How to pronounce 'eat' and 'it' | The Coffee Break English Show 1.04
Nov 10, 2023
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This podcast focuses on the pronunciation of 'eat' and 'it'. It discusses the challenges of vowel sounds for English learners and provides a pronunciation guide. Common mispronunciations of 'eat' and 'it' are addressed, and the importance of confidence over minor pronunciation mistakes is emphasized. The podcast also highlights the significance of practicing words with similar sounds for pronunciation improvement.
English has 12 vowel sounds, including the long 'E' sound pronounced with a tense jaw and the 'I' sound, which is challenging for non-native speakers.
People often struggle with distinguishing between the 'E' and 'I' sounds, especially Italians, and practicing these sounds is crucial for improving pronunciation.
Deep dives
The Difference between the Sounds E and I
In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss the difference between the sounds 'E' and 'I' in English pronunciation. They explain that English has 12 vowel sounds, which is more than the five vowel letters. The 'E' sound is described as a long vowel sound, pronounced with a tense jaw and a smiling-like position of the face. Examples of words with the 'E' sound include 'feet,' 'sheep,' and 'beat.' On the other hand, the 'I' sound is more challenging for non-native English speakers, as it doesn't exist in most languages, including Italian. The hosts demonstrate that the 'I' sound is pronounced with a relaxed jaw and the tip of the tongue behind the bottom teeth. Examples of words with the 'I' sound include 'fit,' 'ship,' and 'bit.'
Pronunciation Challenges and Practice
The hosts discuss some common pronunciation challenges when distinguishing between the sounds 'E' and 'I.' Non-native English speakers, particularly Italians, often struggle with pronouncing the 'I' sound. They share personal experiences of being identified as Italian speakers due to their pronunciation of common words containing the 'I' sound. To help improve pronunciation, the hosts provide practice sentences for listeners to repeat, incorporating both the 'E' and 'I' sounds. They emphasize the importance of practicing these sounds to build confidence and avoid potential misunderstandings caused by similar word pairs. The episode wraps up with a review of the 'E' and 'I' sounds and the invitation to access additional resources on their blog post for more examples and information on pronunciation.
Welcome to another episode of The Coffee Break English Show! In this episode we are learning about vowel sounds and focus particularly on the pronunciation of 'eat' and 'it'.