Rules for reading ea in English. How to teach a child to read in English - important rules and common mistakes when learning

We have already talked with you about how to learn English using the Pimsleur method, but there we considered learning English in the aspect of speaking. And in this article we will consider the question of how to learn to read in English using the Pimsleur method? It is difficult to say what is the priority. However, speaking is the foundation of meaningful reading aloud. So let's learn to read English! Learning to read in English by the method of Dr. Pimsler Therefore, it is in the course with the first level of mastering English by the method of Dr. Pimsler that 21 reading exercises are included. You can work on these exercises while studying 30 audio lessons of the main course in parallel. This will be your next step in language learning.

In preparing these exercises, Pimsleur's main goal was to help you make connections between the letters of the alphabet and the sounds of spoken language. To get started with free online exercises, you just need to have an understanding of the letters and American sounds.

In the course of online learning, consistently studying the material of each free lesson, you will gradually move from the already known repetition to the comprehension of new knowledge. You will learn letter-sound combinations step by step, gradually learning to read more and more complex examples and combinations.

Do not forget that the lessons contain the basic patterns and rules of spelling and pronunciation adopted in American English. Of course, there are various exceptions to these rules. However, as you get deeper into the language and build up vocabulary, you will quickly learn to recognize these exceptions. How to learn to read in English? And in order for you to meet as few difficulties as possible on your way, the material of the online lessons reflects the more common constructions and examples. Soon you will be able to easily recognize and perceive English words without having to spell them out.

Although, of course, learning to read in any foreign language will require you to work, patience, strength, and great desire. All exercises are recorded at the end of the English for Russian Speakers course after online oral lessons. You can study them completely free of charge and without interfering with the course.

You also decide which option to work with reading exercises: you can alternate them with mastering 30 audio lectures of colloquial speech, or you can postpone reading until you have completed mastering the main cycle, or you can not study the main cycle at all.

However, keep in mind that the reading exercises will contain both words from the core course and new information. Therefore, it may be easier for you to learn reading lessons after studying the main course.

English reading exercises

The choice of the pace of work on Pimsleur reading lessons is up to you. Repeat the reading exercises as many times as you see fit in order to move on to the next lesson. You will receive other instructions for working with the course from the speaker, starting to study the audio recordings. Pimsleur Course "English for Russian Speakers" Listen carefully to how the American announcer pronounces the word. Then repeat the word or phrase several times after the pro, as close to the original as possible. Keep in mind that speech constructions should be repeated aloud in order for the result to be most effective.

Of course, nothing comes easy. But to date, nothing better than the language system of Dr. Pimsler has been proposed. Put in minimal effort and you will be pleasantly surprised when you quickly learn to read English and understand the speech of Americans.

On this site you will find all 21 reading exercises from Dr. Pimsler, which you can listen to online or download for free. Learn to read in English with us!

Below you can go directly to the exercises.
Lesson No. 1 Learning to read in English, the Pimsleur method
Lesson No. 2 Learning to read in English, the Pimsleur method
Lesson No. 3 Learning to read in English, the Pimsleur method
Lesson No. 4 Learning to read in English, the Pimsleur method
Lesson No. 5 Learning to read in English, the Pimsleur method
Lesson No. 6 Learning to read in English, the Pimsleur method
Lesson No. 7 Learning to read in English, the Pimsleur method
Lesson No. 8 Learning to read in English, the Pimsleur method
Lesson No. 9 Learning to read in English, the Pimsleur method
Lesson No. 10 Learning to read in English, the Pimsleur method
Lesson No. 11 Learning to read in English, the Pimsleur method
Lesson No. 12 Learning to read in English, the Pimsleur method
Lesson No. 13 Learning to read in English, the Pimsleur method
Lesson No. 14 Learning to read in English, the Pimsleur method
Lesson No. 15 Learning to read in English, the Pimsleur method
Lesson No. 16 Learning to read in English, the Pimsleur method

And how quickly to learn this skill?

In order to achieve the goal, you need to break it down into stages of achievement. How to quickly learn this skill?

Let's highlight a few components:

First, you need to learn the alphabet and pay special attention to the pronunciation of the letters.
The second is to learn the letter combinations used in the composition of words in the English language. For example, vowel combinations -ch, -sh, etc.).
Thirdly, it is necessary not only to learn words, but also to pay special attention to their transcription, that is, the correct pronunciation.
Learn to read phrases and sentences, use intonation correctly.

From the article you will learn:

How to learn to read English on your own from scratch

Now let's take a closer look at exactly how to quickly master the ability to read.

