Spanish Self-Directed Learning Activities Language Learning Center 77-1005, Passport Rewards SP02: Vowels

Revised on 2/5/2020 1

langlab@mtsac.edu

SP02: Vowels

Student Name: Student ID Number:

Professor: Class Level: Date:

About This SDLA

All activities in this SDLA must be completed before meeting with a tutor and receiving credit. If your

instructor wants evidence of this completed SDLA, return this form to him or her with the tutor’s signature

included.

Learning Outcomes: You will have

Know the Spanish vowels (vocales) and how they are pronounced

Section 1: Form

Spanish contains 5 vowels:

A, E, I, O, U.

In English vowels may have more than one sound depending on the word they are in, but in Spanish, each

vowel is pronounced only in one way, and no two vowels are pronounced the same. In addition, Spanish

vowels do not change sound when they combine with another vowel. In English, “e” alone in a word like “beg”

sounds different from “e” together with “a” in a word like “meat.” In Spanish, two vowels together will each

keep their own sound, as in “viejo,” which sounds like /vee-AY-ho/.

Regardless, writing “e” in place of “i”, or vice versa, is an extremely common error among students, especially

those who have never studied Spanish in school. Fortunately, due to the simple relationship between letter

and sound, the error is easy to correct.

A always sounds like “ah”. Example: casa, caja, mala E always sounds like “eh”. Example: gente, mente, leer. I always sounds like “ee” in “meet”. Example: fin, sin, mil O always sounds like “oh”. Example: color, olor, honor. U always sounds like “ou” in “soup”. Example: luz, cuscús, tutú

Spanish Self-Directed Learning Activities Language Learning Center 77-1005, Passport Rewards SP02: Vowels

Revised on 2/5/2020 2

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Section 2: Pronunciation Practice

1. Read the following words aloud; try to pronounce each vowel clearly. (Remember when there are two vowels

together, their sound does NOT change).

gente, lente, peste, dentro, centro, fin, sin, triste, dice

ahora, ahorrar, eólico, aéreo, área, correa, pelea, peleó

ciudad, viudo, viernes, viene, cien, siete, ingeniero, ingeniería

inquieto, invitado, impossible, increíble, importante, interés

veinte, aceite, aceitoso, afeitar, seis, seiscientos

creer, leer, deseo, deseé, paseé

cuidar, cuidado, ruido, diluir, intuir, destruir, huida

2. Read the following words aloud like you did is step 1. The only difference is that the following words do not

exist. They are made up for you to practice using the rules of Spanish that you know now.

teor

deteí

puigado

piugado

graupar

paupar

puemiliado

pruitilación

suipinando

paitiniamiento

abilimación

colifiando

colifeando

polefeación

leteriedo

pentienimiento

Spanish Self-Directed Learning Activities Language Learning Center 77-1005, Passport Rewards SP02: Vowels

Revised on 2/5/2020 3

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Section 3: Written Exercises Complete the following exercises:

Practice 1: Write “e” or “i” to complete the words. Then, write the entire word on the dotted line.

a. Juan feels he can’t come to the party.

Juan s_ _ nte que no puede ven_r a la f_ _sta.

b. The students always ask their professor for more time to finish.

Los estudiantes s_ _ mpre le p_den al profesor más t_ _ mpo para terminar.

c. What do you want to do Friday night?

¿Qué qu_ _res hacer el v_ _rnes por la noche?

d. What are you doing?

¿Qué estás hac_ _ ndo?

e. Earth is round.

La T_ _ rra es r_donda.

f. Wednesday we’re going to go to Sierra Nevada.

El m_ _ rcoles vamos a ir a S_ _ rra N_vada.

Spanish Self-Directed Learning Activities Language Learning Center 77-1005, Passport Rewards SP02: Vowels

Revised on 2/5/2020 4

langlab@mtsac.edu

Practice 2. Complete the list following the example given.

Venir: Juan no __viene_____ a clase.

a. Sentir: Yo mucho lo que te pasó ayer.

b. Pensar: ¿En qué , Daniel?

c. Querer: ¿Cuántas naranjas usted?

d. Cerrar: Esta puerta siempre se sola.

e. Entender: No hay quien te

f. Empezar: La película en 10 minutos.

g. Preferir: Hoy salir temprano para no encontrar tráfico.

h. Confesar: Lo siento; te que me olvidé de nuestra cita.

Section 4: Listening Activities

Visit the websites and listen to the words. Write what you hear, paying attention to the vowel sounds. You

will hear each word two or three times.

Paso 1: Palabras reales (Two times each) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_pQzqj2MIw

Paso 2: Palabras inventadas (Three times each). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scS9E268ieI

GOOD job! Now make an appointment for Spanish Tutoring at the Front Desk.

The tutor will call your name when he/she is ready. You must be in the LLC when you make your appointment.

Grading Rubric

Possible Points

Pass Not Yet Pass

Completion The student completed all of the

sections of the DLA.

The student has not yet completed

all of the sections of the DLA.

Comprehension/

Metacognition

The student can effectively

explain the concepts and skills

learned in the DLA.

The student cannot yet effectively

explain the concepts and skills

learned in the DLA.

Course Connections The student can explain the

connections between their

coursework and the DLA.

The student cannot yet explain a

connection between their course

and DLA.

Tutor Recommendations:

Congratulations! Move on

Student has successfully completed this SDLA and is

ready to continue to the next.

Repeat

Student hasn’t yet mastered this SDLA. It is

recommended that the student complete it again

Tutor Signature: Date: