This is a GREAT 10 minute activity for low-level students, but I’m sure that students at any level could benefit from this.

First, i draw a picture on the board illustrating top and bottom teeth and the tongue between the teeth.  I tell my students that when they say words like “thank” or “think” that their tongue should be between their teeth.  sometimes i illustrate this with my hands, and i put a piece of paper between my hands to act as the tongue.

Then, in order to practice, I give three suggestions; practice with a partner, having the partner watch their mouth; practice with a mirror so that they can see their mouth; and to practice saying “TH” words while holding a finger against their mouth–when they hold a finger against their mouth and say ‘thanks’, their tongue will touch their finger.  I also tell students that in order to train their mouth to do the right thing, they can practice saying 3,333 (three thousand three hundred and thirty three) over and over again.

Finally, I give this very short listening/dictation exercise.  I tell them that punctuation doesn’t matter.   I don’t exaggerate the sounds when reading these, either.

1. I think something

2. I sink, some sing

3. You sink, I think

4. I sing one thing

As they write, students might be a little confused, because to them, these sound very similar to each other, esp. 1 and 2.  When you’re finished, write the statements on the board.  Almost everyone will get the first one right, but you’ll only have a handful of students get the rest of them right.  Then I explain to the students that they need to re-train their ears so that they know the difference between ’s’ sounds and ‘th’ sounds.

I do this as a 10-15 minute acticity at the beginning, and then during the last 10 minutes of class, i do another dictation.  you could also do this at the same time as the other one, or you could wait until the next class period.

1. I think some sing

2. i thank you sank

3. i sank you sink

4. i thank you sink

At the end of this, I choose 4 students to come to the board and write their answers and we check them as a class.

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