Anyone starting to study English language, necessarily at the first stage of his journey he encounters the alphabet and the pronunciation of its letters. It is very important not only to know what the letters are called, but also to know Russian pronunciation in general.

For correct pronunciation of the alphabet Below is a table of all letters with both English and Russian transcriptions. Of course you need to know English transcription– it is used in any dictionary; it is as important as knowledge of the alphabet itself.

zed, zi

As for the letter Z, the British version is “zed”, the American version is “zi”.

It may seem that the English alphabet is more complex than the Russian one. But actually it is not. It has only 26 letters (for comparison in Russian - 33), and only 6 of them (A, E, I, O, U, Y) are vowels. Unfortunately, these vowel letters do not always correspond to alphabetic pronunciation. For example, Aa - in the alphabet is read as [hey]: “cake” - cake, “later” - later, but not in the words “bag” - luggage, “flag” - flag and many others. Here it must be said that in English there is a distinction between stressed and unstressed syllables. Let's look at the case of a stressed syllable. Here you can also see the division - stressed syllable

can be open and closed. Open syllables end with a vowel, and closed syllables end with a consonant. Here are examples of stressed open syllables: “la-bel” - inscription, “ta-ke” - to receive, and so on. Here are examples of stressed closed syllables: “rab-bit” - rabbit, “dog” - dog, “win-dow” - window, and so on. Please note that in the first case, the stressed vowels are read exactly the same as they sound in the alphabet.

Let's look at all the vowels:

Vowel A

Open syllable: “la-ter” [’leitə] – later

Closed syllable: “cat” - cat

Open syllable: “he” - he

Closed syllable: “bend” - bend

Vowel I

Open syllable: “li-lac” [’lailək] - lilac

Closed syllable: “lift” - lift

Vowel O [?u]

Open syllable: “pho-to” [’fəutəu] - photograph

Closed syllable: “got” - received

Vowel U

Open syllable: “cu-te” - cute

Closed syllable: “numb” - numb

Vowel Y

Open syllable: “type” - type on a typewriter

Closed syllable: “myth” - myth

Fine. Now, continuing to answer the question of how the English alphabet is read, we need to talk about unstressed vowels. The vowels a, o, u, when not under stress, turn into the sound [ə], and the vowels e, i, y in the same case become the sound [i]. In this case, as soon as the letters r appear after them, they all become [ə]. You can easily see this for yourself: “pre-fer” - to prefer, “pla-yer” [’pleiə:] - player, “doctor” [’dɔktə:] - doctor.

It is also worth paying attention to the consonant letters: B, D, F, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, T, V, W, X, Z - also read accordingly [b], [d], [ f], [h], , [k], [l], [m], [n], [p], [t], [v], [w], [x], [z]. Things are more complicated with the remaining consonants.

So, for example, the letter C will be before e, i, y, and in all other cases – [k]. See: “cinema” [’sinəmə] – cinema, “cure” – treatment.

The letter G - before e, i, y goes into , and in other cases as [g]: “ginger” [’dʒindʒə] - ginger, “goat” - goat, goat.

And S at the beginning of a word and after voiceless words consonants K, F, P and T is read as the sound [s], and, on the contrary, after voiced and other cases - [z]: “Simon” ['saimən] - Simon, “books” - books, “finds” - finds, “wise” - wise .

The letters R and Q are also tricky. So R is often simply dropped, lengthening the sound (“car” - car), but a word with R will be read with R (“Riko” - Rico). The letter Q can give two options - or - compare “quick” - quickly and “queue” - queue.

English alphabet for children. Teaching methods

English has become the most popular language all over the world and it is not surprising that many parents want to teach their child English from the very beginning. early age. If you decide start classes , then start by learning the alphabet. There are the most various techniques mastering English letters. It is advisable that the child already knows his native alphabet quite fluently. Then it will be much easier for him to learn foreign letters. As educational materials during training use English alphabet for children with color images starting with one letter or another, and the letters themselves can have funny faces. Children's perception works much more effectively when learning occurs in a playful, entertaining form. The main thing is that the baby is interested and colorful, funny English alphabet for children will definitely attract his attention.

