Tailored pronunciation resources that address specific sounds nurtures nuanced linguistic development and confidence in adult ESL classrooms. Scroll to scan through the various sounds I’ve covered so far, or click here to go directly to the pronunciation category in my TpT store or here for BOOM cards.
Clicking on a “LEARN MORE” button will take you to that resource’s page on TpT where you can see thumbnails, a preview, and read a more detailed description.
jump to vowel resources
Consonant Pronunciation Resources for Adult ESL
/b/ vs. /p/
Want to actively involve your adult ESL learners in auditory discrimination exercises focusing on B P minimal pairs for pronunciation lessons or workshops? This specialized B P minimal pairs resource, tailored for mature learners will help enhance the pronunciation and auditory discrimination abilities of adult students.
/b/ vs. /v/
Get ready to engage your adult ESL students with some auditory discrimination activities for B V minimal pairs in your pronunciation lessons/workshops! Minimal pairs are perfect for intense pronunciation workshops that target specific sounds, such as /b/ and /v/.
/d/ vs. /n/
You and your students will love using this D N minimal pairs resource created specifically for older learners. This comprehensive resource is designed to help English language learners improve their pronunciation and auditory discrimination skills of the sounds of /d/ and /n/ through minimal pairs.
/f/ vs. /p/
In addition to the auditory discrimination activities, this /f/ vs. /p/ resource includes a photo presentation introducing many of the minimal pairs. This visual aid helps learners associate each word with a specific image and can be a powerful tool in reinforcing correct pronunciation.
/f/ vs. /v/
The power of minimal pairs lies in their ability to highlight the subtle differences in sound, enabling learners to fine-tune their articulation. With this F V minimal pairs packet, you’ll easily help your adult ESL students improve their pronunciation of the distinct /f/ and /v/ phonemes.
initial /h/ deletion
Is initial H deletion a common pronunciation issue for any of your adult ESL students? Sometimes students want to keep this as part of their accent, but other times they want to learn clear pronunciation to enhance communication, especially in the workplace. Use this initial h deletion minimal pairs packet to help them pronounce their aitches!
/ʤ/ vs. /j/ | (j vs. y)
Do your Spanish-speaking students tell you all about what they did jesterday? If your adult ESL students want to improve their pronunciation of the /ʤ/ vs. /j/ sounds, you’ll want to grab this resource now! Use this minimal pairs printable (and digital) resource to help your adult ESL students who confuse soft “g” sound with the consonant “y”. J vs. Y? /ʤ/ vs. /j/ ? Either way, I’ve got you covered!
/k/ vs. /ʧ/ | (k vs. ch)
This k vs. ch minimal pairs resource is just what you’ve been looking for to use with your adult ESL students! Designed specifically to improve auditory discrimination and pronunciation skills of the sounds of /k/ and /ʧ/, this resource includes auditory discrimination activities for K CH minimal pairs in your pronunciation lessons/workshops!
/k/ vs. /g/
The mix-up between the /k/ and /g/ sounds can happen because they both lurk at the back of the mouth, playing tricks on pronunciation with their shared breathy release. Let’s fix that! Get ready to engage your adult ESL students with some auditory discrimination activities for K G minimal pairs in your pronunciation lessons/workshops!
/l/ vs. /n/
L N minimal pairs are a simple but effective tool to help identify and correct pronunciation issues your Mandarin or Vietnamese-speaking students might have with words containing /l/ or /n/. Get ready to engage your adult ESL students with some auditory discrimination activities for L N minimal pairs in your pronunciation lessons/workshops!
/m/ vs. /b/
Get ready to engage your adult ESL students with some auditory discrimination activities for M B minimal pairs in your pronunciation lessons/workshops! Minimal pairs are perfect for intense pronunciation workshops that target specific sounds.
/m/ vs. /n/
In addition to the auditory discrimination activities, this /m/ vs. /n/ resource includes a photo presentation introducing many of the minimal pairs. This visual aid helps learners associate each word with a specific image and can be a powerful tool in reinforcing correct pronunciation.
/p/ vs. /t/
You and your students will love using this P T minimal pairs resource created specifically for older learners. This comprehensive resource is designed to help English language learners improve their pronunciation and auditory discrimination skills of the sounds of /p/ and /t/ through minimal pairs.
/r/ vs. /l/
Minimal pairs are what helped my student stop saying she ate lice every day. Use this r vs. l minimal pairs resource in your adult ESL pronunciation classes for a quick and intensive r vs. l pronunciation workshop. If you’ve ever had a student say, “Sorry I’m rate!” or “What is the leason?” you need this.
/s/ vs. /ʃ/ | (s vs. sh)
Minimal pairs to the rescue! If your adult ESL student is inadvertently cursing every time she says, “sit”–you need this! Get ready to engage your adult ESL students with some auditory discrimination activities for S SH minimal pairs in your pronunciation lessons/workshops!
