I said TUESDAY, not Thursday.
Contrastive Stress
Move the main sentence stress to correct, contrast, or clarify one detail, and listen for the meaning that changes with the stress.
Your goal
By the end of this lesson, you can correct or contrast information using sentence stress.
Progress focus: PRONLIST
Engduo Audio: Licensed voices prepared for this lesson. Audio never starts automatically. Use the transcript after the first listening attempt.
1. Look, listen, and notice
Use the visual and model audio to understand the situation, viewpoint, or communication problem before studying the language.
- neutral information
- correction
- contrast
- listener inference
Engduo Audio • British English
Transcript — open after listening
I said TUESDAY, not Thursday. Please update the calendar.
Engduo Audio • American English
Transcript — open after listening
We need the BLUE form, not the green one. Could you send the correct file?
How to run Stage 1
Confirm the observable outcome and connect it to one realistic learner need.
2. Build useful language
Choose the phrases that help you complete the task; do not memorise a full script.
We need the BLUE form.
I sent it to MAYA.
The meeting starts at NINE.
I asked for TWO tickets.
I meant the NEW address.
How to run Stage 2
Use the visual and first audio or text for meaning before explaining language.
3. Rehearse with support
Practise the decisions, evidence, listening, or language moves that make the final task successful.
- Underline the word that carries the correction.
- Say the sentence once neutrally and once with contrast.
- Ask the listener what alternatives are being rejected.
How to run Stage 3
Select only the useful-language items needed for this learner and this task.
4. Complete the communication task
Exchange information, solve a problem, create a text, or reach a decision with a real outcome.
Solve eight misunderstanding cards by listening for the prominent word, selecting the intended correction, and replying with an accurate confirmation.
How to run Stage 4
Run the supported rehearsal without reading every instruction aloud.
5. Perform, receive feedback, and retry
Complete the task with keywords only, receive focused feedback, and repeat the weakest part.
Correct four details in a short planning dialogue using contrastive stress without adding unnecessary volume to every word.
Retry: Repeat once with clearer meaning, stronger evidence, more accurate listening, or less support.
How to run Stage 5
Run the main task: Solve eight misunderstanding cards by listening for the prominent word, selecting the intended correction, and replying with an accurate confirmation.
Exit check
Complete this without reading a model: Use contrastive stress to correct three details and identify the implied alternative in two examples.
Success looks like: The listener identifies the corrected detail from the stress placement and the overall speech remains natural and clear.
Evidence: speaking · Repeat the weakest part once after one meaning-focused and one language-focused correction at most.
PRON · Pronunciation
2: Remains intelligible with useful sounds, stress, rhythm or intonation.
1: Demonstrates the skill after one focused prompt, correction or self-repair.
0: Cannot yet demonstrate the skill clearly enough to complete the stated outcome.
LIST · Listening Comprehension
2: Understands and uses the required spoken evidence accurately.
1: Demonstrates the skill after one focused prompt, correction or self-repair.
0: Cannot yet demonstrate the skill clearly enough to complete the stated outcome.
Use these scores after the independent attempt. Record one recurring need in the Engduo app when lesson-result fields become available.
How to run Stage 6
Record focused evidence, give one meaning-focused and one language-focused correction at most, repeat the weakest part, and complete the exit check.
คำอธิบายภาษาไทย — เปิดเมื่อจำเป็นเท่านั้น
contrastive stress คือเน้นคำที่แก้หรือเปรียบเทียบ ไม่ใช่พูดดังทั้งประโยค ให้ผู้ฟังบอกว่าคำที่เน้นกำลังแก้ข้อมูลอะไร
Teacher guide
30-minute must-do route
- Confirm the observable outcome and connect it to one realistic learner need.
- Use the visual and first audio or text for meaning before explaining language.
- Select only the useful-language items needed for this learner and this task.
- Run the supported rehearsal without reading every instruction aloud.
- Run the main task: Solve eight misunderstanding cards by listening for the prominent word, selecting the intended correction, and replying with an accurate confirmation.
- Record focused evidence, give one meaning-focused and one language-focused correction at most, repeat the weakest part, and complete the exit check.
60-minute extension
- Use the same sentence with three possible focus words and explain each implied correction.
- Change the role, information, listener, or constraint so the learner transfers the skill rather than repeating the same answer.
- Compare the first and second performance and record one specific improvement.
Make it easier
Use paired choices printed below each sentence.
Make it harder
Use the same sentence with three possible focus words and explain each implied correction.
Likely difficulty
The learner may stress every content word equally or change volume without changing prominence.
Correction priority
Prioritise one clear focus word, de-emphasis around it, and listener interpretation.
Thai support rule
Keep the Thai panel closed unless examples, visuals, replay, reformulation, and simpler English do not allow progress. Explain only the key distinction, then return to English.
Progress record
Score PRON, LIST from 0–2 and record one recurring need from: prominence, meaning-through-stress, repair.
Retry
Give one meaning-focused correction and one language-focused correction at most, then ask for a second attempt with fewer visible prompts.
Continue your learning path
- Council of Europe — CEFR Companion Volume — Supports B1 communication through connected speech, descriptions of experiences, opinions with reasons, travel situations, goal-oriented co-operation, written interaction, and action-oriented outcomes.
- British Council TeachingEnglish — English sentence stress — Supports listening for prominent meaning words and using sentence stress to communicate contrast and meaning.
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