The alphabet is the basis of any language and it must be memorized so that the learned english letters literally "flew off the teeth." Now let's talk about how to learn the alphabet small child. Of course, first you need to ensure that the baby knows every letter in person. But it will not be easy for a child to remember the name of each letter individually. It will be easier for him to master the letters in the “legalized” sequence. So that the alphabet literally flows like a children's song. English letters must be connected and inseparable, as in words. Correct pronunciation of English letters is the key to success in learning English . Remember the legendary group ZZ top? Knowing how to pronounce the letter Z in English, you can easily pronounce the name of the group. Considering English alphabet for children with pictures accompanying each letter, try to clearly pronounce the name of the image, focusing the child’s attention on the pronunciation of the first letter (which is located next to the picture).

The English alphabet is derived from the Latin alphabet and the first manuscripts in English are found in the Anglo-Saxon runes dating from the fifth century AD. The English alphabet contains 26 letters, of which 21 are consonants and only five are vowels. It is advisable that in the English alphabet for children, according to which you teach your child, contained a transcription next to each letter. Transcription of English letters helps you learn the correct pronunciation of each letter from the very beginning, especially if you don’t know English very well yourself. If a child remembers the incorrect pronunciation of English letters, it will be difficult for him to relearn them later. For example, a very common mistake is the incorrect pronunciation of the letter G (transcription) - instead of this letter they pronounce J (transcription). Or, instead of the English letter E (transcription), they pronounce I (transcription).

Teaching small child It is advisable to use game techniques and exercises for the alphabet and English language. The most common and effective exercise- pronounce English words that begin with the letter being studied. This technique allows you to learn not only English letters and new words, but also learn how to pronounce them in different situations.

Studying English alphabet for children The child learns most letters and their pronunciation in a matter of weeks. But do not forget to accompany the study of the alphabet with a demonstration of the applied use of the English language. Video and audio materials for children in English, which can easily be found on the Internet, will help you with this. We have prepared some videos for your child to help them learn the English alphabet:

For memorizing English letters, such game techniques as connecting pictures are very useful. In these tasks for little children you need to connect the dots arranged in accordance with the order of the English alphabet. If the child completes the task correctly, the result will be a drawing that the child can color.

Someday you may be asked to spell your first name, last name, or any other word in English, and if you know english alphabet, then you can easily cope with this task.

Let's start learning the alphabet in English using the table below, and at the end we will do a short exercise to consolidate the English alphabet.

It's very easy to learn the English alphabet through songs

Below is the most popular song in the world for learning the English alphabet.

Exercise on the topic English alphabet

Using the letters of the English alphabet, read and spell your first and last name.

Historical stages in the formation of the English alphabet and the English language in general

English belongs to the Germanic group, and is part of the group of Indo-European languages. The official language is in the United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Ireland. In addition, it is actively used in India and many countries in Asia and Africa. It is central to the work processes of the UN mission.

Old English stage of formation

The appearance of the English language dates back to the 5th-6th centuries. V. n. e., since during this period ancient Germanic tribes began to move to Britain. Constant communication between the Angles, Saxons, Jutes and the native Celts of Britain leads to the emergence of dialectical forms. At this stage, English is called Anglo-Saxon and there are 4 dialects: Northumbrian, Mercian, Wessex and Kentish. The literary language was mainly formed on the basis of the Uesex dialect.

In the 6th century, the establishment of Christianization in Britain began. The Latin alphabet is introduced, writing appears, and the names of geographical objects are left from the Celts. Periodic attacks by Scandinavians since the 8th century. They introduced many words from Scandinavian into the language and changed the structure of the grammar.

Middle English stage of development

The Middle English period began in 1016, with the conquest of Britain by the Normans. And it continued until the end of the 15th century, until the end of the War of the Roses. English temporarily becomes the language of the common people, as the conquerors brought a dialect of French - Norman. During this period, there were three languages ​​in Britain - English, Anglo-Norman and Latin. Petitions are being filed for expanded English rights.

Printing is actively developing, which ultimately leads to phonetic and grammatical changes in the English language and sharply separates it from the Old English period. The morphological component of the language has also been simplified.

Current stage of development

This period began in 1500 and continues today. There are two time periods - from 1500 to 1700. Early modern English developed, and from 1700 the modern English alphabet was formed. The main factors in the development of early modern English are called printing and the development of learning. This is reflected in changes in the forms of words and the construction of sentences. The famous difference between printed and spoken text appears.

The language of literature based on the London dialect is actively developing, adding its own differences to speech for conversation and writing. In the 16th century, the Renaissance introduced many words from Latin into the language.

