Dr. R. N.

Tiwari

Humanities

Module-2
 English Communication Skills – Year: 2021-22

Semester: I/ II

English Communication Skills

Course Code: 21ECS118 L:T:P:J: 1:1:1:0 CIE Marks: 50

Credit: 2 SEE Marks: 50

Hours: 25 SEE Duration: 03 Hours

Pre-Requisites: Basics of Grammar learnt in PUC –Parts of Speech.

Assessment Test
Course Learning Objectives: The students will be able to

1 To acquire essential language skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading and

Writing

2 To enhance English pronunciation, vocabulary, and language proficiency

3 To build competency and acquire language skills that meet global standard
 Module-2: Listening Skills RBT HRS

Pre-requisite: 1,2,3 T 4/ L1
Basics of Grammar learnt in PUC – Pronunciation, sounds of
Vowels and Consonants.
Teaching component:
Basics of Phonetics, Sounds and Symbols of Vowels,
Consonants, Diphthongs, Silent and non-silent letters, The
and Thee, Homophones, Homonyms, Difference between
Hearing and Listening; Listening Comprehension, Grammar –
Prepositions, Collocations
Lab: 1 hour
Activity:
Self-study component/Case study: Software
 Basics of Phonetics, Sounds and Symbols of Vowels, Consonants,
Diphthongs
English Sounds(44)

Vowel Sounds(20) Consonant Sounds(24)

Pure Vowels(12) Diphthongs(8)

Short Vowels(7) Long Vowels(5)

Ending-in Ending-in Ending-in
/ə/ 3 /ɪ / 3 /ʊ/ 3
Short Vowels(7): It is pronounced in a short form or quick manner.
/ɪ / - pit
/e/ - pet
/æ/ - apple
/ʌ/ - but
/ɒ/ - office
/ʊ/ - book
/ə/ - ago
Long vowels(5): It is pronounced slightly in a dragged manner.
/ɪ :/ - eat
/a:/ - art
/ɔ:/ - born
/u:/ - shoot
/ɜ:/ - burn
Diphthongs(8): In diphthong vowels, one vowel sound changes to another vowel sound in
the same syllable. The vowels are adjacent to each other. They are gliding vowels. The word
diphthong comes from the Latin word ‘diphthong us’ and Greek word ‘diphthong’. The
meaning is: ‘having two sounds together’.
/ə/ (3)
/ ɪ e:/-deer
/eə/-pair
/ʊə/-poor /ɪ / (3)
/eɪ/-late
/aɪ/-light
/ɔɪ/-point /ʊ/ (2)
/eʊ/-boat
/aʊ/-drought
Introduction to Listening

Consonant Sound(24):Consonant Sounds are produced with the stoppage of air. There is an obstruction
while pronouncing the Consonant Sounds.

IPA Symbols Example IPA Symbols Example IPA Symbols Example

/p/ pen /f/ fat /m/ mat
/t/ ten /v/ van /s/ sit
/k/ cat /w/ watch /n/ nut
/b/ bat /θ/ think /ɜ/ vision/measure
/d/ dot /ð/ the /h/ hand/hit
/g/ got /s/ sat /j/ you/yes/year
/tʃ / chart /z/ zoo
/dʒ/ jam /r/ rat
/l/ late /ŋ/ sing
 SILENT LETTERS AND NON-SILENT LETTERS

SILENT LETTERS: We know that a few letters are silent while pronouncing. Such letters are
called Silent Letters. They are not accented.
Comb
Tomb
Come
Range
Hate
NON-SILENT LETTERS: Here, non-silent letters are pronounced. They are not mute and so are
accented.
resume, epitome, recipe, acne, acme
 The and Thee

● We know that ‘the’ is a definite article. It is pronounced in two ways. Before vowel
sound, it is a long ‘thee.’ Before a consonant sound, it is a short ‘The’. While
emphasizing words, it is a long ‘thee’. In the case of uniqueness, it is pronounced as a
long ‘thee’ too.

● Remember! Words may begin either with a vowel or consonant sound.

 HOMOPHONES, HOMONYMS

Homophone: It has same pronunciation but different spellings and different

meanings.
Example: Pray-Prey
Write-Right

Homonym: It has same pronunciation, same spellings and different meanings.

Example:
Fair: Reasonable
Fair: Fair appearance
Difference between Hearing and Listening
BASIS FOR COMPARISON HEARING LISTENING
Meaning Hearing refers to one's ability to Listening is something done
perceive sounds, by receiving consciously, that involve the
vibrations through ears. analysis and understanding of
the sounds you hear.

What is it? An ability A skill

Nature Primary and continuous Secondary and temporary

Act Physiological Psychological

Involves Receipt of message through Interpretation of the message
ears. received by ears.
Process Passive bodily process Active mental process

Occurs at Subconscious level Conscious level

Use of senses Only one More than one
Reason We are neither aware nor we We listen to acquire knowledge
have any control over the and receive information.
sounds we hear.
Concentration Not required Required
 Listening Comprehension
It is the ability to hear what is said. So, learn to accelerate Listening Comprehension
Skills.

The following tips will help you a lot:

● Be an active listener and so use the latest software tools, apps, podcasts, and other
materials as per your taste and interest.

