Reading Dialogues with Appropriate Intonation – English Standard Four

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, a pupil should be able to read a short dialogue clearly, observe punctuation marks and use appropriate rising and falling intonation.

Meaning of Dialogue

A dialogue is a conversation between two or more people. It is written to show what each person says. When reading a dialogue, we should read each speaker’s words clearly and pay attention to punctuation marks.

What Is Intonation?

Intonation is the way a speaker’s voice rises and falls when speaking. It helps listeners understand the meaning and feeling of a message.

Rising intonation (↗): The voice goes up at the end. It is commonly used in yes/no questions.

Falling intonation (↘): The voice goes down at the end. It is commonly used in statements and many questions that begin with words such as what, where, when, who and which.

Kumbuka: Rising intonation ni sauti kupanda mwishoni mwa sentensi; falling intonation ni sauti kushuka. Hizi ni njia zinazotumika mara nyingi, lakini sauti inaweza kubadilika kulingana na maana na hisia za mzungumzaji.

Examples of Intonation

• Are you ready for the lesson? ↗
• Do you have your English book? ↗
• Where is your English book? ↘
• I have it in my bag. ↘
• Good morning, teacher. ↘

Reading Dialogue: At School

Amina: Good morning, John. ↘

John: Good morning, Amina. ↘

Amina: Are you ready for the English lesson? ↗

John: Yes, I am. What about you? ↘

Amina: I am ready too. ↘

John: Which book are we going to use? ↘

Amina: We are going to use our English book. ↘

John: Thank you. Let us go to class. ↘

Amina: All right. Let us go! ↘

Vocabulary

Word or phrase	Meaning in Kiswahili
Dialogue	Mazungumzo
Intonation	Mabadiliko ya sauti kupanda na kushuka
Ready	Tayari
Lesson	Somo
Use	kutumia
All right	Sawa

Reading Practice

• Read the dialogue silently first.
• Read it aloud with a partner. Take turns being Amina and John.
• Pause briefly at commas and full stops.
• Use rising intonation for the yes/no question: “Are you ready for the English lesson?”
• Use falling intonation for statements and the question: “Which book are we going to use?”
• Read clearly so that your partner can hear every word.
• Change roles and read the dialogue again.

Comprehension Questions

1. Who are the two speakers in the dialogue?
2. Where are Amina and John going?
3. Which lesson are they going to attend?
4. Which book are they going to use?
5. What is intonation?
6. What happens to the voice in rising intonation?
7. Which type of intonation is commonly used in statements?

Practice Activities

A. Write Rising or Falling

Write Rising or Falling for the common intonation pattern in each sentence.

1. Are you a Standard Four pupil?
2. My name is Asha.
3. Where do you live?
4. Do you like reading?
5. We study English at school.

B. Complete the Sentences

1. A conversation between two or more people is called a __________.
2. Intonation is the way the voice __________ and __________.
3. In rising intonation, the voice goes __________.
4. In falling intonation, the voice goes __________.

Answer Guide

Comprehension

1. Amina and John.
2. They are going to class.
3. The English lesson.
4. Their English book.
5. It is the way the voice rises and falls when speaking.
6. The voice goes up at the end.
7. Falling intonation.

Practice Activity A

1. Rising
2. Falling
3. Falling
4. Rising
5. Falling

Practice Activity B

1. Dialogue
2. Rises; falls
3. Up
4. Down

Support for Slow Learners

Let pupils listen to the teacher model each sentence before reading. Use hand movements to show the voice going up and down. Practise short sentences first, pair pupils with supportive readers and repeat the dialogue slowly before increasing the reading speed.

Learning Outcome

A pupil should be able to read a simple dialogue fluently, observe punctuation and use appropriate rising and falling intonation.