Pronunciation Clinic
Sounds, stress and rhythm.
Focus on tricky sounds (/θ/ vs /ð/), minimal pairs (/ɪ/ vs /iː/), word stress and sentence rhythm.
Look & say · Step 1
5 minGet ready
Which English sound is hardest?
Does English sound musical to you?
Name 1 word you find tricky.
Words to learn · Step 2
8 minNew words today
think /θ/
Use your mind (voiceless th)
"I think so."
three /θ/
Number 3 (voiceless th)
"Three coffees, please."
thanks /θ/
Thank you (voiceless th)
"Thanks a lot!"
this /ð/
Voiced th
"This is my friend."
mother /ð/
Mum (voiced th)
"My mother is here."
ship /ɪ/
Short i — boat
"The ship is big."
sheep /iː/
Long ee — animal
"I see five sheep."
sit /ɪ/
Short i — be on a chair
"Please sit down."
seat /iː/
Long ee — a chair
"Take a seat."
PHO-to
Stress on 1st
"Nice photo!"
pho-TOG-ra-pher
Stress on 2nd
"She is a photographer."
rhythm
Pattern of strong/weak
"English has a strong rhythm."
Activate · Personalise · Recycle
Use these words now
Make each sentence true for you. Say it aloud to a partner.
mother /ð/
"For me, mother /ð/ is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
seat /iː/
"For me, seat /iː/ is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
this /ð/
"For me, this /ð/ is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
You'll meet these words again in Reading, Listening, Speaking and Homework.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Sounds & saying · Step 3
5 minAll four areas — practice drills
(1) /θ/ vs /ð/: tongue between teeth, soft air. (2) /ɪ/ short, /iː/ long with smile. (3) Word stress: 1 syllable is loudest. (4) Sentence rhythm: stress NOUNS, VERBS, ADJECTIVES; weaken articles, prepositions.
- • /θ/ I think three thanks.
- • /ð/ This is the mother.
- • ship — sheep / sit — seat / it — eat
- • PHO-to / pho-TOG-ra-pher / pho-to-GRAPH-ic
- • I WANT to GO HOME at SEVEN.
Language focus · Step 4
10 min4 areas: sounds, pairs, word stress, rhythm
Quick rule
4 areas: sounds, pairs, word stress, rhythm
Pronunciation has 4 areas: (1) tricky sounds like 'th' /θ/ /ð/; (2) minimal pairs like ship/sheep; (3) WORD stress (the strong syllable); (4) SENTENCE rhythm (content words louder, small words quick).
/θ/ think, thanks, three
/ð/ the, this, mother
/ɪ/ ship — /iː/ sheep
PHOto — phoTOgrapher — photoGRAPHic
I WANT to GO HOME.
Question 1./θ/ is in…
Question 2./ð/ is in…
Question 3.Sheep has the sound…
Question 4.In 'PHOTOgrapher' stress is on…
Rebuild each line, spot the natural chunks, then practise responding aloud.
Quick check 1.Content words = LOUD; small words =
Quick check 2.Voiced 'th' is in…
Reading · Step 5
7 minWhy pronunciation matters
Good pronunciation is not about a perfect accent. 🎯 It is about being UNDERSTOOD. Focus on three things: (1) tricky sounds like 'th' 👅, (2) WORD stress (PHOto, phoTOgrapher) 🥁, and (3) sentence RHYTHM — stress important words, make small words fast. 🎵 Native English has a 'da-DA-da-DA' beat. Practise out loud every day for 5 minutes. Record yourself, listen back, and copy native models. Your ear and mouth will get faster.
Question 1.Pronunciation is about…
Question 2.Three focus points include…
Question 3.Best practice time daily?
Q1.You must have a perfect accent.
Q2.English has a strong rhythm.
Listening · Step 6
10 minMini drill
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Teacher
Repeat: I think this is three.
Class
I think this is three.
Teacher
Ship or sheep?
Class
Ship is /ɪ/, sheep is /iː/.
Teacher
Word stress: PHOto, phoTOgrapher, photoGRAPHic.
Class
PHOto, phoTOgrapher, photoGRAPHic.
Teacher
Now rhythm: I WANT to GO HOME at SEVEN.
Class
I WANT to GO HOME at SEVEN.
Question 1.First drill is about…
Question 2.'Sheep' has sound…
Question 3.Stress in 'phoTOgrapher' is on…
Practice · Step 7
8 minChoose the word
Question 1.I ___ this is great.
Question 2.I see five ___.
Question 3.Please ___ down.
Question 4.Stress in 'photographer' is on the ___ syllable.
Q1.Voiceless 'th' as in…
Q2.Long ee as in…
Survival English · Step 8
4 minPronunciation — shadowing
Task
Shadow a 30-second native clip. Copy sounds, stress and rhythm. Record yourself.
Strategy
1) Listen 2x without speaking. 2) Listen + whisper. 3) Listen + speak at the same time. 4) Record and compare.
Example
Native: 'I went to the cinema yesterday.' You shadow same speed, same stress: 'I WENT to the CINema YESterday.'
Writing · Step 9
5 minWrite a little
Your task
Write 6 tongue-twister style sentences using the sounds /θ/, /ð/, /ɪ/, /iː/. Mark word stress with CAPITAL letters.
Show model answer
1) I THINK THREE THANKS are enough. 2) THIS is my MOTHER and FATHER. 3) The SHIP and the SHEEP are HERE. 4) SIT in your SEAT. 5) She is a great PHOtographer. 6) I WANT to GO HOME at SEVEN.
Speaking · Step 10
12 minTalk together
Pairs: take turns reading 5 minimal pairs. Your partner ticks which one you said (ship/sheep, sit/seat, it/eat, live/leave, fit/feet).
Useful phrases
- • Which one did I say?
- • I said /ɪ/ or /iː/?
- • Again, please.
- • Slower, please.
- • Now you try.
- AWhich sound is in 'think'?
- B_______________
- AIs 'sheep' short or long?
- B_______________
- AWhere is the stress in 'photographer'?
- B_______________
Homework · Step 11
Take-homePractice at home
Shadow a 30-second clip and record yourself.
Write 6 sentences focused on /θ/, /ð/, /ɪ/, /iː/.
Learn 12 minimal pairs.
Recap · Step 12
3 minWhat you learned
- 👅 You can say /θ/ and /ð/ correctly.
- 🚢🐑 You can hear /ɪ/ vs /iː/.
- 🥁 You can mark word stress.
- 🎵 You can use English sentence rhythm.