This podcast series gives you strategies to succeed on each part of the IELTS Speaking Exam.

The three parts are very different from one another so you need to use strategies that are specific to each part. In this episode I look at the ways to succeed on Parts 1 of the exam.

IELTS Speaking Success

IELTS Speaking Strategies 1 2 3 - Episode 2: Part 1 of the Speaking Exam

Master the long /iː/ and short /ɪ/ sounds through focused repetition and listening exercises. This practice session reinforces Lesson 7's key concept: both 'e' and 'i' can represent these two distinct vowel sounds in British English.
You'll practice word lists, minimal pairs (sit/seat, ship/sheep), and challenging tongue twisters designed to sharpen your ear and improve your articulation. Perfect for learners who want to train their pronunciation through hands-on practice rather than theory.
Repeat, listen, and build muscle memory—no matter your starting level, consistent practice will help these sounds become natural.

Transcript: 
Long e with letter E: see, me, be, these, complete, scene, tree, free, three, believe, receive, degree, theme, scheme, delete, extreme
Long e with letter I: machine, police, sardine, prestige, magazine, marine, cuisine, routine, limousine, hygiene, submarine, regime, tambourine
Short i with letter E:  English, pretty, bucket, pocket, started, lended,  helmet, velvet, secret
Short i with letter I:  it, sit, him, big, sister, interesting, milk, sick, pin, picnic, win, fish, list, lift, hint

Minimal Pairs: 
Sit - seat
Fit - feet 
ship - sheep 
dip  — deep 
chip — cheap 
Bin – Bean
Pin – Peen
Lid – Lead
Rich – Reach
Bit – Beat
Sick – Seek
Him – Heap
Fin – Fee
Rip – Reap
Tongue twisters: 
I see the sheep sleep deep in the green field.
Sick fish swim in the deep sea.
Pin the chip on the cheap machine.
The keen teen keeps the scene clean.
Big fish in a deep green sea swim free.
Pretty women with private seats sip tea.


British Pronunciation Tips 

British Vowel Sounds: Lesson 7 – The Long & Short E/I. Same Sounds, Different Letters - Practice 

(Discover how the letters E and I share more than you might expect! In this episode, we break down the long /iː/ (“ee”) and short /ɪ/ (“i”) vowel sounds in British English, explore how both letters can produce the same sound, and practice minimal pairs to help you hear and pronounce them accurately. Perfect for learners looking to refine their English pronunciation and accent.

British Vowel Sounds: Lesson 7 – Long & Short E/I. Same Sound, Different Letters 

Sharpen your British English vowels with this focused practice session on the four pronunciations of the initial A. In this episode, you’ll warm up with clear examples, drill minimal pairs to refine your ear, and test your control through mixed-word practice and playful tongue twisters. It’s a practical, repetition-based workout designed to build accuracy and confidence with one of the most common—and most confusing—vowel patterns in English. Perfect for learners who want targeted pronunciation training and steady improvement.
Transcript: 
Unstressed Schwa; about - again - ago - around - aware - allow - alone - adapt - ahead - across - attend - attempt - amount - agree - apart - assist - achieve 
Short /æ/ – apple, actor, attitude - average - annual  - actual - anchor - Attic - album
Long a /eɪ/ April - agent - alien - able - ancient - apron - acorn - aces
/ɑː/ artist - archive - army - armour - artisan
Activity 1: 
about – apple
again – actor
ago – agent
around – army
awake – able
allow – artist
alone – acorn
adapt – April
ahead – alien
across – armour
attend – alien
attempt – aces
amount – April
agree – acorn
apart – artist
assist – agent
achieve – army
Activity 2: 
apple – agent  – army – about
actor – able – artist – again
animal – alien – archive – alone
advantage  – agent – army – amount
address – able – artist – again
arrow – able – army – about
aroma – agent – artist – alone
ate – apple – army – about
atlas – able – artist – again
Activity 3: 
Angry ants always avoid amber apples.
An actual actor attacked an attractive anchor.
Able aliens ate apricot acorns all afternoon.
April’s agents arranged ancient aprons.
Army artists archive armour accurately.
Artisan armies argue around ancient arches.

British Vowel sound masterclass: Lesson 6: But wait! There is more… Initial A schwa - PRACTICE 

Discover the secrets of English words that start with “A”! In this episode, we break down how stress, word origin, and surrounding letters determine whether the initial A sounds like /æ/, /eɪ/, /ɑː/, or the weak schwa /ə/. Learn the rules, spot the exceptions, and practice tricky words like address, arrow, aviation, and atlas to make your pronunciation more natural and confident.

British Vowel sound masterclass: Lesson 6: But wait! There is more… Initial A schwa. 

Master the soft, unstressed “A” in English! This episode focuses on the schwa /ə/, the most common vowel in unstressed syllables. Through guided practice, you’ll learn to hear and produce the middle, initial, and final A schwa in words like banana, alone, and sofa. Contrast stressed vs. unstressed A, refine your ear, and practice naturally flowing English pronunciation with simple, repeat-after-me exercises.
Transcript: 
Middle Schwa: Banana, Family, Animal, Company, Chocolate, elephant , celebrate, personal, president, different, support, cinema.  
Initial Schwa: about - again - ago - around - awake - allow - alone - adapt - ahead - across - attend - attempt - amount - agree - apart - assist - achieve 
 Apple (/æ/) – about (/ə/)
 Agent (/eɪ/) – alone (/ə/)
 Army (/ɑː/) – again (/ə/)
 Actor (/æ/) – around (/ə/)
 Able (/eɪ/) – ago (/ə/)    
Final Schwa: sofa - comma -pizza - idea - agenda - extra - drama - algebra - camera - tuna - banana - umbrella - formula - opera
