You may replace the voiceless TH /θ/ with /f/ and the voiced TH /ð/ with /v/. Notice the differences between them below.
Watch Video Lesson When practising sounds:
1. FEEL (what can you feel your muscles doing?) 2. SEE (look at yourself in the mirror) 3. HEAR (listen to the audio tracks and use the hand phone to listen to yourself)
TH (/θ/ and /ð/)
Spelling Patterns
FEEL
“th”: thirst “th”: that
Tip of tongue softly touching teeth. Air moving past the tongue and teeth.
SEE HEAR The tongue tip behind the teeth. A long hissing sound. /f/ and /v/
“f”: first “v”: vat
Lower lip touching upper teeth. Air moving past the lips and teeth.
Lower lip touching upper teeth. A long hissing sound.
The difference in sound between /f/ and /θ/ is very similar. It’s the same with /v/ and /ð/. For this reason, it is best to focus on feeling and seeing what your lip is doing.
If you want to make a TH, but are making a /f/ or /v/ sound, then hold your lower lip down so it does not move up to touch the upper teeth. Keep holding it down until your bottom lip does not want to move upwards on TH words. Practise in front of a mirror.
