Sharpen your British English vowels with this focused practice session on the four pronunciations of the initial A. In this episode, you’ll warm up with clear examples, drill minimal pairs to refine your ear, and test your control through mixed-word practice and playful tongue twisters. It’s a practical, repetition-based workout designed to build accuracy and confidence with one of the most common—and most confusing—vowel patterns in English. Perfect for learners who want targeted pronunciation training and steady improvement.

Transcript:

Unstressed Schwa; about - again - ago - around - aware - allow - alone - adapt - ahead - across - attend - attempt - amount - agree - apart - assist - achieve

Short /æ/ – apple, actor, attitude - average - annual - actual - anchor - Attic - album

Long a /eɪ/ April - agent - alien - able - ancient - apron - acorn - aces

/ɑː/ artist - archive - army - armour - artisan

Activity 1:

about – apple

again – actor

ago – agent

around – army

awake – able

allow – artist

alone – acorn

adapt – April

ahead – alien

across – armour

attend – alien

attempt – aces

amount – April

agree – acorn

apart – artist

assist – agent

achieve – army

Activity 2:

apple – agent – army – about

actor – able – artist – again

animal – alien – archive – alone

advantage – agent – army – amount

address – able – artist – again

arrow – able – army – about

aroma – agent – artist – alone

ate – apple – army – about

atlas – able – artist – again

Activity 3:

Angry ants always avoid amber apples.

An actual actor attacked an attractive anchor.

Able aliens ate apricot acorns all afternoon.

April’s agents arranged ancient aprons.

Army artists archive armour accurately.

Artisan armies argue around ancient arches.

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