31 Fast Track to the CH Sound
Vivi Tran
Guided Practice Script
I want you to look at this picture and tell me what it is. (Show picture of a train.) [4] It’s a train! What noise does a train make? “Choo-choo”! Watch me: “ch-ch-ch-ch. Chugga-chugga-choo-choo”! Now, it’s your turn. [1]
Now, I want you to make your /t/ sound for me. [2] Do you feel where your tongue is in your mouth? The tip of your tongue should be touching that bumpy part behind your top teeth. [3] Now, explode out your shhhh sound from your /t/ sound! [2] Make sure your voice is off. Great job! Now, instead of a long shhhh, let’s do a short one! Remember, start with /t/ and then stick it together with a short “sh.” Let’s go fast: “ch-ch-ch”!
Here’s a word we can try out: chin. First, make the “ch-ch-ch” sound, and then add the “in”, like this: “ch-in, chin, chin!”
Targeted Techniques and Considerations
Teaching Strategies
- Imitation/Modeling
- Sound Approximation
- Phonemic Placement
- Tool for Phonemic Placement
Common Errors or Substitutions
- Lateralization: a slushy-like sound occurs when air escapes over the sides of the tongue instead of down the center of the tongue.
Relevant Dialectical/Accent Differences
- In Cockney English, the /t/ is pronounced as ‘ch’ (/tʃ/) most commonly before /u/, called T-affrication. For example, “Tuesday” is produced as “Chooz-day.”
