The Sound of History: Decoding the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)

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0 sessions

This series was cancelled by the tutor on February 16, 2026. We're very sorry–you can explore more History series here. All 1:1 and group chats related to this series are disabled 7 days after the last session.

About

Step into the shoes of 19th-century linguists to master the "Universal Code" of human speech. This 6-session series traces the history and logic of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), transforming it from a wall of intimidating symbols into a practical toolkit for singers, actors, and polyglots.
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What we will cover:
1. The Origins: Why the IPA was created and the "One Sound, One Symbol" rule.
2. The Consonant Map: Navigating the anatomy of the mouth using mnemonics and "The Periodic Table of Sounds."
3. The Vowel Trapezoid: Mastering pure monophthongs and the "sliding" nature of diphthongs through English anchor words.
4. The Fine Print: Using diacritics and suprasegmentals to map stress and rhythm.
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How we will engage: Expect an interactive, slide-based "workshop" environment. We will use English Phonetic Respellings to bridge the gap between your natural accent and formal transcription. Learners will engage through:
1. Transcription Challenges: Decoding hidden messages written in IPA.
2. Mnemonic Sharing: Creating "memory hooks" to tell your θ from your ð.
3. Historical Analysis: Examining how the "Great Vowel Shift" made English spelling so confusing compared to the IPA.
4. Guided Homework: Light "fieldwork" where you will transcribe common phrases and names between sessions to build muscle memory.

Tutored by

Christopher B 🇺🇸

Certified in 5 topics

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Hi! I’m Christopher, a high school sophomore passionate about learning, teaching, and helping others succeed. I’ve been tutoring through Schoolhouse.world since 8th grade, specializing in Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, History, and Computer Science. I also mentor other tutors as a Schoolhouse Tutors Host and serve as a Senior Tutor in Reading/Writing and Enrichment. I love supporting learners by breaking down challenging concepts and encouraging curiosity. Outside of tutoring, I’m interested in Math, Science, Music, Creative Writing, and Social Advocacy. My goal is to make learning accessible, engaging, and empowering for every student I work with. ___________________________________________________ 6th Grade Courses Math 6 Honors (Period 4, 2021-2022) ELA 6 (Period 5, 2021-2022) Integrated Science 6 (Period 1, 2021-2022) World Studies I: Beginnings of Human Society to the Emergence of the First Global Age (Period 3, 2021-2022) Band 6 (Period 2, A Day, 2021-2022) Keyboarding & Basic Word Processing (Period 2, B Day, Fall 2021) Physical Education 6 (Period 2, B Day, Spring 2022, Q3) Health Education 6 (Period 2, B Day, Spring 2022, Q4) ___________________________________________________ 7th Grade Courses NC Math 1 (Period 4, 2022-2023) ELA 7 (Period 3, 2022-2023) Integrated Science 7 (Period 1, 2022-2023) World Studies II: The Great Global Convergence (1400-1800) to the Present (Period 2, 2022-2023) Band 7 (Period 5, B Day, 2022-2023) Media Art: Visual Art (Period 5, A Day, Fall 2022) Physical Education 7 (Period 5, A Day, Spring 2023, Q3) Health Education 7 (Period 5, A Day, Spring 2023, Q4) ___________________________________________________ 8th Grade Courses NC Math 2 (Period 3, 2023-2024) ELA 8 Honors (Period 5, 2023-2024) Integrated Science 8 (Period 1, 2023-2024) North Carolina and United States History (Period 2, 2023-2024) AVID 8 (Period 4, A Day, 2023-2024) Advanced Dance 8 (Period 4, B Day, Fall 2023) Health & Physical Education 8 (Period 4, B Day, Spring 2024) ___________________________________________________ 9th Grade Courses English I Honors (Period 1, Fall 2024) Band Intermediate (Period 2, Fall 2024) JROTC I (Period 3, Fall 2024) Career Management (Period 4, Fall 2024) Earth & Environmental Science (Period 1, Spring 2025) NC Math 3 Honors (Period 2, Spring 2025) World History Honors (Period 3, Spring 2025) Health/Physical Education (Period 4, Spring 2025) ___________________________________________________ 10th Grade Courses Microsoft Excel Honors (Period 1, Fall 2025) NC Math 4 Honors (Period 2, Fall 2025) English II Honors (Period 3, Fall 2025) Theater Arts Beginning (Period 4, Fall, 2025) AP United States Government and Politics (Period 1, Spring 2026) AP Psychology (Period 2, Spring 2026) NCVPS: Latin I Honors (Period 3, Spring 2026) Biology Honors (Period 4, Spring 2026) ___________________________________________________

Sessions

✋ ATTENDANCE POLICY

Since the IPA is a cumulative system—where Session 4 (Vowels) relies heavily on the concepts of "Place" and "Manner" learned in Sessions 2 and 3—the following policy is in place:

1. The "Two-Strike" Rule: Because this is a high-demand series with limited seating, learners who miss two sessions without prior communication may be withdrawn to make room for those on the waitlist.

2. The Session 1 Essential: Attendance at Session 1 (The Blueprint) is mandatory. This session establishes the "Rules of the Game" and historical context; missing it makes the rest of the series significantly harder to follow.

3. Communication is Key: If you have a school conflict or emergency, please message me through the Schoolhouse platform at least 2 hours before the session starts.

3. Homework Integrity: While I won’t "grade" your homework, the session will move at a pace that assumes you have completed the light transcription practice from the previous week.

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