The SCHWA Sound! English Pronunciation Lesson

The SCHWA is the sound you NEED to know and use if you want to sound natural and relaxed when you speak English!
/ə/

This lesson will show you how to use the schwa to improve your English pronunciation, reduce your accent and to sound more natural when you speak! THIS sound - the schwa /ə/ - is the secret to NATURAL English expression. It's the most common English sound - you will hear it in almost every English sentence that is spoken!
I'll teach you how to recognise the schwa sound in the International Phonetic Alphabet so that you can improve your pronunciation WITHOUT a native English speaker!
The sound will help you to
- use common reductions (reduced forms in spoken English)
- reduce your accent (accent reduction)
- sound natural when you speak English
- use correct rhythm and tone
- listen to native English speakers speaking at a natural speed

My video lessons are created to help English learners to improve their pronunciation and speaking skills. Please note that the pronunciation of some of these words differs between English accents. I speak with an Australian English accent 🙂

---------- TIMESTAMPS ----------
00:00 Introduction
00:41 Why is the schwa sound so important?
02:20 What schwa sounds like
03:52 Making the schwa sound
05:05 Why is the schwa sound so common?
07:28 Where to find the schwa sound
07:43 Unstressed structure words
09:01 Unstressed syllables
12:05 Schwa sound challenge
13:50 Extra schwa sound practice

#mmmEnglish #NaturalEnglishPronunciation #SpeakingEnglish #Schwa #IPA #EnglishPronunciation #EnglishTeacher #YouTubeTeacher

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Prepositions are one of the most frustrating parts about English - but they don’t have to be! I’ve created a course that will help you to master the most common English prepositions - I’ll teach you how to use them in context, study how they are used and (importantly) I’ll help you to practise using them! This course includes grammar lessons PLUS imitation practice (so you get to practise your pronunciation with me too!)

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[katarinakovacevic]

Hi Emma. My name is Katarina. I am Australian. Original I come from Croatia. I am pensioner over 70 and want to improve my English. I love your way of teaching. Thank you for your help.

[Bucanero]

You are, without a shadow of doubt, the best english teacher in the whole world...!

[alihakan]

Dear Mrs. Emma;

I wanna express with all my heart,

You're the best english teacher of all time. Also very pretty, always very polite, very intellectual, very understanding, always very sweet...

You're an angel. God bless you and your family...

[hurguler]

English is my second language. I have been learning English for the past 50 years. You are one of the best English as a second language teachers. You explain the schwa sound really well. You're a STAR teacher.

[paulinalcime-wdoe]

Teach thanks for this lesson please, Jesus loves you so much.I got many difficulties about the schwa but today you revive me I love you!

[carriemcclung]

Brilliant! Thank you so much. I never realized that I was adapting my shwa sounds to adapt to accents! I now have to teach the shwa as an ESL teacher but had never, ever heard of it before. Your lesson was super comprehensive and I can easily adapt it to the US accent. Thank you, Emma! Absolutely brilliant! <3

[seneltemel]

I am from Turkey. Living in New zealand, i like to improve my pronunciation .
most difficult part for me.but when i start to watch your video, i feel getting better. Please, more video 🙏🙏🙏

[imhabie]

I have been working on this video for almost an hour to note, to understand, to practice. This helps me a lot! Thank you, Emma <3

[bruceevans]

Hello, Emma. I am a singing coach, American born and raised. I just taught a lesson to a chorus last week including the schwa. But we use two sounds for the schwa, ih and uh, mostly interchangeably. My favorite word for demonstrating this is the name of the city on the river in Michigan where cars are built - Detroit. Properly spoken the stress is on the last syllable - deTROIT. The schwa substitution can be either dihTROIT, or duhTROIT. Good video!

[violetajanelidze]

I can always listen to you Not as a teacher, you have a very nice conversation. Try everything very simply and beautifully give the listener😍❤️❤️

[reccinindi]

Hallo emma...im from indonesia.. 👋 actually i hated all about english when i was high school 😂. but now, im enthusiastic to watch all of your videos..n i just finished downloading some of your videos..now i can practice how to pronounce well from you. Youre my real teacher...I hope someday i will have a chance to speak english with a native speaker directly.. n get moreeee lessons about english 😂😂😂

[MrAndreiZh]

I felt like a thousand schwa sounds after a hard day I'd had, but I was watching this particular lesson with increasing interest)))

[mireillenurit]

Hi !
This idea of a golden time is great. After many years of teaching English, I have come to the conclusion that the main difficulty with speaking a foreign language is that the students must get used to hearing themselves speaking this language, which means uttering different sounds. Their body is not used to it, their ears find these new sounds strange. It is the physical aspect of it which is a problem.

[pauls]

I'm new to online teaching and I find your videos so, so helpful. The way you explain tricky concepts in such a clear and engaging way is incredible. Language learning should be fun but sometimes, as a teacher, it is hard to make it fun. Your lessons are a great resource and inspiration, thanks!

[forgottennagatribe]

I often listen to every English teachers from every corner of the world, among them you are the one of my favorite teacher I learn a lots of things from your teaching, Love you Ma'am

[zainulabdin]

I really love the way you teach pronunciations. Your every lecture is superb.

[lees]

Native English speaker here! Trying to help my kids with phonics homework and had no idea that this was a thing ✌🏽☺️

[ladybird]

Hi Emma.I like to hear you.You teach casually and yet effective. Luv from Singapore.

[kamaltaaavoni]

After years i copmeletly understand what is the shcwa sounds...my teacher mever clared this for me...thnks a million...i feel better about pronounciation now⚘⚘

[todaywisdom]

I am really happy to improve my speaking or pronunciation from your lessons and I have more confident during the talking with native speakers. Thank u too much Emma ❤❤🌷