The Schwa Sound | English Pronunciation Training

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

Answer: if you add all the schwa sounds to the challenge sentence at the end of the lesson, it would sound like this: /ən/ /ɛləfənt/ walked /ɪntə/ /ðə/ room /ənd/ spilled /ðə/ /prəfɛsərz/ drink on /ðə/ /soʊfə/.

[@AnjaneyuluSalva-c1b]

Ma'am you an amazing teacher

[@Brimenting]

I am a native British English speaker. Just to say that I find your American accent and presentation very clear and understandable. Well done.

[@yinqinglan8288]

You speak accurately and clearly. Thank you.

[@eugeniachinchillam6957]

I think this is the first time I really understand this. This is so helpful. Thanks

[@takkintuiteru3159]

Now that I can listen to what native speakers are saying more clearly and naturally even if they speak faster. Thank you for the lesson.

[@mv3272]

Brilliant! Your pace and explanations are wonderful. Thank you

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

You're very welcome!

[@yaraaj5306]

Thank u very much💙 I've been struggling with knowing when to pronunce the schwa sound All the videos I've watched say that I should listen and look for the schwa. you're the only one who gives rules for it. It's ten times more helpful. Thanks alot💙💙💙

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

You're welcome, yara aj! I’m thrilled to know my lesson is helpful to you! 🙂

[@laurasanchezalbert69]

So helpful!! The schwa for me is a crazy sound but nobody explain me this, and I think is a needed. You explain it so clear and and in a kind way, I am grateful for this. So, I really thank you!!!!

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

You're so welcome! I'm glad it was helpful.

[@mariaspringer356]

Once a time as I am listend the first time your lesson, I was so surprized that I could understand english. Thank so much for your clearly speaking and Tips about english conversations.

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

HI, Maria. I'm thrilled you were able to clearly understand the lesson. Thank you for watching, I greatly appreciate it.

[@steevetested3847]

Of all the videos I've watched this one is the goat 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

I'm glad you think so. 😀

[@denisesavoie9915]

Fascinating, all about the shaw and how to perceive it and pronounce it. It’s a discovery for me.

[@EugenComan]

the best lesson over the KZbin...

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

Thank you!

[@pedroschmall2682]

Great lesson, great vibe!! It inspired me.

[@hagiangtran5031]

I really enjoy watching your videos and studying your lessons.

[@hagiangtran5031]

May I ask which tools you use to make videos (camera and editing tools) . Thank you!

[@sianeboro715]

Great teaching, dear teacher. Thank you, 👍

[@marialuisamedina7482]

Good job teacher. Thank you for this class. Help me a lot

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

Thank you. I'm so glad it was helpful.

[@ingeniero00007]

Thanks for your helpful, it is the first time i have heard about the schwa sound and it is going to help me a lot on how to improve my listening

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

Great to hear! I'm glad it was helpful.

[@hocinerarrbo3287]

Thank you for this lesson it's makes pronunciation more easier for me

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

You're very welcome!

[@martinmorales5882]

Thanks teacher. I will study this class I Really need it

[@yinqinglan8288]

Your English is 100% accurate and very clear. Could you please make a video to teach us how to pronounce pin, tin, win, pen, ten, when? Only the words with in and en should be included . First letter by letter, p-i-n, then you say the word naturally, pin. Maybe we don't need rules.What we need is hear you say them. If we can hear their difference, certainly we can pronounce them correctly. I really appreciate your help.

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

Hi Yinqing Lan! I appreciate the lesson suggestion. I'll certainly look at adding a future lesson on this topic.

[@rajeshsacademy4604]

She explained schwa sound that is somehow incorrect.

[@marygreen8103]

Thank you so much Teacher!!! This lesson is really helpful, but on my way to work l need to repet it a less 2 more times, again, thank you and have a great week 😁

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

You're so welcome, Mary. I'm glad it was helpful. And the good news is you can come back to watch this any time. 😊

[@marygreen8103]

@@Speakconfidentenglish yeeaaa!!