The English language of our time is constantly undergoing changes due to its widespread use throughout the world. Simplified forms of pronunciation appear, phonetic forms change, but the English alphabet remains unchanged. There are many dialects associated with the territory where English is spoken.

The vocabulary is constantly filled with borrowed words. There has also been a tendency to restore dialectical types of English as monuments of indigenous culture. In contrast to the desire for a standard form in the last century. The English language continues to change due to the expansion of the cultural community and the use of oral forms of communication in writing.

Nowadays, there are variants of the English language for Britain, America and Australia, in which differences in the pronunciation and spelling of words have formed.

RELATED MATERIALS

Children should be taught the English alphabet no earlier than the child begins to speak well, and no earlier than the beginning of teaching the alphabet native language. It is advisable that the child already knows a small set of words in English, just like with his native language. That is, from 2–5 you can teach your child English words, more precisely, their pronunciation and meaning, short sentences, but the English alphabet for children can begin from 5 years or older. Always, with the study of the alphabet, we continue to study new English words and frequently heard short sentences (questions, answers) - we expand lexicon and learn to communicate and interact.

The choice of methods for learning the English alphabet for children depends on the age and individual qualities of the child. It is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the child at each stage of learning, how he usually perceives information (visually, tactilely or auditorily?), his temperament (assiduous, active, creative, etc.), his interests today and many other factors. You should choose those tools that the child will be most interested in and able to do, so you will achieve greater involvement and success. Alphabet teaching can be organized in game form using some interesting for a child the techniques described below.

Learning the English alphabet using cards, for preschool children

So, one of the most simple ways To teach the alphabet is to use cards, on one side of which there are pictures with a word, on the other - letters of the English alphabet. The child learns an English letter with visual support, hears how it is pronounced, what sound corresponds to each letter, and recognizes the word itself that begins with this letter. I also advise you to add associations that arise when we see a particular letter. For example, the letter U looks like a horseshoe, and the letter S looks like a worm or snake.

So, we learn the English alphabet with the help of cards and the following games that even a 3-4 year old child will like:

• Children's favorite pastime is searching and solving. Hide a few cards around your apartment or classroom so that your child can easily find them. Then ask them to put them in the correct order, in a pre-arranged alphabet containing the English letters found.
• A game for concentration and memory. Choose several letters and randomly name words starting with these letters, and the child must point and point to the letter with which this word began.
• Active game. Scatter English letters on the floor, name the letters to the child, and he must step on the correct card with the letter.
• In your games, ask to arrange English letters into alphabetical order(but only when the entire alphabet has already been learned).
• If the alphabet is almost mastered and requires consolidation, and the child has accumulated a certain amount of English words that you called him to determine the letter with which they begin - ask him to name as many words as possible that he remembers, starting with a certain letter, etc.

Alternatives to cards

1. “Fun English. Talking poster" will help the child in self-study English letters of the alphabet. The poster contains: 3 modes (memorization, checking, translation), 83 sound buttons, sound adjustment function. Voiced by an English teacher.
2. Set “English language. My first words. 15 book cubes." definitely attracts children to learn the English alphabet and teach new English words. The alphabet is written on the inside cover, and inside the set there are beautifully and brightly illustrated books with thick cardboard pages.
3. “Skylark English for Babies. All about me. English from England for children from birth"- both children and parents are delighted with this set. A set with beautiful, high-quality illustrations and good printing. This method of teaching children English was developed by specialists from Cambridge (UK) together with the Umnitsa company, which develops educational materials for young children. Based on expert research best universities world, 100% authentic British English. Included: cards, books, manuals for parents, audio materials, games, a toy glove for interaction with the child. Designed for children 0+.

Learning the English alphabet using YouTube videos, for preschool children

When an adult learns English, it is recommended to watch films and programs in this language; the same thing applies to children. Instead of regular cartoons, include those that teach your child the letters of the English alphabet, correct pronunciation and new words, and in the future, reading English words. Just use YouTube - there you can find cartoons and programs for every taste. The most common and useful are nursery rhymes and jokes for children. Being very colorful, cheerful and melodic, they are very captivating to the child and he wants to listen to them again and again. Also, from the point of view of developing speech skills, song is the optimal tool. After all, this makes it easier for us to remember words and it’s much more interesting than methodically memorizing a sequence of letters.
Learn the English alphabet with cartoons for children, where there are songs and rhymes with funny pictures, and in a week you can see the result!

