Shadowing Practice: Learn to Pronounce SHEET and BEACH Correctly - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Hello!
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Welcome to English for Everyone.
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Today we're talking about the difference between the long E sound and the short I sound.
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If you don't feel comfortable saying sheet like a sheet of paper
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or if you're scared to say beach I'm going to the beach watch this video we'll show you the difference.
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Example, hit.
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We have the short I sound, hit.
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Hit the ball.
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And heat, we have the long E sound.
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Heat.
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I don't like the heat.
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Let's look at the pronunciation.
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Hit.
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He hit the ball.
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We're using our short I sound, hit.
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To make this sound correctly, I.
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Open is a flat sound.
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The sound comes from here.
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I, I, I, I, I, it.
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Heat.
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I don't like the heat.
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We use the long E sound.
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Heat.
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E. To make the E sound, you smile.
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E. It's very close together.
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Inside your mouth, it's close together.
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E, almost touching.
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E. Heat.
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Heat.
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I don't like the heat.
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The sound is E.
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So compare the two sounds.
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E. You smile.
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E. It's almost touching inside your mouth.
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E. It's open, neutral.
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E. You don't smile.
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E. E.
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E. Listen to the difference.
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Hit, he, hit, he.
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Let's practice.
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Did he hit the ball?
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Yeah, he hit the ball.
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Do you like the heat?
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No, I don't like the heat.
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Did he hit the ball?
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Do you like the heat?
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Very good.
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Example.
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Sit.
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Seat.
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Please, sit down.
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Sit in a chair.
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And this is a child seat.
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This is a car seat for children.
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Seat.
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Listen to the difference.
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Sit.
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Seat.
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Sit.
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Seat. Where is he sitting?
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He is sitting in a chair.
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Where's the baby?
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The baby is in the car seat. Where is he sitting?
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Where's the baby?
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Very good.
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Example.
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Chip.
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Cheap.
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Chip.
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I like potato chips.
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I like chips.
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The price is very good.
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It's cheap.
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It's really cheap.
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Listen to the difference.
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Chip, cheap.
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Chip, cheap. Do you like chips?
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Yeah, I like chips.
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Is the dress very expensive?
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No, the dress is cheap. Do you like chips? Is the dress expensive?
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Very good.
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Example.
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Rich.
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Reach.
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She has a lot of money.
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She's very rich.
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He is reaching for the star.
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Reach.
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Is she rich?
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Yes, she's rich.
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Can she reach the stove?
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Yes, she can reach the stove. Is she rich?
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Can she reach the stove?
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Very good.
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Example.
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Ship.
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Sheep.
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The Titanic was a big ship.
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The sheep is white.
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Ship.
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Sheep.
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Ship.
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Sheep.
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Is it a big ship?
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Yes, it's a big ship.
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Is the sheep cute?
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Yes, it's a cute sheep.
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Is it a big ship?
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Is it a cute sheep?
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Very good.
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Example.
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Bin. Been.
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Bean.
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Bean.
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So this one has the short I sound.
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I, I. Been.
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I've been married for a long time. Been.
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Bean.
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I like beans.
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I eat beans for every meal.
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How long have you been married?
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I've been married for 16 years.
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Do you like beans?
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Yes, I like beans.
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How long has she been married? Do you like beans?
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Very good.
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Example, live.
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Leave.
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Live.
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They live in a house.
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Leave.
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They're leaving for New York.
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Listen to the difference.
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Live.
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Leave.
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Live.
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Leave. So, sheet.
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I need a sheet of paper.
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Long E.
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She.
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I need a sheet of paper.
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The bad word is the short I.
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She.
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She.
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She.
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smile e sheet I need a sheet of paper do you
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need a sheet of paper yes I need a sheet of paper do you need a sheet of paper
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very good number long e sound e sheets is he changing
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the sheets yes he's changing the sheets how often do you change the sheets I change the sheets once a month.
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Is he changing the sheets?
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How often do you change the sheets?
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Very good.
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Pronunciation.
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Beach.
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Long e.
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E. Beach.
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I'm going to the beach.
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The bad word for a female dog.
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I, I use the short sound, I, bi, bi.
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But the good word, beach.
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I'm going to the beach.
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Do you like going to the beach?
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Yes, I like going to the beach.
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When are you going to the beach?
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I'm going to the beach this summer.
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Do you like going to the beach?
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When are you going to the beach?
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Very good.
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So remember, the good words have the E, sheet, and beach.
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They both have the long E sound, so smile and you won't say the bad word.
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Sheet.
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I'm going to the beach.
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Don't say the I sound.
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That's the bad word.
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Thank you for watching.
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And if you want to speak English correctly and improve your pronunciation, subscribe to our channel.
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Thanks for watching.
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Mastering Long E and Short I: A Common Pronunciation Challenge

Many English learners struggle with distinguishing between the long E and short I sounds, which can lead to mix-ups like "sheet" vs. "shit" or "beach" vs. "bitch"—embarrassing mistakes that the video helps you avoid! The lesson breaks down these tricky sounds with clear examples, making it perfect for anyone looking to sound more natural, whether for daily chats or IELTS speaking practice.

5 Everyday Phrases to Start Using Today

  • "Hit the ball" (short I sound)
  • "I don't like the heat" (long E sound)
  • "Did he hit the ball?" (question practice)
  • "Do you like the heat?" (casual inquiry)
  • "Sit" vs. "seat" (minimal pair drill)

These phrases are simple but powerful—they’ll help you nail the sound difference in real conversations.

Your Step-by-Step Shadowing Guide for This Video

Ready to try the shadowing technique? Here’s how to make the most of this lesson: 1. Listen first: Watch the video without repeating. Focus on how the speaker’s mouth moves—smiling for long E ("heat") and keeping a neutral face for short I ("hit"). 2. Break it down: Pause after each phrase (like "He hit the ball") and repeat immediately, mimicking the tone and speed. This is shadow speech at its core! 3. Compare sounds: Practice "hit" and "heat" back-to-back. Notice how your tongue stays close to the roof of your mouth for "heat"—almost touching! 4. Speed it up: Once you’re comfortable, play the video at 1.25x speed. This trains your brain to keep up with natural speech, great for IELTS speaking practice. 5. Record yourself: Compare your recording to the video. Did you nail the smile for "heat"? Adjust until it feels natural. Remember, consistency is key. Even 5 minutes a day with this shadowing site (or any platform with clear audio) will boost your pronunciation. You’ve got this—every repeat brings you closer to sounding like a pro!

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowI've been married
Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around nowwe're talking · We're using · is sitting
Future with “going to” be going to + verb — a plan or something you can see comingI'm going to the
Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or predictionwe'll show · won't say

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →