---
title: "Copying sounds, rhythm and tune"
description: "Say back what you hear: the sounds, the beat of the phrase, and the way the voice rises and falls. Songs, chants and rhymes carry all three at once."
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/languages/copying-sounds-rhythm-and-tune-mt_v7Vd-VlVdA
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/languages/copying-sounds-rhythm-and-tune-mt_v7Vd-VlVdA.md
retrieved: 2026-11-12
---

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# Copying sounds, rhythm and tune

Say back what you hear: the sounds, the beat of the phrase, and the way the voice rises and falls. Songs, chants and rhymes carry all three at once.

Subject: Languages · Area: Sounds & Conversation · Ages 5 to 7
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/languages/copying-sounds-rhythm-and-tune-mt_v7Vd-VlVdA

## Ready when they can

- Repeat a short phrase closely enough that a speaker of the language recognises it
- Join in with a song or chant in the new language and keep its rhythm
- Copy the rise or fall of the voice in a question the way it was said

## Lesson: Copy sounds, rhythm and tune

You have compared sounds. To copy a phrase, hear a spoken model first. Written letters alone may not tell you its sounds or tune. Keep your mouth comfortable. After copying, ask the speaker what words they heard; a smile alone does not show that.

*(drawing: This song plan starts with humming. Then add known words and try the line.)*

Copy the sounds, rhythm and tune of the model. Rhythm is the pattern of long, short or stressed sounds. Stressed sounds are said more strongly. Tune is how high or low the voice goes. Listen to these as well as the words.

Practise the sounds you heard, including sounds in the middle and at the end. A quiet sound can still help identify a word. Do not add a sound just because a written letter is there; some letters are silent.

If your copy differs from the model, ask to hear it again. Listen to one part you want to practise. Pause, then try another copy. Ask for help with that sound rather than forcing a large mouth movement.

Questions do not all have the same tune. The voice can rise, fall or stay level, depending on the language and question. Copy the tune of the model you actually heard. A level voice is not always a mistake.

A chant can have a steady beat, like a regular pulse. Hear the beat, then tap or clap along while saying the chant. One word can last for more than one beat, so the beat is not a count of words.

**Recap.** Hear a model, copy its sounds and timing, and ask for another model or feedback when needed.

*Original lesson, questions and flashcards written for this learning dataset.*

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Hearing the sounds of another language](https://lightmysky.com/learn/languages/hearing-the-sounds-of-another-language-mt_BNrRACypmh)

## Optional connections

- [Learning from Mistakes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/learning-from-mistakes-mt_UGf6jICEhs)

## Opens up

- [Listening and speaking in a new language](https://lightmysky.com/learn/languages/listening-and-speaking-in-a-new-language-mt_iXtqoIfjHb)
- [First Words: Greetings, Numbers and Colours](https://lightmysky.com/learn/languages/first-words-greetings-numbers-and-colours-mt_Ow32SJmrgN)