Pronunciation exercises: /j/ vs /ɪ/ or /iː/

/j/ is a semivowel; in Teflpedia's broad notation it is always in the same syllable as the following vowel and acts as a consonant.

/ɪ/ and /iː/ are vowels; when they are followed by another vowel they belong to a different syllable. Unstressed /ɪ/ and /iː/, when followed by a vowel, normally are interchangeable. Most people pronounce /iː/ and others pronounce /ɪ/. See also Pronunciation exercises: /ɪ/ vs /iː/ § Unstressed syllable

"Onion" has two syllables /ˈʌn.jən/ and "alien" has three syllables /ˈeɪ.liː.ən/ or /ˈeɪ.lɪ.ən/.

/j/

 * as "i": California, behavior, behaviour, interview, million, onion, opinion, review, Spaniard, savior, saviour, view
 * as "j": fjord, hallelujah
 * /nj/: cognac, lasagna, lasagne, pinata, piñata
 * "u" as /juː/: accumulate, Cuba, cute, distribute, stimulate
 * "ue" as /juː/: argue, continue, value
 * "ew" as /juː/: few, Matthew, nephew

/ɪ/ or /iː/
Some people use /ɪ/ and others use /iː/.
 * as "i": anaemia, anemia, aquarium, associate, audience, bacteria, brilliant, convenience, curious, euphoria, experience, immediately, mania, material, media, obvious, phobia, previous, serial, serious, schizophrenia, Tanzania, variable, various
 * as "e": cereal, erroneous, extraneous, heterogeneous, homogeneous, instantaneous, preoccupation, simultaneous, spontaneous
 * as "y": polyamorous, polyandry, polyester

/iː/

 * as "ee": agreeable, foreseeable
 * as "e": reapply, rearrange, reinforce, reopen
 * as "e-": re-enact, re-enter
 * as "i": pizzeria