Games and competitions provide more variety in recognizing both reduced forms and stress patterns. One example is to divide the class into teams. The members of each team are allowed to discuss possible answers, but only the captain of each team is allowed to give the answer. The teacher reads out sentences containing one or more reduced forms. The team captains who correctly repeat the sentences in their full forms gain points for their teams.
Students check whether stress is placed on words showing time or place.
Students check whether stress is placed on words that show action or time, when or what happened. Students mark on a written text where they think the stressed or unstressed words are. This can be done first without listening to the spoken text, then checking their guesses while listening. The importance of listening to as much English as possible cannot be overstated. It is unlikely that students will improve very much if the only listening practice they get is one or two hours a week in the classroom.