Calling All English as a Foreign Language Students. Here’s why you NEED the Schwa!

by | Apr 4, 2025 | courses, EFL classes, English Language Classes, English Language Tuition, ESOL classes, Evening classes, Language classes, Language school, Languages, Skype language classes

A young woman with long dark hair, cupping her hand to her mouth, with "shwa" in a speech bubble, with a Union Jack in the background.

Learning English as a foreign language?  There’s a fundamental you need to know about that’s subtle, sneaky, and is everywhere in English! Yes, we’re talking about the schwa, which steps into the spotlight every 7th April.

National Schwa Day is your chance to celebrate the unassuming vowel sound quietly running the show. And you’ll want to pay close attention if you’re tackling English as a foreign language as your second (or third) tongue.

What is the Schwa Anyway?

The schwa (ə) is the most common sound in English. It’s the relaxed little “uh” sound that pops up in unstressed syllables. Think of the ‘a’ in around, the ‘e’ in chicken, or even the ‘u’ in stadium.

In fact, this shape-shifting sound can be spelled with any of the five vowels. The Encyclopaedia Britannica explains:

“The schwa is considered to be a “reduced” vowel, spoken with less intensity than a full, stressed vowel and lacking the distinctive qualities of such vowels as a in father, e in be, and o in often”.

Talk about versatile!

And you can’t stop noticing it once you start, smoothing out your speech and helping you sound more natural. This is a real bonus when you’re trying to master EFL.

How to Tap into the Schwa When Learning English as a Foreign Language

National Schwa Day made its debut in 2023, thanks to Yvette Manns, author of the 2022 children’s book The Not-So-Lazy Schwa. 7th April was chosen because both seven and April are rich in the schwa.

As for leveraging the schwa when taking EFL lessons, why not try these entertaining yet educational exercises?

  • Read the book – It’s a must for young and older EFL students alike.
  • Practice with other students – Get your teacher on board with schwa-inspired words games.
  • Spot the Schwa – Pick a paragraph and highlight all the hidden schwas. It’s more fun than it sounds!

At la Academia, we’ve a compelling range of English as a foreign language courses and tuition options. You’ll soon know your reduced vowels from your stressed ones with ease.

Get in touch for more information about the best fit for you.