PRACTICE THE /I/ & /iy/ sounds
Click here for the MP3 sound file
(Be Patient because it takes a few minutes to load)
The /I/ sound does not exist in many languages. Its twin (pair) sound /iy/ exists in most languages. Both sounds come from the same place in yur brain, so your brain must learn to split that /iy/ sound that is so familiar to you, into two sounds. This is necessary to produce the high frequency English sound /I/. It is an important sound in English because it occurs so often. Practice the drill using exaggeration. This is like going to the gym, but this time your brain and your mouth are doing the work out.

/I/  /iy/  /I/ /I/ /I/

  /iy / /I/ / iy/  /I/  /I/

  /I/  /iy/  /I/  /iy/  /I/

  ship sheep ship ship ship

  sheep ship sheep ship ship

  ship sheep ship sheep ship

  ship sheep ship ship ship

  sheep ship sheep ship ship

  ship sheep ship sheep ship

  /I/  /iy/  /I/ /I/ /I/

  /iy / /I/ / iy/  /I/  /I/

  /I/  /iy/  /I/  /iy/  /I/