/ʊ/, /uː/ - as in book, soon
/ʊ/
To Produce: Raise your tougue in back so that its sides touch the upper sides of your mouth. Keep the tongue relaxed. Round your lips. Produce a short vowel sound.
Listen:
-- ---
cook could
foot full
put pull
Repeat these words:
book took cookie
shook wood cooking
stood wool looking
Synonyms - Practice the vowel /ʊ/ in synonyms. Upon hearing A and B. Repeat B.
A B
engine cover hood
pad cushion
shrub bush
stream brook
This time, upon hearing A, you say B. Then listen to the model.
A B
drag pull
glance look
shove push
lady woman
Practice the vowel /ʊ/ in sentence. Repeat, and then listen again.
Could you put the book here?
He took the cookie.
Would you look for a good cook?
It looks like it could be full.
Contrast: /ʊ/ - /ʌ/ schwa
Can you differentiate between these sounds? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
book --- buck ---
look --- luck ----
tuck --- took ----
Answers: book look took
Repeat these words and sentences:
buck Is a dollar a buck? ...................... book Did you read the book?
luck I wish you luck. ......................... look Take a good look.
tuck Tuck in your shirt. ..................... took I took the shirt.
uː
To Produce: Raise your tongue in back so that its sides touch the uppper sides of your mouth. Keep the tongue relaxed. Round your lips. Produce a short vowel sound.
Listen:
-- --- ----
duke doom do
suit soon sue
Practice as you focus on its length. Repeat:
noose news knew
hoop whom who
Say the vowel twice in phrases. Repeat.
Do two. New shoes. You do.
Due soon. Too soon. Who moved?
Synonyms - Practice the vowel /uː/ in synonyms. Upon hearing A and B, repeat B.
A B
double two
evidence clue
fresh new
unrefined crude
This time, upon hearing A, you say B. Then listen to the model.
A B
naked ---- nude
noon time ---- noon
tossed ---- threw
select ---- chose
Practice word groups containing the vowel /uː/ plus another vowel. Repeat:
assume
ballnoon
issue
tissue
remove
renew
Contrast: /uː/ - /ʊ/ schwa
Can you differentiazte between these sounds? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
Luke --- look ---
pool --- pull ---
suit --- soot ---
Answers: look pool suit
Practice using sounds /uː/ and /ʊ/ in the following phrases. Repeat:
/uː, ʊ/ /ʊ, uː/
New wool. Could do.
Too full. Cook soon.
Who took? Took two.
You cook. Good food.
Source: The American Accent Guide (2nd Edition)
http://www.amazon.com/American-Complete-Comprehensive-Pronunciation-Individuals/dp/0963413902/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1304307187&sr=1-1