Patina · Building English

Syllables & Stress

Every word has beats. Clap them and you can say any long word, one piece at a time. Then find the strong beat, the one thing that makes English sound like English.

★ what a syllable is  ·  ★★ count the beats  ·  ★★★ the strong beat  ·  ★★★ write a haiku

Download the PDF PDF · 2 pages

For the teacher · In class

say a word once. Everyone claps the beats together on camera — you can see who has it — then types the number in the chat.  ·  No sound? Rest a hand under your chin; it drops once for every beat.

Unit 5 teacher's key (PDF)

A syllable is a beat ★

Clap the word. One clap for each beat. Put your hand under your chin, it drops for each beat.

Count the beats ★★

Clap each word. Write how many beats you hear.

page
teacher
story
newspaper
magazine
dictionary

One beat is stronger ★★★

In English one beat is louder and longer. The big circle is the strong beat. Say it big, and make the other beats small.

Watch out in your language

The strong beat can change the word ★★★

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Write a haiku ★★★

A haiku is a poem counted in beats: 5, then 7, then 5. Count on your fingers. It does not rhyme.

Now write your own

5
7
5

For the teacher · Answer key

Count the beats: page 1  ·  teach·er 2  ·  sto·ry 2  ·  news·pa·per 3  ·  mag·a·zine 3  ·  dic·tion·ar·y 4