Category Archives: minimal pairs

New series of How Not to Teach English articles

Posted on 27/05/2026 by alexcase

I started this series to come back to old topics in a new way, and it also turned out to be a great way to combine basic advice and more debatable talking points, and so provide something for almost everyone. … Continue reading →

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Minimal pairs for Spanish speaking learners of English

Posted on 17/06/2012 by alexcase

Ones in blue linked to graded lists of minimal pairs. Will add more as more lists go up. Article on pronunciation for Spanish speakers also now available here. Updated 19 July 2020. If you like this and want more, please … Continue reading →

Posted in minimal pairs, Teaching English in Spain | 6 Comments

A better way of using minimal pairs for consonant clusters?

Posted on 10/05/2012 by alexcase

Just come up with another variation on my last post about combining this vital pronunciation point and this easy to use activity . It is to use minimal pairs that are also consonant clusters, practising both the vowel or consonant distinction … Continue reading →

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Minimal pairs for Korean learners of English

Posted on 17/04/2012 by alexcase

Links are to list of relevant minimal pairs divided by level. If you like this and want more, please support TEFLtastic.  Updated 26 July 2020.  Voiced and unvoiced consonants b and p (bore and pore) v and f (van and … Continue reading →

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Practising consonant clusters with minimal pairs

Posted on 29/01/2012 by alexcase

I’m hoping to do a whole article on the tricky but important point of practising consonant clusters, but not sure I have enough ideas for 700 words on the topic yet. I have come up with two ways of using … Continue reading →

Posted in consonant clusters, minimal pairs | 5 Comments

Stretching the definition and use of minimal pairs

Posted on 01/12/2011 by alexcase

My regular reader may have noticed that I’ve been playing fast and loose with the definition of minimal pairs recently. Or rather, that I’ve been using the definition “easily confused words in which only one sound is different” in ways that … Continue reading →

Posted in minimal pairs | 2 Comments

Minimal pairs for Japanese learners of English

Posted on 25/11/2011 by alexcase

I haven’t done lists of all of these yet (there are links to the ones I have), some might not have any actual minimal pairs in English, and I also realise that some of these are not things that would … Continue reading →

Posted in minimal pairs, Teaching English in Japan | 1 Comment

How not to teach pronunciation

Posted on 21/07/2009 by alexcase

“Japanese college students who’d had little exposure to spoken English underwent 12 sessions listening to exaggerated “Ls” and “Rs” while watching the computerized instructor’s face pronounce English words. Brain scans — a hair dryer-looking device called MEG, for magnetoencephalography — … Continue reading →

Posted in Linguistics, applied linguistics and SLA, links, minimal pairs, Pronunciation, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in China, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching English in Korea, Teaching English in Thailand | Tagged , | 1 Comment