LISTEN
/æ/…/æ/…/æ/…/æ/…/æ/…
​
sat...past...fan...camera...

WHAT IS IT?
Pronunciation: 
The sound /æ/ is a low, front, tense vowel. 
  • Lower your jaw
  • Widen your lips
  • Tighten your tongue
  • Breathe out and let your vocal cords vibrate

Spelling:
  • "a" - cat, fan
  • "au" - laugh, aunt
  • "ai" - plaid

COMPARE
​Compare /æ/ with /ɛ/:
compare_ae-e_1.mp3
File Size: 126 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
​/æ/…/ɛ/…/æ/…/ɛ/…/æ/…/ɛ/…

These are both front vowels. However, /æ/ is a low, tense vowel and /ɛ/ is a mid, lax vowel. When you pronounce /æ/, your tongue should be lower than when you pronounce /ɛ/.
​
​Listen to words with /æ/ and /ɛ/, and identify which word you hear. Choose A or B. You will hear the word twice, followed by the answer.
compare_ae-e_2.mp3
File Size: 628 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
1. A. fad, B. fed
2. A. bag, B. beg
3. A. past, B. pest
4. A. expand, B. expend
5. A. batter, B. better

​Now, compare /æ/ with /ɑ/:
compare_ae-a_1.mp3
File Size: 120 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
/æ/…/ɑ/…/æ/…/ɑ/…/æ/…/ɑ/…

These are both low, tense vowels. However, /æ/ is a front vowel, and /ɑ/ is a central vowel. When you pronounce /æ/, your tongue should be near the front of your mouth and your lips should be spread wide.
​
Listen to words with /æ/ and /ɑ/, and identify which word you hear. Choose A or B. You will hear the word twice, followed by the answer.
compare_ae-a_2.mp3
File Size: 592 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
1. A. sack, B. sock
2. A. cap, B. cop
3. A. last, B. lost
4. A. band, B. bond
5. A. lacked, B. locked

PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
words_with_-ae-.mp3
File Size: 841 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
1. sat
2. cap
3. bag
4. pack
5. crash
6. path
7. have
8. match
9. pal
10. strand
11. grasp
12. passion
13. nasty
14. translate
15. challenge
16. capital
17. example
18. attitude
19. attachment
20. collaborate

​Now, practice /æ/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
sentences_with_-ae-.mp3
File Size: 1594 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
1. had - bad - accident - Saturday
She had a bad accident on Saturday
2. saxophone - jazz - band
He plays saxophone for a jazz band
3. family - travel - California
My family is travelling to California.
4. absent - class - last
You were absent from class last week.
5. example - bad - habit
Can you give me an example of a bad habit?
6. haven't - had - chance - answer
​I haven't had a chance to answer your e-mail.

USE IT!
Practice the task below. Then, record yourself completing that task. Give your recording to a teacher or an English-speaking friend for feedback.
​
​Prepare:
Imagine you are traveling to another town to visit a friend for a weekend. You’re taking a backpack that will only hold 5 items. Look at this list and decide which 5 items you would pack.​
  • Snacks
  • Jacket
  • Pajamas​
  • Shampoo
  • Laptop or tablet
  • Sandwich
  • Napkins
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Cash (money)​
  • Passport
  • Glasses or contact lenses
  • Notepad
  • Snacks
  • Jacket
  • Pajamas
  • Shampoo
  • Laptop or tablet
  • Sandwich
  • Napkins
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Cash (money)
  • Passport
  • Glasses or contact lenses
  • Notepad

Record:
​In your recording, explain which 5 items you would pack and why.

​© 2018, Christine Wingate