1. Overview of unstressed vowels
/ə/ and /I/
Overview of unstressed vowels

2. Unstressed v Stressed vowels
Any words with more than one syllable will contain both stressed and unstressed vowel sounds.
So far we have only looked at stressed vowel sounds… /eI/ or /ɛ/ for example.

3. Unstressed v Stressed Computer (No, it’s not computerrrrr)
Stressed vowels have added stress on them.
Unstressed vowels have less stress on them. An obvious example is the first and final vowel sound in:
Computer
(No, it’s not computerrrrr)

4. schwa /ə/ banana garden correct support
/ə/ is the most common unstressed vowel sound. It is actually the most common sound in all of language in the world (but particularly in English). Can you find the schwa in these words:
banana garden correct support

5. /ə/ position
banana garden correct support

6. /I/ orange wanted music minute /I/ is another common unstressed vowel.
Can you find the /I/ in the following words:
orange wanted music minute

7. /I/ position
orange wanted music minute

8. Spot the difference /ə/ or /I/ or neither or both
computer oven pay cabbage
wanted confront  pleasant  
manager began find famous minute Gareth storm specialise

9. Spot the difference Here are the answers: /ə/ /I/ neither both
computer
cabbage
pay
manager
oven
wanted
find
confront
began
storm
pleasant
minute
famous
Gareth
Specialise
Total - 7
Total - 4
Total - 3
Total - 1