When mastering the alphabet, it is imperative to learn the transcription of each letter and at the same time know that the pronunciation of a particular letter of the English alphabet can be different depending on the word and the order of the letters. Do not sign the transcription in Russian letters - this way you will immediately eliminate the problem of "broken English".

Pay special attention to the second stage - letter combinations, syllables. Learn . The rules for reading an open, closed word, the use of letter combinations are few, but if the more you pay attention to such trifles, the faster you will advance in learning.

The correct pronunciation of different combinations of vowels and consonants is the main key to the rapid development of reading.

After mastering the words, pay attention to intonation - this is already a voice game.

How to learn to read English correctly

As noted above, in no case do not use textbooks or dictionaries where the transcription is written in Russian letters. This is how you distort your pronunciation.

There are only 6 vowels in English - A, O, E, I, U, Y and each letter has 4 ways of pronunciation, depending on the type of word.

Also, vowels in combination with others form diphthongs and triphthongs (which are not so difficult to learn - only 8 and 2, respectively.

This is where transcription comes in. When self-learning to read in English, it is worth paying special attention to the symbols of the Greek and Latin alphabets written in the dictionary on the right in square brackets.

In order to indicate the longitude of a particular sound, a colon is placed after it in the transcription. Thus, transcription deciphers the sound image of any word in the English language.

Pronunciation is the main component of successful reading development

1. Features of articulation. English words must be pronounced as if with force, exhaling and straining the muscles of the mouth.

2. Tongue position. For a native English speaker, the tongue lies flat, and his conic is bent up and will be located at the alveoli (tubercles above the upper teeth) or just not reach them.

This is an important point. You can keep your tongue in your mouth pressed against the upper cusps above your upper teeth, and in this way, after a while, read very well and clearly in English with a minimal accent.

It is very good to watch videos that answer the question in an accessible form - how quickly and well to read in English.

Reference material for self-learning to read

You can learn to read English and the most correct way in this case is to use an English-Russian dictionary with transcription. Each unfamiliar word must be looked up in the dictionary and immediately learn its pronunciation (transcription will help you with this).

Dear Guest! You have decided to start learning English and, of course, the first thing you want to know is how to learn to read English from scratch. It is believed that the most difficult thing in English is learning to read correctly. And it is true! The English language has a historical principle of word formation, so many words in it are not read the way they are written. Heard the phrase Why is it written Liverpool, but pronounced Manchester??

And this article is for those who want to know in general terms, how to learn to read english from scratch on your own.

How to learn to read English from scratch?

1. Where to start? — English alphabet!

let's start from the English alphabet. First, just listen to it:

ABC Song (classic UK version)

* * *

So, you have heard all 26 English letters. Here english alphabet in tables. To enlarge, click on the picture.

TABLE 1: English alphabet (in block letters)

TABLE 2: English alphabet (capital letters)

The alphabet is given for reference only, it is not necessary to learn it yet. Remember that everything There are 26 letters in English, of which 20 are consonants and 6 are vowels. So let's get started!

2. How to learn to read English from scratch? Reading English consonants and their letter combinations

Beginners to learn English from scratch should understand that sounds in English are fundamentally different from sounds in Russian, so it is especially difficult to “start”. After all, first we need to accustom our mouth (articulatory apparatus) to the English pronunciation, as phoneticians say, “set the pronunciation”. It's not easy, but worth it.

And for the rest, I’ll tell you that out of 20 English consonants, there are those whose pronunciation almost coincides with similar consonant sounds in Russian (group I).

Group I. English consonants similar to Russian:

Letters l, m, n.- Sounds

english letter l l- sound [l] - read as "l" (only solid, as in the word varnish and at the same time strongly press the tongue to the palate).

english letter m m- sound [m] - read as "m" (only squeeze your lips more strongly than when pronouncing the Russian "m").

english letter n- sound [n] - read as "n" (only press the tongue not to the teeth, as in Russian, but to the tubercles above the teeth higher than the teeth and stronger!)

Imagine! Of the 20 English consonants, there are only 3 sounds, the pronunciation of which does not need to be bothered. But the remaining 17 ... can cause a Russian accent! However, you can learn to read them correctly by YOURSELF!

Group II. English consonants, incorrect pronunciation is the cause of the Russian accent:

In English, there are no letters that convey some sounds, for example, Russian "sh", "ch", as well as the interdental sound "s". These sounds are expressed using letter combinations. There are 4 such letter combinations in total.

