SPEAK with understanding
→ Read or Listen to the passage. Locate all of the meanings of the homonym or heteronym. Studying for a test: limit and time your responses to 30-60 seconds.

HOMONYM: LETTER

“This morning, I opened the mailbox and found a letter from my cousin. She wrote about her new school and included a funny drawing. I carried the letter inside and placed it on the table. Later that day, in English class, we practiced writing each letter of the alphabet neatly in both uppercase and lowercase. My teacher asked me to trace the shape of each letter carefully before moving on to the next one. After school, my brother discovered a hidden letter carved into the wood of our old treehouse, left there years ago. It felt like a secret message.”

How many meanings did you find?

List of the different ways that this word can be used.

SPEAK w/ P I E

(Pronunciation Intonation Expression)

  • Pronunciation
    Letter = /ˈlɛtər/ → sounds like better

  • Intonation Practice
    “She wrote me a long letter.”
    “The word has seven letters.”
    “He carved a letter into the wood.”
    “She followed the instructions to the letter.”

  • Expression Tip
    Remember: The word will be stressed differently depending on how it is being used.

SEVERAL MEANINGS

  1. A written message sent to someone.

  2. A character in the alphabet.

  3. A symbol or mark representing a sound.

IDIOMS/EXPRESSION

  • To the letter – exactly, without mistakes.

  • Scarlet letter – a mark of shame or dishonor.

  • The letter of the law – the exact wording of the law, not its spirit.