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Chillchat (Learn Chinese and Chill)

Have you tried hybrid working?你试过混合办公吗？

Why does work sound like werrrk when it’s spelled with an o? In this episode, we unpack one of the most confusing features of British pronunciation: the /ɜː/ sound. With clear explanations, grouped practice words, minimal pairs, and tongue twisters, this lesson will help you stop trusting the spelling and start trusting the R. 

Practice Transcript: 
Spelled with 'e': her, term, serve, early, person, learn
With 'o': work, word, world, worth, worse, worm, worst, worthwhile, attorney
With 'i': bird, first, girl, shirt
With 'u': nurse, turn, burn, church

Practice 2:
her, bird, nurse, work
term, girl, turn, word
serve, first, burn, world
early, shirt, church, worth
person, bird, nurse, worse
learn, girl, turn, worm
person, girl, nurse, word

Minimal pairs: 
Word - ward, work - walk, world - wall, worse - wars, worth - north, worm - warn

Tongue Twisters: 
I like to walk to work in warm weather. 
The worm on the war ship worships workplaces 
The early bird turns and learns to work.
Were the worst words worth the work?

If you found this episode interesting, follow this podcast for more tips. And if you would like to work on your accent one on one book a lesson with me on italki.
https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/9446274


British Pronunciation Tips 

British Vowel Sound Masterclass: Lesson 10: Why do we say ‘work’ with errrr?

This guided practice episode helps you train the e schwa, the most common weak vowel sound in English. You’ll practice how it appears at the end, in the middle, and at the beginning of words, focusing on relaxation, rhythm, and smooth transitions rather than clear vowel shapes. We start with the most reliable endings such as er, en, and el, then move on to common middle schwa patterns, and finish with unstressed e at the start of words, where pronunciation can vary depending on speed and accent. This episode is designed to help you reduce effort, improve flow, and sound more natural in connected speech.

Transcript: 

-er (uhr): teacher, driver, player, worker, baker, manager, leader, owner, member, partner, computer, number, paper, summer, letter
-en (uhn): open, broken, written, taken, given, garden,  listen, happen, children, often, golden, sudden, heaven, seven
-el (uhl): travel, model, level, label, novel, cancel, vowel, tunnel, panel, angel 

Middle e schwa: different, camera, general, interest, average, moment, student, patient, parent, president, independent, permanent 

Initial e schwa: effect, event, enough, explain, exit, exist, elect, emerge, enable, engage, economy, election


British Vowel Sound Masterclass: Lesson 9: The E Schwa - Practice 

In this episode, we explore the most common vowel sound in British English, the schwa, with a focus on how the letter E behaves in unstressed syllables. You’ll learn why the schwa isn’t a real vowel but a weak transition sound, how word stress controls pronunciation, and why native speakers often seem to skip vowels altogether. We cover reliable patterns at the ends of words such as er, en, and el, tricky unstressed E in the middle of words, and why initial E can shift between /ɪ/ and /ə/. If you want your pronunciation to sound more natural, fluent, and rhythmical, this lesson will change how you hear English.

British Vowel Sound Masterclass: Lesson 9: The E Schwa

Tired of abandoning your language resolutions by mid-February? This episode reveals why traditional goal-setting fails for advanced learners—and introduces a game-changing monthly mission system that keeps you motivated all year long. Discover how to turn vague aspirations like "improve my English" into measurable pronunciation victories, one month at a time. Perfect for learners who know there's more progress to make but can't see the next step forward.