Reading English letter combinations:

1. Letter combination sh -

letter combination sh reads like a "sh" sound. In transcription, this sound is denoted by [∫].

letter combination ch reads like a solid "h" sound. In transcription, this sound is denoted.

letter combination ck reads like a "k" sound. In transcription, this sound is denoted by [k].

4. Letter combination th -

letter combination th read [Ɵ] or [ð]. There is NO such sound in the Russian language. learn pronounce TH correctly.

4. Letter combination qu -

TOTAL you studied 4 English letter combinations: sh, ch, th, qu.

Table 3 "English consonants" (in brackets it is indicated how they are read)

The arrows indicate that the letters ss, gg, Ss, Xx are read in two ways, depending on which letter they are in front of. Such a phenomenon is called

3. Reading English consonants and their letter combinations

Vowels in English are read in a special way. As you, I hope, remember, in English there are 6 vowels: Aa, Ee, Ii, Oo, Uu, Yy, and they transmit 20 vowels when reading, since each is read in 4 ways. Of course, I can’t explain all this in one article! You can learn more about reading English vowels from the lesson on learning to read in English No. 21

So, in this article I tried to explain, how to learn to read in english from scratch, introduced you to the English alphabet and how to read English consonants, letter combinations and vowels. What is not clear, write in the comments! Good luck!

In conclusion, the task for those who are learning to read English from scratch:

1) listen to the song "English alphabet" - 5 times

3) watch a video from the wonderful film "My Fair Lady", which is dedicated to teaching correct English pronunciation))) You will see how Eliza Doolittle studies pronounce the sound [h] correctly.

She repeats the phrase " ln Hertford, Hereford and Hampshire hurricanes hardly ever happen”(translation of this phrase: Hartford, Hereford and Hampshire rarely experience hurricanes). Saying this phrase in English, she does not pronounce the sound [h] at all (this is a strong exhalation). She sounds like this: ln Ertford, Ereford and Ampshire Urricanes Ardly ever Appen", and Mr. Higgins teaches her how to pronounce the sound [h] - correctly.

In English class, students moan, "Why are the rules for reading in English so confusing?"

One reason is that English . Sometimes they kept their spelling, sometimes they changed it for themselves. In good old England, words were often spelled the way they were read, so that the same word could be spelled differently. Take at least the manuscripts of Shakespeare - all this chaos is there in full view.

Eventually, the spelling of words was standardized and entered into dictionaries, but... When you study English, you will notice that a word often reads completely differently from how it is spelled. And there are usually historical reasons for that.

There is also good news. Although many English words are written, it would seem, "as God puts it on the soul", there are a number of rules here. But be careful, because for every rule there is an exception.

The English language has over 1,100 ways of writing 44 individual sounds - more than any other language. But let study be a game for you, not a duty.

Learn with our tips!

Write down words that you have problems with in a notebook. Underline the part of the word that is the most difficult for you.
Use a dictionary, not a spell checker! Unfortunately, you can not always trust her.
Learn words with all kinds of prefixes and suffixes, for example: biography - auto biography, child - child hood etc.
Learn the rules, but don't rely on them. We have already said that every rule has its exception. We will talk about this below.

“i” is written before “e” (except after “c”)

One of the first rules of reading that is taught in English classes. The rule works for words that have a long “ee”, as in shield(shield).

Examples: piece (part), niece (niece), priest (priest), thief (thief).

But after “c”: conceive (comprehend, conceive), receive (receive), receipt (receipt; not to be confused with recipe - recipe).

For words in which the sound “a” or “i” is pronounced, the opposite is true:

“a”: eight (eight), neighbor (neighbor), reign (board), weight (weight)

“i”: either (any; either), height (height), feisty (absurd), sleight (dexterity)

Exceptions: seize (grab), weird (strange), conscience (conscience, consciousness), efficient (effective), etc.

silent letters

The English language is full of unpronounceable letters. The question arises: why do the English insert letters into words, and then they simply do not pronounce them? ..

The Silent Witness, or What is the Unpronounceable Letter

unpronounceable letter ( silent letter) is a letter that should be in a word, even if we do not read it. More than half of the letters of the alphabet can act as unpronounceable. They can be at the beginning of a word, at the end or in the middle - from the sound of the word you will not understand that they are there.