/s/ vs. /z/
With S Z minimal pairs, one tiny sound can make all the difference. Get ready to engage your adult ESL students with some auditory discrimination activities for S Z minimal pairs in your pronunciation lessons/workshops! Minimal pairs are perfect for intense pronunciation workshops that target specific sounds.
/ʃ/ vs. /ʧ/ | (sh vs. ch)
Do your students call you, “teasher?” Many ESL students struggle with pronunciation, whether they are reading a word or just talking. Help them master the sounds of /sh/ and /ch/ with this multi-activity resource!
/t/ vs. /d/
This /t/ vs. /d/ minimal pairs resource is exactly what you want if you are looking for something that is both printable and digital, challenging yet engaging, and created specifically for adults rather than children.
/θ/ vs. /s/ | (th vs. s)
“Sank you!” Do your ESL students struggle to differentiate the voiceless /th/ and the /s/ sound? This minimal pair pack is what you’ve been looking for! Most ESL students struggle with some aspect of pronunciation, whether they are reading a word or just talking. Help them master the sounds of /θ/ and /s/ with this multi-activity resource!
/θ/ vs. /t/ | (th vs. t)
“Come wit me!” Do your ESL students struggle to differentiate the voiceless /th/ and the /t/ sound? This minimal pairs pack is what you’ve been looking for! Minimal pairs are perfect for intense pronunciation workshops that target specific sounds. You’ll love using this one-on-one, with small groups, or even with a whole class.
/v/ vs. /w/
Get ready to engage your adult ESL students with some auditory discrimination activities in your pronunciation lessons/workshops! You and your students will love using this V W minimal pairs resource created specifically for older learners. This comprehensive resource is designed to help English language learners improve their pronunciation and auditory discrimination skills of the sounds of /v/ and /w/ through minimal pairs.
Vowel Pronunciation Resources for Adult ESL
/æ/ vs. /ɛ/ | short a vs. short e
Do your ESL students sometimes say sat when they mean set? Or perhaps they’ve said that they’ve had a bed day. Let’s work on that! Get ready to engage your adult ESL students with some auditory discrimination activities for short a vs. short e minimal pairs in your pronunciation lessons/workshops!
/æ/ vs. /ɪ/ | short a vs. short i
Get ready to engage your adult ESL students with some auditory discrimination activities for short a vs. short i minimal pairs in your pronunciation lessons/workshops! Minimal pairs are perfect for intense pronunciation workshops that target specific sounds.
/æ/ vs. /ɑ/ | short a vs. short o
You and your students will love using this short a vs. short o minimal pairs resource created specifically for older learners. This comprehensive resource is designed to help English language learners improve their pronunciation and auditory discrimination skills of the sounds of /æ/ and /ɑ/ through minimal pairs.
/æ/ vs. /ʌ/ | short a vs. short u
Short vowel woes? Get ready to engage your adult ESL students with some auditory discrimination activities for short a vs. short u minimal pairs in your pronunciation lessons/workshops! Minimal pairs are perfect for intense pronunciation workshops that target specific sounds.
/ɛ/ vs. /eɪ/ | short e vs. long a
Clear pronunciation helps adult ESL students both professionally and socially. Help them achieve it with some auditory discrimination activities for short e vs. long a minimal pairs in your pronunciation lessons/workshops! Minimal pairs are perfect for intense pronunciation workshops that target specific sounds.
/ɛ/ vs. /ɪ/ | short e vs. short i
Pronunciation practice with minimal pairs just became fun! Get ready to engage your adult ESL students with some auditory discrimination activities for short e vs. short i minimal pairs in your pronunciation lessons/workshops! Minimal pairs are perfect for intense pronunciation workshops that target specific sounds.
/ɛ/ vs. /ʌ/ | short e vs. short u
Got short vowel woes? Get ready to engage your adult ESL students with some auditory discrimination activities for short e vs. short u minimal pairs in your pronunciation lessons/workshops! Minimal pairs are perfect for intense pronunciation workshops that target specific sounds.
/ɪ/ vs. /i/ | short i vs. long e
Minimal pairs for pronunciation practice! Do your Spanish speakers use the wrong (and unfortunate) word when talking about a trip to the beach? Are your Chinese speakers struggling to differentiate these two sounds? This comprehensive resource is designed to help English language learners improve their pronunciation and auditory discrimination skills of the sounds of /ɪ/ and /i/ through minimal pairs.
/ɑ/ vs. /ʌ/ | short o vs. short u
In addition to the auditory discrimination activities, this short o vs. short u resource includes a photo presentation introducing many of the minimal pairs. This visual aid helps learners associate each word with a specific image and can be a powerful tool in reinforcing correct pronunciation.