Mastering the 'th' Sound: A Quick Classroom Tip

A discussion in Teaching English in Indonesia on the SpeakWise Indonesia teacher forum.

Many Indonesian learners struggle with the English 'th' sounds (/θ/ as in 'think' and /ð/ as in 'this') due to the absence of these in Bahasa Indonesia. To tackle this, introduce a fun activity: have students practice by placing their tongue between their teeth and gently blowing air to produce the sounds. Try a 'th' sound relay, where pairs of students pass a ball while taking turns saying 'think' and 'this'. This method not only builds their pronunciation skills but also encourages confidence in speaking, making it particularly relevant as clear communication is essential in English proficiency.