English is not a phonetic language. You cannot guess pronunciation by looking at letters. The audio for Unit 1 teaches you that “Europe” starts with a /j/ sound (yoo-rup) and that “hour” is silent (our). By listening and repeating, you build mouth muscles.
Numbers are a major stumbling block for elementary learners. In this track, you will hear a rapid sequence of numbers (0-100), followed by people stating their age and phone numbers. speakout elementary audio unit 1
Learning Focus: Understanding connected speech. English speakers run numbers together. For example, “twenty-eight” sounds like “tweny-eight,” and phone numbers are said in a rhythm (e.g., “five-five-five… seven-two… three-four”). English is not a phonetic language
Teacher’s Warning: The biggest trap in Unit 1 is confusing “-teen” (13, 14, 15) with “-ty” (30, 40, 50). The audio will stress the syllable differently. Listen for the long “ee” sound in “fourteen” versus the short “ee” in “forty.” The audio component for this unit is not
Before diving into the audio specifics, it’s crucial to understand the context of Unit 1. Typically titled “Welcome” or “Hello” (depending on the edition – 1st or 2nd), this unit serves as a gentle introduction to the world of English.
The primary goals of Unit 1 are:
The audio component for this unit is not just an add-on; it is the engine that drives pronunciation, listening comprehension, and real-world speaking confidence.