● Get exposed to various listening activities, mainly on BBC and other English
Channels.

● Select a comprehensible input of your choice that you enjoy.

● Think in a broad way to capture the theme.

● Listen and re-listen any time, convenient to you. Listen to the main points of the
audio/video very carefully. Practice listening at slow, moderate and fast speed.

● Try to take short notes while listening to improve comprehension.

● Vary your listening routine.

● Be cool and meticulous in your approaches.

● Thereafter, attempt the questions patiently.

 Prepositions
A Preposition is a word that comes before a Noun or Pronoun and shows its relation with
some other word in the sentence.

Example: My friend is in the playground. Here, ‘ in’ is a preposition.

Kinds of Prepositions: Prepositions are of many kinds. They are as under:

Simple Prepositions such as: on, at, to, in, from, with, by etc.
Example: The book is on the table.
`Go to the market, please.

Compound Prepositions such as: between, among, before, beside etc.

Example: Divide this apple between the two boys.
Distribute these chocolates among the children.
Phrasal Prepositions such as: in order to, in front of, by means of, in addition to etc.
Example: Please come and stand in front of me.
You need my support in order to do this work.

Participial Prepositions such as: concerning, barring, during etc.

Example: Barring a few students, everybody attended the class.
 Collocations
A collocation is made up of two or more words that are commonly used together in
English.
 Module-2 Exercises
Q1. Identify the ‘pure vowel sound’ in the given words and write the symbols against them.

1. Sit : / /
2. Let : / /
3. Dad : / /
4. Keep : / /
5. Bar : / /

Q2. Identify the ‘diphthongs’ in the given words and write their symbols against them.

1. Fate : / /
2. Boy : / /
3. How : / /
4. Sear : / /
5. Tier : / /
Q3. Put the correct ‘consonant sounds’ in the blanks to complete the words.

1. Trea_ure
2. _eir
3. _lutter
4. _ertain
5. _eak

Q4. Put the correct IPA symbols for the bold letters/parts of the words.

1. This : / /
2. That : / /
3. Thick : / /
4. Thought : / /
5. Sheep : / /
Q5. Identify the ‘silent letters’ in the given words and write them in the given
spaces.

1. Tomb: __
2. Hour: __
3. Asthma: __
4. Heir: __
5. Subtle: __

Q6. Identify the ‘non-silent letters in the given words.

1. Epitome: __
2. Resume: __
Q7. Select a suitable word that belongs to each sentence and write the same in the
given spaces.

1. Street signs are written in _____ letters.

a. Capital
b. Capitol
2. The boy wants _____ water.
a. Plain
b. Plane
3. Aspirin can _____ some types of pain.
a. Lessen
b. Lesson
4. Both the countries signed the _____ treaty.
a. Peace
b. Piece
5. Thank you for the birthday _____.
a. Presants
b. Presents
Q8. Select the word that belongs to each sentence and write the same in the given
spaces.

1. It is really rude to _____ at somebody.

a. Stair
b. Stare
2. Please _____ this apple before eating.
a. Peal
b. Peel
3. Why don’t you plant a _____ tree in your garden?
a. Fir
b. Fur
4. You should not allow people to _____ in your personal affairs.
a. Middle
b. Meddle
5. The car has broken down. Could you_____ it?
a. Toe
b. Tow
Q9. Identify and underline the ‘aspirated sound’ in the given words.

1.
a. kill
b. cause

2.
a. pill
b. pale

3.
a. till
b. team
Q10. Put the correct symbols in the given spaces for the bold words in each sentence.

1. Speak the word given below. (/ðə/ , /ðɪ/)

2. The elephant is quite big in shape. (/ðɪ/ , /ðə/)

3. The Times of India is a good newspaper. (/ðə/ , /ðɪ/)

4. This is the bike? I wish to buy. (/ðɪ/ , /ðə/)

5. Here comes, the Michael Jackson! (/ðə/ , /ðɪ/)

Q11. Identify/observe the ‘vowel sound’ that goes with the word and tick the right
option.

1. /ɪ:/
a. mint ( )
b. seat ( )
2. /ʃ/
a. church ( )
b. wish ( )
3. /ʒ/
a. measure ( )
b. change ( )
4. /ɔɪ/
a. annoy ( )
b. house ( )
5. /əʊ/
a. now ( )
b. row (a boat) ( )
ANSWERS

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5

1. /ɪ/ 1. /eɪ/ 1. s 1. /ð/ 1. b

2. /e/ 2. /ɔɪ/ 2. h 2. /ð/ 2. h
3. /æ/ 3. /əʊ/ 3. f 3. /θ/ 3. th
4. /ɪ:/ 4. /ɪə/ 4. c 4. /θ/ 4. h
5. /a:/ 5. /ɪə/ 5. p 5. /ʃ/ 5. b
Q6 Q7 Q8 Q9
1. e 1. a 1. b 1. a
2. e 2. a 2. a 2. a
3. a 3. a 3. a
4. a 4. b
5. b 5. b

Q10 Q11
1. b 1. isn’t
2. b 2. They’re
3. a 3. He’s
4. a 4. Wouldn’t
5. b 5. They’d