English pronunciation practice for Korean speakers

1. /ɔ/ as in "not"

Fix problem Keep mouth round and tongue back.

English sound /ɔ/

Example "not"

Common error No common error specified.

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

2. /ə/ as in "the" (schwa)

Fix problem Weak endings: e.g. "London" "England"

English sound /ə/

Example "the" (schwa)

Common error No common error specified.

Practice materials
Practise the neutral vowel /ə/ using spoken dialogues

3. /ɔ:/ as in "nought"

Fix problem Tongue low & back. Jaws together. Long.

English sound /ɔ:/

Example "nought"

Common error /ɔ/ — "not"

Practice materials
Minimal Pairs /ɔ/ 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 /æ/ or /ɜ:/ practice
Minimal Pairs /ɔ:/ or /ɜ:/ practice

6. /əʊ/ as in "bone"

Fix problem Tongue central. Then tightly round lips.

English sound /əʊ/

Example "bone"

Common error /ɔ:/ — "born"

7. /əʊ/ as in "note"

Fix problem Tongue central. Then tightly round lips.

English sound /əʊ/

Example "note"

Common error /ɔ/ — "not"

8. /v/ as in "vet"

Fix problem Voiced. Friction with top teeth & bottom lip.

English sound /v/

Example "vet"

Common error /b/ — "bet"

9. /v/ as in "vet"

Fix problem Voiced. Friction with top teeth & bottom lip.

English sound /v/

Example "vet"

Common error /w/ — "wet"

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

10. /z/ as in "rise"

Fix problem Voiced: tip of tongue behind top teeth. Friction.

English sound /z/

Example "rise"

Common error /s/ — "rice"

Practice materials
Minimal Pairs /s/ or /z/ 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. /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

13. /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.

14. /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

15. /ŋ/ as in "thing"

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

English sound /ŋ/

Example "thing"

Korean language backgrounds

1. /ɔ/ as in "not"

2. /ə/ as in "the" (schwa)

3. /ɔ:/ as in "nought"

4. /ɔ:/ as in "bought"

5. /ɜ:/ as in "bird"

6. /əʊ/ as in "bone"

7. /əʊ/ as in "note"

8. /v/ as in "vet"

9. /v/ as in "vet"

10. /z/ as in "rise"

11. /θ/ as in "thin"

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

13. /ɫ/ as in "tall" (dark l)

14. /ŋk/ as in "think"

15. /ŋ/ as in "thing"