No. 1: Tim and Teeth

In this limerick, we practise the short vowel in 'Tim' /ɪ/, along with the long vowel in 'Teeth' /iː/.

1. There was a young dentist called Tim
2. Who cleaned peoples' teeth in the gym
3. On the running machine
4. He'd brush their teeth clean
5. Young Tim's very slim in the gym

Listen to the limerick here. [Right click, and select 'Open in new window' - you can see this blog, and the new page side by side].
Notes:

• 'Tim' /tɪm/ and 'gym' /ʤɪm/ rhyme strongly in lines 1, 2, & 5
• The 2nd syllable of 'machine' /ʃiːn/ rhymes with 'clean' /kliːn/
• The 'clean' vowel /iː/ occurs 3 times in line 2 (clean, peoples, teeth)
• The 'Tim' vowel /ɪ/ occurs 4 times in line 5 (Tim, slim, in, gym)
• The final consonants of the words 'dentist', 'called', 'cleaned', and 'he'd' (either /d/ or /t/) are often replaced by a glottal stop /ʔ/, or omitted.

Go here, and do this:

1. Listen to the slow version of the limerick (click the speaker icon).
2. Listen to it line by line (click on each line) paying attention to the differences between the rhymes in lines 3 & 4, and those in 1, 2, & 5.
3. Listen to, and speak along with each line, paying attention to the differences between rhyme words - do this three times for each line.
4. Now listen to, and speak along with the limerick at medium and fast speeds (click the speaker icon) three times.
5. [If you have a soundcard and microphone, and you know how to use them] Record yourself saying the limerick.
6. Compare your recording to the originals
7. Assess your recording: did you make the differences in the /ɪ / and /iː / rhymes clear?
8. Memorise the limerick.
9. Later, find a friend/teacher/member of your family, and tell them about the limerick, and why you have learned it. Repeat the limerick to them, asking them if they can hear the differences in the vowels of the rhyming words.