One of the most difficult features of the English pronunciation is stress. Teaching stress has been introduced in the Algerian Middle School since the adoption of the recent school reforms. It is a good thing but nobody has been well prepared for this new task. We teachers have to get by for the umpteenth time.
Middle School One and Two are not concerned with teaching stress but with its use in everyday conversations. They learn how to pronounce words, bits of sentences and sentences correctly emphasizing on where the stress falls without any explanation or written activity. Teachers have to be ready for this important daily task. If teachers and pupils do well in MS1 and MS2, it will be something good and the transition from MS1 and 2 to MS3 and 4 will be smooth.
We should start smoothly with our pupils.
Here is a lesson plan to present stress in file 6 words and sounds:
http://www.mediafire.com/?hnt2jh0lnky
Here is a worksheet that can be used as an extra activity:
http://www.mediafire.com/?ddg2z5lnzml
Feel free to change, adapt, enrich and comment.
Mohamed07.