LISTEN
listen_to_-ch-.mp3
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/tʃ/.../tʃ/.../tʃ/.../tʃ/...

choose...match...marching...lunch...

WHAT IS IT?
Pronunciation:
The sound /tʃ/ is a voiceless, alveo-palatal, affricate consonant. 
  • Press the middle of your tongue between your alveolar ridge and your soft palate.
  • Quickly move your tongue downward while forcefully pushing air out.
  • The air in your mouth should stop before it is released. (It is like combining a /t/ with a /ʃ/.)
  • Your vocal cords should not vibrate.

The sound /tʃ/ can be in these consonant clusters:​
  • Beginning of a Syllable
  • End of a Syllable
<
>
(none)
/rtʃ/ (“rch”) - porch
​/rtʃt/ (“rched”) - marched
​/ltʃ/ (“lch” ) - mulch
​/ltʃt/ (“lched”) - filched
​/ntʃ/ (“nch”) - ranch
​/ntʃt/ (“nched”) - pinched

Spelling:
  • “ch” – change, march
  • “tch” – watch, kitchen,
  • “ce” – cello, concerto
  • “t (+u)” – culture, fortune
  • “t (+i)” – question, suggestion

COMPARE
Compare /tʃ/ with /ʃ/.
compare_ch-sh_1.m4a
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/tʃ/…/ʃ/…/tʃ/…/ʃ/…/tʃ/…/ʃ/…

The sounds /tʃ/ and /ʃ/ are both voiceless, alveo-palatal consonants. However, /tʃ/ is an affricate while /ʃ/ is a fricative. When you pronounce /tʃ/, the air in your mouth should stop (like a /t/) before it is released (like a /ʃ/).

​Listen to words with /tʃ/ and /ʃ/, and identify which word you hear. Choose A or B. You will hear the word twice, followed by the answer.
compare_ch-sh_2.m4a
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1. A. choose, B. shoes
2. A. chop, B. shop
3. A. leech, B. leash
4. A. march, B. marsh
5. ​A. matching, B. mashing
​
Now compare /tʃ/ and /t/:
compare_ch-t_1.m4a
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/tʃ/…/t/…/tʃ/…/t/…/tʃ/…/t/…

The sounds /tʃ/ and /t/ are both voiceless consonants pronounced near the alveolar ridge. However, /tʃ/ is a alveo-palatal affricate while /t/ is an alveolar stop. The sound /tʃ/ has some air released.

Listen to words with /tʃ/ and /t/, and identify which word you hear. Choose A or B. You will hear the word twice, followed by the answer.
compare_ch-t_2.m4a
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​1. A. chime, B. time
2. A. chalk, B. talk
3. A. notch, B. not
4. A. porch, B. port
​5. A. kitchen, B. kitten

PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
words_-_ch.m4a
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1. chin
2. cheese
3. change
4. chopstick
5. chapter
6. chance
7. challenge
8. charger
9. match
10. teach
​11. search
12. approach
13. lunch
14. church
15. feature
16. furniture
17. suggestion
18. fortunate
19. exchange
20. parchment

Now, practice /tʃ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
sentences_with_-ch-.mp3
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1. teacher – research – speeches
Our teacher taught us how to do research for speeches.
2. matching – chopsticks – lunch 
We need a pair of matching chopsticks for lunch.
3. chess - checkers - porch 
Do you want to play chess or checkers on the porch?
4. search – attachment
Use the search bar to find the email with the attachment.
5. exchanged – WeChat – touch 
The students exchanged WeChat information so they could stay in touch.
6. choose – cheaper – charger
​You can choose a cheaper charger.​

​To practice with different varieties of English, choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the links below:

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:
Think about how you make choices in your life. Look at the list of choices, and decide which choices are easy to make, and which choices are hard to make.​
  • Choosing what to eat for lunch
  • ​Choosing to change your major or career​
  • Choosing your favorite teacher
  • Choosing furniture for your house or apartment
  • Choosing a topic for a research paper 
  • Choosing a church, mosque, or other religious community to join​​
  • Choosing jewelry or accessories that match your outfit
  • Choosing pictures to decorate a room​
  • Choosing what to eat for lunch
  • Choosing your favorite teacher
  • Choosing a topic for a research paper 
  • Choosing furniture for your house or apartment
  • Choosing a church, mosque, or other religious community to join
  • Choosing to change your major or career
  • Choosing jewelry or accessories that match your outfit
  • Choosing pictures to decorate a room​

​Record:
In your recording, explain 1 choice that is easy for you to make and 1 choice that is hard for you to make. Describe the process of making each choice.

​© 2018, Christine Wingate