Hey everyone!
In today's lesson, I want to talk to you about a really confusing word which most of us don't
really know how to pronounce, because it's said in so many different ways because there's
a different pronunciation in British English than the one they use in American English.
So, there's a lot of confusion, because we hear the two different versions, and there's
also some other versions going around, so it leaves you scratching your head, not knowing
how to say this word.
And it's an important word in business English.
You will need to use it.
So, if you have a look at the spelling, you can see it is spelt "sch", so when you see
a word like that, can you think of any similar words that begin with "sch"?
I can think of one.
That word is "school", school.
So, the sound I'm making there is a "sk" sound, "sk, sk", but this word in the British English
pronunciation doesn't sound the same, so I'm going to go ahead and say it for you now.
The word is "shed-yul".
Now, let's break it down.
There are two syllables in that word, schedule.
The first syllable is "shed".
It has a "sh" sh sound in it.
That's different from the word "school" that I mentioned just a moment ago.
Let's compare them.
School, schedule.
We can see the spelling is the same, the first few letters, but they sound different, and
that's really important to remember about this word, schedule.
So, the first syllable is the same word as "shed", which is a small construction in your
garden, a place where you keep your tools.
The second syllable "you'll", this a contraction of "you + will".
For example, you'll be alright.
You'll be alright.
I'm saying there, you will be alright.
This word "yule" is an alternative word for the Christmas period, and it is like an old-fashioned
Christmas word.
You might see it in shop displays.
You might see it in adverts.
What it actually means is, before Christian times, the winter celebration was called Yule.
So, going back to the word schedule, let's put the two parts of the world together.
"shed-yul", "shed-yul".
Another thing that's going to help you remember is you should pronounce the "sh" in schedule.
Now, let's learn the American pronunciation.
Listen first: ske-ju-ul, ske-ju-ul, ske-ju-ul.
Okay, in that word, there are three syllables.
Let's go through them, one by one.
The first syllable is "ske", "ske".
Do you remember earlier in this lesson, I said the word "school".
School has a "sk" sound in it, school.
So does schedule, ske-ju-ul.
So, the first syllable of "schedule" sounds like the word "school".
Now, for the second syllable.
And, the second syllable, it disappears when I'm speaking quickly, but have another listen
to it: ske-ju-ul.
So, that second syllable has a "juh" sound, like in the word "Jew", but also like in my
name, Jade Joddle.
And lastly, now I want to do the third syllable of the word "ske-ju-ul, ske-ju-ul".
I have here a schwa and a dark L sound.
"Ul, ul, ul".
This is not a stressed syllable, so I don't you to say "ske-ju-UL".
Now, let's compare the British pronunciation to the American pronunciation.
I'm going to say British first, American second.
"Shed-yul", "ske-ju-ul", "Shed-yul", "ske-ju-ul".
When you're improving your pronunciation, it's also really important to practice words
inside sentences and phrases, so I'm going to give you a few phrases now that include
the word "shed-yul" in the British pronunciation.
"Today's meeting is scheduled for 4:00pm."
"A general election has been scheduled to take place on the 5th of May."
"The project to build the new shopping center is running behind schedule."
"I have got such a busy schedule; I have not got time to talk about this right now."
"Would you like to schedule your next appointment?"
Okay everyone, thank you for watching this lesson.
What I would like you to do now is go over to the www.engvid.com website where you can
do a quiz on this lesson.
I have to go.
I've got a scheduled appointment.
I can't be late.
See you next time.