This is an UNVOICED sound which means Your Vocal Cords DO
NOT vibrate when making the sound.
You CANNOT
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. You cannot listen to your vocal cords vibrating.
VERY GOOD
You
CANNOT 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. You cannot 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.
Mouth, lips,
and tongue position
The following descriptions explain the proper mouth, lips,
and tongue position when you make this sound.
Mouth
Your
mouth releases air continuously.
Lips
Your lips should be slightly separated.
Tongue
The middle part of your tongue should be in the upper part of your
mouth.
Practice video
Watch the following video and
practice pronouncing this sound.
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.
she
sheet
sheep
shoe
cushion
fish
finish
machine
sure
precious
ocean
station
Note: the red letters all
have the same sound (watch the video above)
Pronunciation word test
Try saying the following tongue twisters as quickly as
possible.
We surely shall see the sun shine soon.
Six short slow shepherds.
Silly Sally swiftly shooed seven silly sheep.
The seven silly sheep Silly Sally shooed shilly-shallied south.
These sheep shouldn't sleep in a shack; sheep should sleep in a
shed.
Sure the ship's shipshape, sir.
Sixish.
Shredded Swiss chesse.
Selfish shellfish.
Sarah saw a shot-silk sash shop full of
shot-silk sashes as the sunshine shone on the side of the
shot-silk sash shop.
Susan shineth shoes and socks; socks and shoes
shines Susan. She ceased shining shoes and socks, for shoes and
socks shock Susan.
The soldiers shouldered shooters on their
shoulders.
Learn the sounds of vowel and consonant combinations.
Match the vowels (A,E,I,O,U) with the consonants
(B,D,G,M,N,P,R,T,W,Y) to form words with the same
sounds. Pictures included to make understanding easier.
Great pages for kids.
Learn to correctly pronounce difficult world places and
names in the news. Each country page shows the English
spelling and the phonetic spelling of difficult to
pronounce words in the news from that country. This is
very important if you want to discuss the news and other
issues with native English speakers.
More Pronunciation Information
Are You How You Talk?
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of American dialects.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page.
Are You How You Talk?
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of American dialects. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program.
Improve Your Pronunciation by Training Your
Ears
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your
pronunciation and English language
reductions. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed. Great English pronunciation tips.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program.
You CANNOT
LISTEN to your Vocal Cords vibrating if you cover
your ears with your hands.
You
CANNOT FEEL your Vocal Cords vibrating if
you place your hands on your neck.
Mouth
Lips
Tongue
