Play the audio and write down what you heard!

1.

2.

3.

4.

Let’s try the /æ/ sound first! (cap, began, back, sang)

Now, let’s try the /ʌ/ sound! (cup, begun, buck, sung)

Try some of these drills:

/æ/

  1. Pat sat on a mat.
  2. The cat had a hat.
  3. Dan ran to the van.
  4. Sam has a can.
  5. Max packed a bag.
  6. Ann sat with Jack.
  7. Dad had a nap.
  8. Matt likes to chat.
  9. The bat is with Pat.
  10. Pam has a cat.

/

  1. But the cup up.
  2. Cut the nut with a hut.
  3. Bun in the sun.
  4. Chuck lucked out.
  5. Run to the bus.
  6. Gus must rush.
  7. The pup dug.
  8. Mud on the rug.
  9. Hug the cub.
  10. Mum loves fun.

Identify the different sounds and read the poem. Start slow and then get faster. Check the audio after!


In a vast green land, near a sunlit hut,

(In æ væst green lænd, near æ sʌnlit hʌt,)

Lived a brave pup named Gus with a cap.

(Lived æ brave pʌp named Gʌs with æ cæp.)

He loved to run fast and explore the glen,

(He loved to rʌn fæst ænd explore the glen,)

With friends by his side, again and again.

(With friends by his side, ægain ænd ægain.)

(British Accent)

One day, as Gus sat by a bubbling brook,

(One day, æs Gʌs sæt by a bʌbbling brook,) 

He met a young lamb named Jack with a look.

(He met æ young læm named Jæk with æ look.) 

“Let’s gather some snacks and have a grand feast,

(“Let’s gæther some snæcks ænd hæve æ grænd feast,) 

And share them with friends from west to east.”

(ænd share them with friends from west to east.)

(British Accent)

They set off together, down the forest path, 

(They set off together, down the forest pæth,) 

Through meadows and hills, in the soft spring sun. 

(Through meadows and hills, in the soft spring sʌn.) 

Gus found a hat, tattered and old, 

(Gʌs found æ hæt, tættered ænd old,) 

Jack saw it too, and said it looked bold.

(Jæk saw it too, ænd said it looked bold.)

(British Accent)


“That hat is grand!” exclaimed little Gus,

(“Thæt hæt is grænd!” exclaimed little Gʌs,)

“It will keep us dry if the sky turns black.”

(“It will keep ʌs dry if the sky turns blæk.”)

“But beware of the thorns,” Jack wisely said,

(“Bʌt beware of the thorns,” Jæk wisely said,)

“They can scratch you up and hurt your head.”

(“They cæn scræch you ʌp ænd hurt your head.”)

(British Accent)


They carefully picked the snacks and the hat,

(They carefully picked the snæcks ænd the hæt,)

And headed back home for a cozy chat.

(ænd headed bæck home for æ cozy chæt.)

As the sun started setting, they reached their den,

(ʌs the sʌn started setting, they reached their dæn,)

With stories to share, again and again.

(With stories to share, ægain ænd ægain.)

(British Accent)


They sat by the fire, the hat in their hands,

(They sæt by the fire, the hæt in their hænds,)

And talked about their adventures in faraway lands.

(ænd talked æbout their adventures in faræway lænds.)

Gus told tales of mountains and tracks,

(Gʌs told tales of mountains ænd træcks,)

While Jack shared dreams of warm summer snacks.

(While Jæk shared dreams of warm sʌmmer snæcks.)

(British Accent)


“Tomorrow,” said Gus, “we’ll explore once more,

(“Tomorrow,” said Gʌs, “we’ll explore once more,)

There are so many treasures, adventures galore.”

(There are so many treasures, ædventures galore.”)

Jack nodded happily, with a twinkle in his eye,

(Jæk nodded happily, with æ twinkle in his eye,)

“With you, Gus, the fun will never die.”

(“With you, Gʌs, the fʌn will never die.”)

(British Accent)

So if you visit the meadow, near the sunlit hut,
(So if you visit the meadow, near the sʌnlit hʌt,)
Remember the tale of Gus and Jack.
(Remember the tale of Gʌs and Jæk.)
With laughter and joy, their friendship was true,
(With laughter ænd joy, their friendship was true,)
In a world full of wonder, for me and you.
(In æ world full of wonder, for me and you.)

(British Accent)

In a vast green land, near a sunlit hut,

(In æ væst green lænd, near æ sʌnlit hʌt,)

Lived a brave pup named Gus with a cap.

(Lived æ brave pʌp named Gʌs with æ cæp.)

He loved to run fast and explore the glen,

(He loved to rʌn fæst ænd explore the glen,)

With friends by his side, again and again.

(With friends by his side, ægain ænd ægain.)

Irish Accent
Scottish Accent
Kiwi Accent
American Accent

10 Most Common /ɛ/ words:

1) Cat – /kæt/
2) Hat – /hæt/
3) Man – /mæn/
4) Bad – /bæd/
5) Map – /mæp/
6) Sad – /sæd/
7) Bat – /bæt/
8) Can – /kæn/
9) Jack – /dʒæk/
10) Dance – /dæns/

Read the dialogue to practice these common words!

“He has a cat in his hat!”
“Who? That bad man with the map?”
“Yes! And now he’s eating a bat! How sad!”
“How can he do that? Forget it. Let’s dance Jack!”

10 Most Common /ʌ/ words:

1) Cut – /kʌt/
2) Fun – /fʌn/
3) Sun – /sʌn/
4) Run – /rʌn/
5) Bus – /bʌs/
6) Cup – /kʌp/
7) Duck – /dʌk/
8) But – /bʌt/
9) Jump – /dʒʌmp/
10) Lucky – /ˈlʌki/

Read the dialogue to practice these common words!

“He cut his finger when he was having fun in the sun”
“Was he running for the bus?”
Yup, he fell on his cup cus he got chased by a duck.”
“But lucky the duck didn’t catch him before he jumped on the bus!”

Exercise 8: Practice with your teacher!

  • Choose a mixture of either the /æ/ or the /ʌ/ sound. (Make sure it’s random!)
  • Next, sound out the words to your teacher.
  • After saying all 4 words, your teacher will reveal what sound they heard/what word they thought you said!
  • Count how many your teacher guessed correctly out of 4!
  • After that, swap roles, and you write down which words you hear from your teacher!

Minimal Pair List

batbut

catcut

patputt

capcup

lackluck

packpuck

laplup

madmud

panpun

badbud

rackruck

tanton

fanfun

sacksuck

ranrun

hamhum

tacktuck

laglug

bagbug

sangsung

hanghung

slagslug

shackshuck

flashflush

stackstuck

stabstub

grabgrub

backbuck

hatchhutch

tracktruck

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