading in English. I listen to the recordings and write down the mistakes. This way, I catch the sounds that I don’t normally catch when I am speaking with people.”

Mai Ling, China