[@willyArmonia]

Hi Annemarie, thank you 🙏🏾 for this lesson so make more this lesson .

[@jessicamiroortiz7917]

Thank you, teacher, always is helpful to remember how important is the pronunciation in order to understand fast English and also to be understood properly

[@lburguenotaiz]

Your grammar needs some work: “it is always helpful… how important the pronunciation is to understand…”

[@barbaraalsko1429]

Wonderfully informative video. Thank you!

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

You're welcome, Barbara.

[@candidofinda9647]

Very good your lesson

[@jubaermirza1479]

Thanks a lot for helpful lesson and please make more lesson about schwa sound with more word examples.

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

My pleasure. I can certainly add that to my list of future lesson topics.

[@jubaermirza1479]

@@Speakconfidentenglish Thanks for your making decision. I've been watching your lesson from Bangladesh. Your topics make me inspired and help to teach English. Take love Annemarie 😘

[@sayutitranslator424]

I loved your pronunciation

[@Syamsurrijal-kc4qr]

Interesting lesson. Thank you madam.

[@พันธุ์ศักดิ์ศิริเลิศ]

Thank you.

[@denisesavoie9915]

Oups, my mistake; it is schwa. Oh I wanted to say thank you for your incredible teachings and your character of kindness.

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

Thank you for the kind comment, Denise.

[@jessicamiroortiz7917]

I loved your analysis

[@khaoulasaidi9705]

Perfect Lesson ❤️ , i hope you make a Lessons about grammar , the 12 tenses

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

Thank you, Khaoula. I appreciate the lesson suggestion. You might like to check out the following lesson on present perfect/simple vs. continuous 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWGVdGiFZbtpq6eq

[@candidofinda9647]

Thanks very much

[@mohamedragabov7337]

Bravo. Thanks

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

Many thanks!

[@elpidioventuracabrera7228]

Excellent!

[@narinderchahil7184]

Really helpful

[@deegayudeegayu1963]

Thank you very very much ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

You're welcome. 😊

[@jksenglish5115]

Thank you

[@felicidad144]

Can you make a video explaining what's the difference between Schwa (/ə/) and Wedge (/ʌ/)? Thank youuu!!!!!!

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

I can certainly add that to my list for future lesson topics.

[@AsmaaAlwan-v8q]

We need this explanation .. good point

[@bigbang259]

they sound exactly the same in most American accents

[@hatemhalal2615]

Thank you dear

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

You're welcome.

[@linodiogo8236]

Awesome

[@artworld9799]

Regards to you❤❤❤❤❤ It's very important video 🖌🖌🖌

[@artworld9799]

Special thanks madam 🙏❤🌹

[@candidofinda9647]

Like of pronuncition the schwa

[@weis3099]

Your effort is appreciated and I like your method from a psychological point of view. I have a question. Doesn't getting into the details of the language so much put more sensitivity and pressure on the language learner? Doesn't the emphasis on grammar and correct pronunciation rules bother the learner? How do children learn the language without grammar and the prescriptive rules of "phonetic" pronunciation, and only by repeatedly listening and trial and error can they improve their language? Is there an indirect method without prescriptive rules to learn pronunciation and how to speak correctly instead of all the emphasis on fine and coarse rules of grammar and phonetics?

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

Thank you for the question and observations, Weis. Certainly in language learning, there are both direct and indirect learning methods in acquiring language. This particular lesson was in response to specific questions I received from students aiming to better understand the use of the schwa.

[@weis3099]

As a learner, who is very interested in the English language, I meant that if you add indirect methods to your teaching ( just as a suggestion), your program will become better. I have improved my pronunciation through listening to music and watching short films indirectly, frequently and in a relax, stress-free and unconscious state without any educational pressure on me. Of course, I also use grammar tips and correct pronunciation principles with a smaller percentage. Despite this, your educational program is very good and usable, and I appreciate your efforts. I like your teaching method that well implemented in terms of educational psychology.