Examples of unpronounceable letters:
a - thread(a thread), bread(bread), thread(step)
b- lamb(lamb), bomb(bomb), womb(womb)
c- scissors(scissors), science(the science), scented(aroma)
d- edge(edge), bridge(bridge), badge(icon)
e - see below
h- honor(honour), honest(honest), school(school)
k - knot(node), knight(Knight), knowledge(knowledge)
l - talk(talk), psalms(psalm), balm(balm)
n- hymn(hymn), autumn(autumn), column(column, column)
p- pneumatic(pneumatic), psalms(psalm), psychology(psychology)
s- isle, island(Island), aisle(passage, e.g. in the cabin)
t- listen(listen), rustle(rustling) whistle(whistle)
u- biscuit(cookie; not a biscuit!), guess(guess), guitar(guitar)
w - write(write), wrong(wrong), wrist(wrist)

Unpronounceable "e"

The unpronounceable "e" is the most common unpronounceable letter. There are several strict rules for writing words that end in an unpronounceable “e”.

When you add a suffix to such a word and the suffix begins with a consonant, the word stem does not need to be changed.

force (strength) + ful = forceful (strong)

manage (manage) + ment = management (management)

sincere (sincere) + ly = sincerely (sincerely)

If the suffix begins with a vowel or with “y”, then the “e” before the suffix must be omitted.

fame (fame) + ous = famous (famous)

nerve (nerve) + ous = nervous (nervous)

believable + y = believably

criticise (criticize) + ism = criticism (criticism)

Exceptions: mileage (distance in miles), agreeable (accommodating).

Prefixes and suffixes

When you add a prefix to a word, you don't usually need to change the stem of the word.

anti + septic = antiseptic (antiseptic)

auto + biography = autobiography (autobiography)

de + mobilize = demobilize (demobilize)

dis + approve = disapprove (disapprove)

im + possible = impossible (impossible)

inter + national = international (international)

mega + byte = megabyte (megabyte)

mis + fortune = misfortune (failure)

micro + chip = microchip (microchip)

re + used = reused (recycled)

un + available = unavailable (unavailable)

When you add a suffix to a word, it often changes the base of the word. Below are a few rules. As usual, there are exceptions, so if you're not sure how a word is spelled, check the dictionary.

Words that end in a consonant

If the suffix starts with a consonant, just add it to the stem, don't change anything.

Example: treat (treat; treat) + ment = treatment (treatment; attitude).

Doubling a consonant

For most short vowel words ending in a single consonant, that consonant is doubled when you add a vowel-starting suffix (ing, er, ed, est).

mop (wash) + ing = mopping (wash)

big (big) + est = biggest (biggest)

hot (hot) + er = hotter (hotter)

For words that end with an “l” after a vowel, that “l” is doubled.

model (model) + ing = modeling (modeling)

travel (to travel) + er = traveller (traveler)

Exceptions

For some words ending in “r”, “x”, “w”, “y”, the doubling rule does not apply.

fear (to be afraid) + ing \u003d fearing (fear, afraid, afraid)

box (box, not box!) + er = boxer (boxer)

know (to know) + ing = knowing (knowledge, knowing, knowing)

play (play) + ing = playing (game, playing, playing)

And if the word has two consonants at the end or more than one vowel, the consonant is also not doubled.

maintain (maintain) + ing (two vowels a + i) = maintaining (maintenance)

keep (keep) + er (two vowels e + e) = keeper (keeper; owner)

hang (hang) + er (two consonants n + g) = hanger (hook)

Word endings

Words that end in "ce" and "ge"

When you add a suffix that starts with "a" or "o", the "e" remains.

manage (execute) + able = manageable (executable)

notice (notice) + able = noticeable (noticeable)

courage (courage) + ous = courageous (brave)

Exception: prestige (prestige) + ous = prestigious (prestigious)

words ending with "ie"

When you add "ing" to verbs ending in "ie", the "e" is dropped and the "i" is changed to "y".

die (to die) - dying (dying, dying, dying)

lie (lie) - lying (lying, lying, lying)

tie (tie) - tying (tying, tying, tying)

Words that end in "y" after a consonant

When you add suffixes such as “as”, “ed”, “es”, “er”, “eth”, “ly”, “ness”, “ful” and “ous” to a word ending in “y ” after a consonant, “y” changes to “i” before a suffix.

eighty (eighty) + eth = eightieth (eightieth)

duty (duty) + es = duties (duties)

lazy (lazy) + ness = laziness (laziness)

mystery (mystery) + ous = mysterious (mysterious)

beauty (beauty) + ful = beautiful (beautiful)

multiply (multiply) + ed = multiplied (multiplied)

cozy (cozy) + ly = cosily (cozy)

Words that end in "y" after a vowel

"y" is stored before suffixes such as "er", "ing" or "ed".

destroy (destroy) - destroying - destroyed

buy (buy) - buying - buyer

play (play) - playing - player

You may be confused by some discrepancies in the rules of spelling and reading, which are caused by . It's not that one option is better and that one is worse, you just need to settle on one, learn and stick with it. Try not to mix one with the other.

