1. Word stress.

Word stress
The stress in a word is the part that we accent, or emphasise. For example, in the word football, the stress is on the first syllable; foot.

Listen to, repeat and record the words. Copy the correct word stress. Note: This exercise doesn't give feedback on the correct stress.

Word stress
The stress in a word is the part that we accent, or emphasise. For example, in the word football, the stress is on the first syllable; foot. We can represent the stress pattern like this:
football Oo

Listen, and choose the correct stress pattern for each word. Then listen again, and practise saying each word.

2. Read and listen.

Read and listen to the story "My First Swim in the River".

Notice which words are stressed (accented), and which words are not stressed.
The stressed words are in bold.

One summer, when I was about four years old, I was walking with my sister along an old wooden bridge over a river near our house. The bridge was very old and a bit broken and I wasn't looking where I was going and I fell off the bridge into the river. I remember I was wearing red plastic sandals, and I remember seeing these red plastic sandals and the blue sky, you know, as I was falling. My sister didn't see me fall and continued walking and talking to me. Luckily there were some people swimming in the river and they saw me fall and rescued me. I don't remember being frightened.

In the story, which words are stressed? Choose the best answer.

Notice how stressing these words gives the story rhythm.

3. Speaking.

Listen and follow. Then read and record the description.

What does the speaker say? Listen, and choose the correct options. Then listen again, and practise reading the description aloud.