[@Mirador2]

Could you please explain the "Low back merger" (where /ɔ/ and maybe /ɒ/ become /ɑ/) and the "Weak vowel merger" (where unstressed /ɪ/ and maybe /ʊ/ become /ə/)? I'm learning to pronounce words in American English (in general), so I focus on the most standard/common pronunciations, but it's very difficult to know what they are; various dictionaries differ from each other and I think the main conflicts are based on these two mergers, the rest is usually consistent. So far my understanding is that in General American English (or Standard American English) people pronounce /ɑ/ instead of /ɔ/ (and they use /ɔ/ only in /ɔɪ/ and /ɔɹ/), and that /ɪ/ and /ʊ/ in unstressed syllables should be pronounced as /ə/, but I really don't know.

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

Thank you for the requests. I'll be sure to add this to future lesson topics.

[@DemiGodSpeciaL]

İn the word 'person' we have 2 shwa sounds right? First one is on the e and second one is on the o.

[@fredericroy]

Hello, can you explain the difference between /ʌ/ and /ə/?

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

Thank you for the question. /ʌ/ is the full vowel sound whereas the /ə/ is the reduced vowel sound.

[@lidogutierrez891]

An other good one.

[@luizalbertopereira7726]

Great video, as always 🙏📚

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

Thank you so much.

[@eileenarnesen5486]

Some of the transcriptions in this lession are faulty, like the "y" in the transcription of human. The letter "y", although in the IPA isn't used in RP or AE. Otherwise a great lesson!

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

Thanks Eileen. Our transcriptions are done automatically. We always appreciate knowing when there are errors so we can update them. We will be sure to review.

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

Hi again, Eileen, I wanted to follow up because I think I misunderstood your comment initially. I thought you were referring to the subtitles, which are automatically transcribed. However, in rethinking your comment, I realize you were referring to onscreen text. The use of /hyü-mən/ comes directly from an American English dictionary. I hope this helps.

[@smartlylearnwithfun1211]

1}Ambition

[@himanshuNSW]

I m trying hard to find schwa in following words Omelette,approximate,hesitation

[@AaSs-bn1ur]

♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@MarioPalos]

I've never pronounced helmet with a schwa. Both e sounds are /eh/, not /uh/. Unless it's the old German name, helmut.

[@edo7131]

Wow It sounds to me like the spanish "A"

[@lburguenotaiz]

You don’t get it then, buddy.

[@7MPhonemicEnglish]

There's no difference between /ə/ & /ʌ/ in General American English. If you hit a C note on a piano quickly, it will last a short period of time. If you hold down the sustain pedal and hit the note harder, it will sound louder and last a long time but it is still the same sound. The same is true of /ə/ & /ʌ/. The letter that represents this sound in our common alphabet is 'u' despite the fact that we're told that this letter represents two other sounds. Imagination: 'U' = /u/ or /ʊ/ or /ju/. Reality: mud, rug, fun, gun, pun, dud, shrug, lug, jug, hug, jump, shun, gut, bug, tug, bun, but, luck, nudge, etc. These words all use the same sound as 'about', data, amend, cobra, polka, where the letter 'a' is abused to represent that same sound.

[@rajeshsacademy4604]

@Speakconfidentenglish you're teaching somehow wron.

[@margitiabujamra]

The use of this sound allows for musicality in the English language. For us non-natives, it is extremely difficult.

[@Speakconfidentenglish]

You right, Margiti. It does contribute to the musicality and it is a challenging one. I hope this lesson is useful for getting comfortable with the schwa.

[@jamalhamad1453]

Please could you speak a little bit slowly

[@Brimenting]

You can reduce the playback speed of KZbin videos - click the star symbol under the video picture.

[@chech5774]

The word schwa isn’t pronounced with a schwa, that’s funny.

[@TraderLocoMX]

I məst cənfess it, you cəght me in /ðə/ first ləsson. 😮