Intonation Course · Lesson 10

Intonation Review and Assessment

Consolidate what you’ve learned, check your progress honestly, and plan your next steps.

Wiederholung und Selbsteinschätzung: Was sitzt schon – und woran arbeite ich weiter?

  • Recap
  • Interactive self-assessment
  • Role-plays
  • Emotion quiz
  • Your goals
Lesson 10.1

Recap of Key Intonation Principles

Before you assess yourself, review the core patterns – and when to use each one in everyday speech.

Falling ↘

Statements, wh-questions, finished ideas. I’m going HOME. What’s your NAME?

Rising ↗

Yes/no questions, uncertainty, “there’s more to come”. Are you READy?

Flat →

Rarely a choice – it often sounds bored or robotic. Use it to recognise the problem.

Stress

One focus word per thought group – move it and the meaning changes.

Linking

Join words into smooth chunks: pi‿ki‿tup, far‿r‿away.

Emotion

Range, speed and melody show surprise, doubt, sarcasm and hesitation.

Reflection: as you rate your skills in 10.2, the page lists the three things you feel most confident about and the three you most want to improve.
Lesson 10.2

Self-Assessment: Intonation Mastery

First record yourself reading a short passage or having a conversation, then listen back. Rate each skill honestly.

Falling intonation for statementsI’m going HOME. ↘
Falling intonation for wh-questionsWhat’s your NAME? ↘
Rising intonation for yes/no questionsAre you READy? ↗
Choices and lists (rise … then fall)TEA ↗ or COFfee? ↘
One focus word per thought groupAfter the MEEting / we’ll decide on the next STEPS.
Moving the stress to change meaningI never said SHE took my book.
Linking words smoothlypi‿ki‿tup · far‿r‿away
Weak forms in fast speecha cup of tea /ə kʌp əv tiː/
Showing emotion (surprise, doubt, sarcasm)I can’t believe it!
Avoiding flat, monotone speecha voice that moves up and down
Confident
  1. Rate the skills above.
To improve
  1. Rate the skills above.
Lesson 10.3

Group Practice: Real-Life Conversations

Practise intonation in realistic situations. Act out each role-play in pairs or groups, then give feedback.

Making suggestions

A:Shall we try the new CAfé? ↗
B:Why NOT? ↘ Or we could go to the PARK ↗ … if it stays DRY. ↘
A:Good iDEA. ↘ Let’s do THAT. ↘

Asking for directions

A:Excuse me – could you tell me the way to the STAtion? ↗
B:Go straight ON ↗, turn LEFT at the lights ↗, and it’s on your RIGHT. ↘
A:So LEFT at the lights? ↗ THANKS! ↘

Feedback roundtable

After each role-play, give one piece of constructive feedback for each point:

Expression

Did the voice move – or was it flat?

Linking

Did the words flow, or come one by one?

Emphasis

Was the focus word clear and in the right place?

Lesson 10.4

Final Assessment: Intonation and Emotion

Intonation in dialogue: read each line with the emotion given, then ask a partner to guess the emotion before you reveal it.

LineEmotionHow
I can’t believe it!SurpriseHigh start, wide jump, energetic fall
I can’t believe it.SarcasmLow, slow, flat or exaggerated melody
I can’t believe it…DoubtFall-rise, slower, softer
We’ve won the contract!ExcitementHigh, fast, wide range
Well… I suppose so.HesitationPauses, low and slow

Emotion matching: test yourself

Score: 0 / 0
Lesson 10.5

Reflection and Goal-Setting

Reflection journal

Write a few sentences on:

  • what you learned in this course,
  • the challenges you faced,
  • the techniques that helped you most.

Your suggested goals

Rate your skills in 10.2 and your three goals appear here.

Make each goal specific: what you’ll practise, when, and how you’ll check it – e.g. “Use rising intonation for yes/no questions – 5 minutes a day for two weeks, then record myself again.”
Combine reflection and practical application.
Reflective and practical activities together help you consolidate your intonation skills and communicate with confidence.

Reflect. Practise. Master intonation.

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