Today in the Fun Easy English classroom you are going to learn to pronounce the sound i as in
the words building,
busy,
sit,
women. Remember "practice makes perfect" if
you want to improve your English speaking ability.
Hey
if you cannot understand something on this page,
then use the Fun Easy English
dictionary
(opens in a new window)
Pronounce the sound i as in
the words building,
busy,
sit,
women. Watch the following pronunciation
videos and learn to pronounce this sound correctly.
Video:
American English Pronunciation Lesson 6
Spelling
e
women
i
bin,
chip, hill,
hit,
inch,
it, mitt,
ship, sit,
slip, wind,
bit, pit
o
women
u
busy
ui
building
Note: the red
letters all have the same sound
Sound:
Voiced and Unvoiced
This is a VOICED sound which means Your Vocal Cords DO
vibrate when making this sound.
You CAN
LISTEN to your Vocal Cords vibrating if you cover
your ears with your hands.
Try covering your ears with your hands as Akiko is doing in
the picture.
Now make the sound of this lesson. Can you listen to your vocal cords vibrating?
VERY GOOD
You CAN
FEEL your Vocal Cords vibrating if
you place your hands on your neck.
Try placing your hands on your neck as Akiko is doing in the
picture.
Now make the sound of this lesson. Can you feel your vocal
cords vibrating?
VERY GOOD
The following diagram shows the most important parts of your
head and mouth used for pronouncing the sounds of English.
It also shows the location of your Vocal Cords.
Position: Mouth, lips,
and tongue
The following descriptions explain the proper mouth, lips,
and tongue position when you make this sound.
Mouth
Your
mouth should be relaxed.
Lips
Your lips should be unrounded.
Tongue
The front part of your tongue should be in the upper part of your
mouth.
Practice video
Listen to the video and practice repeating each word.
Pronunciation practice words
Look at your mouth in a mirror and practice pronouncing
the following words. Make sure your mouth, lips, and
tongue are in their proper positions.
bit
bin
chip
pit
hill
hit
busy
inch
it
building
mitt
sit
Note: the red letters all
have the same sound (watch the video above)
Test: Pronunciation word test
Choose the correct letter or
letters to complete each of the following words.
1.
wom_n
2.
b_n
3.
ch_p
4.
w_men
5.
h_ll
6.
h_t
7.
b_sy
8.
_t
9.
b_ _lding
10.
s_t
Note: the letter
or letters needed to complete each word all have the
same sound.
From
YOUR Teacher:
Pronouncing this sound
Pronouncing this sound is easiest if you practice using
three letter words such as the following:
bit, fit, hit, kit, lit, pit, sit, tit, wit.
Additional Lessons
About These
Lessons
The following classroom lessons are great for students
who want additional conversation, listening, and reading
practice.
Conversation Lesson -
Beginner Level. Let's
Learn English conversation lesson
with a conversation video, a video script, audio
listening practice, video speaking practice, video
pronunciation practice, a new
words section, and a writing activity.
In this lesson Anna is hungry. She goes to the
supermarket and looks for good foods to eat. But she has
a problem. One part of her wants junk food. The other
part wants healthy food. Which part will win?
Lesson Video
Watch the video and then do the activities on this page.
Video Script
Anna: Hi there, Ashley!
Ashley: Anna! Hi! Where are you going?
(Anna’s stomach growls loudly)
Ashley: What was that?
Anna: I’m hungry. When I’m hungry, I only want to eat junk food! But I know I
should eat healthy food. So, I fight with myself. One side says, ‘You should eat
healthy food.’ The other side says, ‘But I want to eat junk food!’
Ashley: Well, Anna, go to the Giant supermarket. You should be able to find all
kinds of food there - for all of you.
Anna: Good idea, Ashley. See you later!
Ashley: 'Bye, Anna.
Anna: Wow! This supermarket is huge! Look at all of these fruits and vegetables!
I should eat more vegetables.
Healthy: Good idea, Anna. You must eat more vegetables … like celery!
Junky: Celery?! Do you know what the web says about celery?
Anna: No, what?
Junky: “Celery is 95 percent water - 100 percent NOT ice cream. I love the web!”