The rules of reading and writing are like a weather forecast: we can rely on them, but we cannot count on them to help us out every time. Therefore, it is very important to read more in English so that the sound of words and their style merge into a single image.

For this purpose, the following method is perfect: listening to English books while viewing the original text in parallel.

10 English Classics Voiced by Native English Speakers

Mother Goose by W. W. Denslow Denslow

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter - "The Tale of Peter Rabbit", Beatrix Potter

Alice "s Adventures in Wonderland Audiobook by Lewis Carrol - "Alice in Wonderland", Lewis Carroll

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain - The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - "A Tale of Two Cities", Charles Dickens

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley

The Happy Prince and Other Tales by Oscar Wilde - The Happy Prince and Other Tales by Oscar Wilde

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes", Arthur Conan Doyle

It happens that native English speakers apologize to those who study it ... For the fact that the pronunciation of English words and their spelling are so different. Well, let's accept their apologies. After all, anyone who has firmly decided to learn English can handle any difficulties!

Are you surprised by the English rules of reading? Share with us in the comments :)

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There is a myth that only English speakers can read original books. But today you will be convinced that even a beginner is able to master a literary work and understand its meaning (especially if these are adapted books in English for beginners). In addition, you can always click on an unfamiliar word and see its translation.

Why is it so important to read books at an elementary level?

First, reading books guarantees a deeper immersion in the language than texts from textbooks.
Secondly, this is a huge plus for self-esteem and motivation, which is very important for further language learning.
And, finally, this is one of the easiest and most interesting activities, if the appropriate literature is selected.

That's why we found for you the best adapted versions of foreign works(just follow the links). All books have been rewritten by professional linguists and significantly reduced: the average volume of a simplified version is about 10-20 pages, which is quite realistic to read in one evening.

A story about the friendship of two smart mice from France and Great Britain, who are concerned about the fate of Shakespeare's cultural heritage. This book uses direct speech a lot, which means you won't have problems speaking English in the future.

by Mark Twain (beginner - 7 pages)

It's hard to find someone who hasn't heard about the thrilling adventures of Tom Sawyer. And reading about them in the original is even more fun. The vocabulary of the story is suitable even for those who "yesterday" began to learn English.

by Sally M. Stockton (elementary - 6 pages)

An ageless tale of a brave archer who fights for justice. After reading the book, you can watch one of the many film adaptations.

by Andrew Mathews (elementary - 6 pages)

A beautiful story about a teenage girl, Susie, living in the shadow of her more attractive friend Donna. Susie hates her freckles and thinks they make her look ugly. Find out how the story ends and whether Susie's attitude towards herself will change.

by John Escott (elementary - 8 pages)

In our selection there was a place for a story about ghosts. The author has a very bright style of narration, so it is difficult to break away from the story. So, you can easily master 8 pages in one go.

by Mark Twain (elementary - 9 pages)

Another work of Mark Twain in our selection will delight you with the story of Huckleberry Finn. A great chance to remember your childhood. The adapted version of this children's book is a real boon for the beginner!

More than ten pages - success! Simple books in English for beginners

by Peter Benchley (elementary - 12 pages)

An adapted version of the famous "Jaws" - a novel about a great white shark attacking vacationers in a resort town (brrr, horror!). Due to the long, common sentences, the book may seem difficult for the elementary level, but we believe that 12 pages is not a problem for you.

by Lewis Carroll (elementary - 13 pages)

A wonderful opportunity to once again be in Wonderland and learn the names of the characters in English. The book is read very quickly and easily - tested on my own experience in elementary school.

by Jack London (elementary - 15 pages)

A heartbreaking story about the life of a dog during the gold rush. The book focuses on the relationship between man and animals. In my opinion, this work is one of the best in our selection in terms of plot and style of writing.

by Roger Lancelyn Green (elementary - 16 pages)

A great opportunity to get acquainted with the exploits of King Arthur and the famous knights of the round table. Welcome to the era of the English Middle Ages.

For those who are serious. Reading books in English for beginners

The second story by Arthur Conan Doyle, dedicated to the investigations of Sherlock Holmes. In the simplified version of the work, the beauty of the story and the mystery of this detective story are perfectly preserved.

by Elizabeth Gaskell (pre-intermediate - 51 pages)

The novel "North and South" describes the confrontation between manufacturers and aristocrats during the industrial revolution in England. The book will appeal not only to fans of the romantic classics performed by Jane Austen, but also to those who like historical works.