Contrasting vowel /e/ and /3:/ - JSS1 English Language Lesson Note

                   Introduction

In English, vowels play a crucial role in pronunciation and understanding words correctly.
Vowels can have different sounds, and two common ones we'll focus on are /e/ and /ɜ:/.

Vowel /e/:

The vowel sound /e/ is a short and closed sound.
It is pronounced with the mouth slightly open and the tongue in a mid-front position.
Examples: "bed," "pet," "let."

Vowel /ɜ:/:

The vowel sound /ɜ:/ is a long and open sound.
It is pronounced with the mouth more open and the tongue in a mid-central position.
Examples: "bird," "hurt," "learn."

The key difference between /e/ and /ɜ:/ lies in the mouth position and length of pronunciation.
/e/ is a shorter sound, while /ɜ:/ is longer and more open.

Identifying the sound differences : 

 /e/ sound:

Say "bed". Feel your mouth - your tongue moves to the middle and spreads a little towards the front.
This is the /e/ sound, like in "red", "pen", and "check".

/3:/ sound:

Now, say "bird". Feel your tongue move further back in your mouth, and your lips almost form a circle.
This is the /3:/ sound, like in "girl", "shirt", and "world".

Practice Makes Perfect!

How can we get better at using these sounds? Here are some fun exercises:

Minimal Pairs: These are word buddies that sound almost identical except for one vowel sound!
Try saying: "bed" vs "bird"
Can you hear the difference in the vowel sound?
Look and Say: Read these word lists and try pronouncing them clearly:
/e/: pet, ten, neck, yes, best
/3:/: burn, first, thirst, nurse, curve
Sentence Scramble: Unscramble the words to make sentences with /e/ and /3:/ sounds:

The _g_r_i_l wore a _b_l_u_e _s_k_i_r_t. (/3:/ /e/)
He _r_e_d a new _b_e_d. (/e/ /e/).