Healthy*: Anna, you mustn’t eat junk food. Junk food will kill you.
Junky*: You are being silly.
Healthy: No, you are!
Junky: No, you are.
Anna: Will you two please be nice to each other? It is important to eat healthy
foods. But, a little junk food will not kill me. Hmm, ice cream. Ice cream does
sound good.
Junky: Take this cart to the frozen food aisle!
Healthy: No wait, go back! Go back! We forgot fruit. Go back!!
Anna: Okay, we are in the frozen food aisle!
Junky: Mmm, ice cream!
Healthy: Mmm, frozen peas!
Junky: Nobody says, ‘Mmm, frozen peas. They say, ‘Mmm, ice cream!
Healthy: Mmm, frozen peas!!
Junky: Mmm, ice cream!!
Anna: I am not going to tell you two again! Stop fighting!
Anna: I smell fresh bread! I love the smells of a bakery!
Healthy: Oh, Anna, let’s buy a fresh loaf of whole wheat, organic bread!
Junky: You don’t have to buy bread. Buy some donuts, Anna!
Healthy: You mustn’t buy donuts. They are only fat and sugar.
Junky: Exactly! You know, you are really no fun at all.
Healthy: And you must think having high cholesterol is fun.
Junky: Everyone likes donuts! That is why you don’t have friends!
Healthy: And that is why your cholesterol is so high!
Junky: My cholesterol is none of your business!!
Healthy: And I have lots of friends!!
Anna: Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! I am sick and tired of the both of you!!
Anna: I know what you two need!
Junky: Anna! What are you doing?
Healthy: Put me down!
Anna: You two need to cool off!
Anna: I am going to go buy my healthy food and my junk food! Good bye!
Anna: Until next time …
Note: "Healthy" and "Junky" are Anna's thoughts about what she should eat.
Listening
Now practice listening to only the audio portion of the conversation.
Speaking
In this video, learn how to say the new words. Then learn the difference between
"mustn't" and "don't have to."
Pronunciation
Use this video to practice the pronunciation of "mustn't."
New Words
aisle -
n. a passage where people walk through a store
or market
bakery -
n. a place where bread, cakes, cookies, and
other baked foods are made or sold
cart -
n. (shopping cart) a metal basket on wheels
used to hold groceries while you are shopping
cholesterol -
n. a substance that is found in the bodies of
people and animals, a high percentage raises the risk of coronary heart
disease
cool off -
phrasal verb. to become calm after a period of
anger or conflict
fat -
n. an oily solid or liquid substance in food
freeze -
v. to become a hard substance (such as ice)
because of cold (past participle: frozen)
healthy -
adj. good for your health or healthful
junk food -
n. food that is not good for your health
because it contains high amounts of fat or sugar
kill -
v. to cause the death of (a person, animal, or
plant)
must -
modal verb. used to say that something is
required or necessary
organic -
adj. food that is grown or made without the use
of artificial chemicals
smell -
n. the quality of a thing that you can sense
with your nose
smell -
v. to use your nose to sense smells
sugar -
n. a sweet substance usually in the form of
white or brown crystals or white powder that comes from plants and is used
to make foods sweeter
whole wheat -
adj. made from wheat from which no part (such
as the bran) has been removed
Activity
In this lesson, Anna goes shopping. She thinks about the
foods that are good for her and the ones that are not so
good. What do you think about when you shop for food? Do
you sometimes fight with yourself as Anna does in this
lesson? Write a short conversation about the thoughts
you have while you are shopping. Write about it in the
Facebook Comments section below. Then practice talking
about different kinds of foods.
Click
lesson activity to get the printable PDF version. The
page opens to a new window.
Study all 52 English conversation lessons. Let's Learn
English conversation lessons each with a conversation
video, a video script, audio listening practice, video
speaking practice, video pronunciation practice, a new
words section, and a writing activity.
These
lessons are for beginners.
The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
The lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
Hey Students,
Use this dictionary and reference to look up any words you do not
understand in Fun Easy English.
You CAN
LISTEN to your Vocal Cords vibrating if you cover
your ears with your hands.
You CAN
FEEL your Vocal Cords vibrating if
you place your hands on your neck.
Mouth
Lips
Tongue
