Let’s listen to this clip from Timbaland’s The Way I Are…

Baby if you strip, you could get a tip
Cause I like you just the way you are
I’m about to strip and I want it quick
Can you handle me the way I are?

I don’t need the cheese or the car keys
Boy I like you just the way you are
So let me see you strip, you could get a tip
Cause I like you

Let’s read the lyrics together.

Here, the singers use some new words:

Strip – take off your clothes

Tip – give some extra money to someone for a service (like a waiter)

Cheese – money

The English short /i/ sound and long /e/ sound are often confused.  Short /i/ sounds are made without opening your mouth too much.

/i/ /i/ /i/

Strip

Tip

Lip

Trip

Flip

Switch

Long /e/ sounds are said while smiling.

/e/ /e/ /e/

Cheese

See

Me

Knee

Baby

Now you try.  Look at the words below and try to pronounce them in your head before I say them:

Word 1 - Slip /i/

Word 2 - Sleep /e/

Word 3 - Kit /i/

Word 4 - Keep /e/

Word 5 - Wheel /e/

Word 6 - Will /i/

Word 7 - Peace /e/

Word 8 - Pit /i/