30-Day Challenge, Day 25

In today's lesson, we looked at the vowels /i/ and /ɪ/.  These vowels are both high front vowels, and many non-native speakers have difficulty distinguishing these two vowels.

This may be because your native language has only one high front vowel, /i/.

The best way to work on these vowel sounds is to practice on the /ɪ/ vowel and establish a strong vowel /ɪ/, then work to make sure your /i/ vowel is distinct.

Vowel /ɪ/ is lax, which means the tongue and facial muscles are more relaxed for this vowel sound than for the tense /i/ vowel.  The tongue is also slightly lower in the mouth than for the /i/ vowel, but this difference can be hard to feel.
Use the video below to work on these two vowels.

In day 21, we talked about anchor words for vowel sounds.  For /i/, I use green leaf.  For /ɪ/, I use pink pig.

To work on these vowels, practice common words for vowel /ɪ/:
didn’t
different
it
is
live
if
been
his

Listen to and practice contrasts - minimal pairs, and mixed phrases:
eat it
bead bid
leave live
read rid

eat fish
be sick
he is
is she
it needs
with me

When you are ready, add repeated phrase practice for vowel /ɪ/:
is it _____ ready, time, yours, mine
with the ____ group, computer, weather
did you ____ hear, say, know, talk

Use the videos below for even more practice.