Minimal pairs · e · ɪ
pen or pin
The open e of pen against the short, relaxed i of pin. Arabic has only three short vowels (a, i, u), so e and i blur and pen sounds like pin.
Hard for Arabic speakers
Press play, then tap the word you heard.
How to teach the mouth
Let the jaw show it: for e the mouth opens a finger wider than for i. Put the back of a hand under the chin — it drops on pen and barely moves on pin. Then sort by ear: pens in one box, pins in the other.