English pronunciation practice for Russian speakers

1. /i:/ as in "seat"

Fix problem Spread lips more and keep tongue high.

English sound /i:/

Example "seat"

Common error /ɪ/ — "sit"

Practice materials
Minimal Pairs /ɪ/ or /i:/ practice

2. /æ/ as in "man"

Fix problem Move tongue to a lower front position.

English sound /æ/

Example "man"

Common error /e/ — "men"

Practice materials
Minimal Pairs /e/ or /æ/ practice

3. /ɔ/ as in "not"

Fix problem Keep mouth round and tongue back.

English sound /ɔ/

Example "not"

Common error /əʊ/ — "note"

Practice materials
Minimal Pairs /əʊ/ or /ɔ/ practice

4. /ɔ:/ as in "bought"

Fix problem Tongue low, back & fixed. Jaws together.

English sound /ɔ:/

Example "bought"

Common error /əʊ/ — "boat"

Practice materials
Minimal Pairs /ɔ:/ or /əʊ/ practice

5. /ɜ:/ as in "bird"

Fix problem Fix tongue in central position. Long.

English sound /ɜ:/

Example "bird"

Common error No common error specified.

Practice materials
Minimal Pairs /e/ or /ɜ:/ practice
Minimal Pairs /ʌ/ or /ɜ:/ practice
Minimal Pairs /ɔ:/ or /ɜ:/ practice

6. /p/ as in "pit"

Fix problem Unvoiced. Use more air. Trap it with lips.

English sound /p/

Example "pit"

Common error /b/ — "bit"

7. /p/ as in "pill"

Fix problem Unvoiced. Trap air with both lips.

English sound /p/

Example "pill"

Common error /f/ — "fill"

8. /b/ as in "bill"

Fix problem Voiced. Vibration. Trap air with lips.

English sound /b/

Example "bill"

Common error /p/ — "pill"

9. /t/ as in "tie"

Fix problem Tip of tongue behind top teeth.

English sound /t/

Example "tie"

Common error /d/ — "die"

Practice materials
Minimal Pairs /t/ or /d/ practice

10. /d/ as in "made"

Fix problem Tip of tongue behind top teeth.

English sound /d/

Example "made"

Common error /t/ — "mate"

Practice materials
Minimal Pairs /t/ or /d/ practice

11. /θ/ as in "thin"

Fix problem Voiceless. Friction. Tongue between teeth.

English sound /θ/

Example "thin"

Common error /s/ — "sin"

Practice materials
Minimal Pairs /θ/ or /ð/ practice
Minimal Pairs /θ/ or /t/ practice
Minimal Pairs /θ/ or /d/ practice
Minimal Pairs /θ/ or /s/ practice

12. /ð/ as in "they"

Fix problem Voiced. Friction. Tongue between teeth.

English sound /ð/

Example "they"

Common error /d/ — "day"

Practice materials
Minimal Pairs /ð/ or /d/ practice

13. /h/ as in "hot"

Fix problem Quickly push air from throat out of mouth.

English sound /h/

Example "hot"

Common error "ch" in "loch"

Practice materials
Minimal Pairs /h/ or silent "h" practice

14. /n/ as in "sun"

Fix problem Tongue touches alveolar ridge. Nasal.

English sound /n/

Example "sun"

Common error No common error specified.

15. /ŋ/ as in "thing"

Fix problem Voiced stop: back of tongue to back roof.

English sound /ŋ/

Example "thing"

Common error /ŋk/ — "think"

Practice materials
Minimal Pairs /ŋ/ or /ŋk/ practice

16. /ŋk/ as in "think"

Fix problem Back of tongue to back roof. Nasal.

English sound /ŋk/

Example "think"

Common error /ŋ/ — "thing"

Practice materials
Minimal Pairs /ŋ/ or /ŋk/ practice

17. /l/ as in "light" (clear)

Fix problem Tongue touches hard palate.

English sound /l/

Example "light" (clear)

Common error /r/ — "right"

Practice materials
Minimal Pairs /l/ or /r/ practice

18. /ɫ/ as in "tall" (dark l)

Fix problem Contact. Brief "schwa" after release.

English sound /ɫ/

Example "tall" (dark l)

Common error No common error specified.

19. /w/ as in "west"

Fix problem Start with lips tightly rounded. Unround & glide.

English sound /w/

Example "west"

Common error /v/ — "vest"

Practice materials
Minimal Pairs /w/ or /v/ practice

Russian language backgrounds

1. /i:/ as in "seat"

2. /æ/ as in "man"

3. /ɔ/ as in "not"

4. /ɔ:/ as in "bought"

5. /ɜ:/ as in "bird"

6. /p/ as in "pit"

7. /p/ as in "pill"

8. /b/ as in "bill"

9. /t/ as in "tie"

10. /d/ as in "made"

11. /θ/ as in "thin"

12. /ð/ as in "they"

13. /h/ as in "hot"

14. /n/ as in "sun"

15. /ŋ/ as in "thing"

16. /ŋk/ as in "think"

17. /l/ as in "light" (clear)

18. /ɫ/ as in "tall" (dark l)

19. /w/ as in "west"