Welcome to your A2 reading framework. I am Teacher Sopheak. At the elementary stage, we move beyond basic three-letter structures to decode the complex patterns that form the majority of English text. English is not entirely phonetic; letters often combine to create entirely new sounds, or hide silently at the end of a word to alter its meaning.
1. Consonant Digraphs
A digraph occurs when two consonants sit next to each other and merge to create one entirely new sound. You must not read them as individual letters.
2. The Magic 'E' (Long Vowels)
When an 'E' sits at the end of a short word, it remains silent, but its "magic" reaches back to make the previous vowel say its own alphabet name (a Long Vowel).
In English, there is a specific set of high-frequency words where the letter 'L' is completely unvoiced. Do not attempt to curl your tongue for the 'L' in these words.
4. Syllable Chunking
When encountering longer words, fluent readers do not sound out every single letter. They break the word into "chunks" or syllables, usually splitting between two middle consonants.