FLEECE /iː/ “sheep” vs KIT /ɪ/ “ship” Watch Video Lesson
Remember to do articulation exercises before practising the sounds.
- When practising sounds: - FEEL (what can you feel your muscles doing?) - HEAR (listen to the audio tracks and use the hand-phone to listen to yourself)
You may come up with different ideas to the ones in the boxes. That’s fine! FLEECE /iː/
Spelling Patterns
usually not spelled with a single letter “i” unless in a non-native word like pizza, visa
FEEL
tongue forwards and high tongue moves slightly upwards
KIT /ɪ/
usually spelled with a single letter “i” sit, ship
tongue forwards and high (but slightly lower than FLEECE).
no tongue movement HEAR
higher-pitched when whispered sometimes longer
lower-pitched when whispered sometimes shorter
Comparisons
The highlighted words are all minimal pairs. These are words that sound the same apart from one sound. The only difference between ease /i:z/ and is /ɪz/ is the vowel sound. Words (minimal pairs in the order /i:/ - /ɪ/)
1 ease – is 6 feet – fit 2 each – itch 3 heat – hit 7 bean – bin 8 lead – lid 4 beat – bit 5 peak – pick 9 reach – rich 10 these – this* *Almost a minimal pair: /ði:z - ðɪs/