Learning the English alphabet on the move

This type of education is especially suitable for the child who vitally needs to move, this is how he gets to know this world and everything that surrounds him. To do this, we can use various cubes, magnets with letters, toys (construction sets) with stickers with letters glued on them, etc. Everything that might be interesting to your child. For boys, cars are beasts for girls, or vice versa - as you like.

Here are some ways:

• Using your fingers in the air or your hands and body movements, draw a letter.
• You can make a gymnastics ribbon (tie the ribbon to a thin stick) and let the child draw the necessary letters in the air.
• Place the letters around the apartment, stick them on objects, and the child must find and touch them. You can also include an alphabet song to add variety and make it a mini-game.
• Assemble a letter from cubes, construction sets or mosaics. For these purposes, you can use any toys - lay them out on the floor in the shape of letters.
• Write the letters on the circles of the “Twister” field; you can play together with your mother or friends, calling which hand/leg should fall on which letter.
• Write letters on an inflatable big ball. While throwing the ball with mom, let everyone name the letter that appears before their eyes.

Come up with similar games yourself - almost any favorite children's game can include elements of learning the English alphabet. Just glue or draw the alphabet on the toy, and according to the plot of the game, offer new tasks based on the letters. So, in the process of playing, quietly and not boringly, we learn the English alphabet with children.

Let's get creative and learn the English alphabet

For those children who love to draw and create, this method of learning English letters will become one of their favorites.

• For example, make a poster with all the letters of the alphabet (or only vowels, or only consonants), use scrapbooking elements to decorate your poster, stickers, colored paper.
• Use the same principle to create your own picture dictionary. In which you can decorate each page in your own way and even write a whole story on it with the adventures of the letter. Supplement them with stickers, magazine clippings starting with a certain letter.
• Make letters from plasticine.
• Make a collage with cut out letters from magazines/newspapers/old books.
• Make a garland and hang it in a visible place. Every time you pass by, point to any letter and ask to name it.

Again, in the creative version, you can make any crafts of the letters of the English alphabet, and learn them along the way. - Draw, glue, sculpt, cut, paint. Learn letters together with your favorite toy animals, this puppet show is suitable for the little ones. Books with favorite characters and English letters will warm up your child’s interest in learning the language.

We learn the English alphabet using ABC books and teaching aids for preschool children

Suitable for older preschoolers and schoolchildren, although if your child is interested in books, you can start learning from this manual earlier.

Lessons should last no more than 15-20 minutes on average; as soon as the child begins to get distracted, it is necessary to switch to another type of study, for example, gaming. You can’t force a child when he doesn’t want to, as you risk discouraging his desire for further education.

With such manuals, it is easier for parents to teach their child English, since all the material is written on the pages, all that remains is to present it to the child and go through the exercises with him. Here are some of the most popular benefits for preschoolers:

1. "English for the little ones" Anna Kuznetsova"
2. “English before school. Benefit for children 5-6 years old" Radislav Milrud
3. “English for kids. Most best tutorial(+CD)" Galina Shalaeva

We learn the English alphabet with the help of copybooks and written tasks, for preschool children

This type of learning is suitable for older children who can at least hold a pen or pencil and then trace and write letters.

Among the great variety methodological manuals choose better ones, most of them are designed for older preschoolers and schoolchildren, but there are also workbooks for learning English for kids. For example, those who are already familiar with the well-known KUMON manuals, a methodology used by 4 million children in 49 countries, will appreciate them. Writing uppercase and lowercase letters using these notebooks is the beginning of the development of writing, along with learning the letters of the English alphabet. A well-designed manual, a popular, proven technique.

1. "Learning to write capital letters English alphabet. Ages 3, 4, 5 years. Toru Kumon. KUMON"
2. “Learning to write lowercase letters of the English alphabet. Ages 4, 5, 6 years. Toru Kumon. KUMON"

Show your child that learning the English alphabet is possible with these simple and fun games! And remember that the sooner you start teaching your child the English alphabet, the faster he will be able to learn it and the easier the learning process will be in the future.

And finally, we teach English letters with children regularly. This is one of the most important conditions, if you want to learn English at any age, even at 3 years old.

English teacher
Lebed Evgenia

Educational cartoon “Learning the English alphabet” by Doman: