Towards better Davening and Torah Learning
Concerning HEI
This review was prompted by the opening word in this week's sedra - VAV-YUD-HEI-YUD-VAV, pronounced as follows: first syllable VAI (rhymes with by), second syllable YIHHH, with an aspirated HEI, meaning it is sounded.

The SH'VA under the HEI is NACH, meaning it doesn't have a vowel sound, only a consonant sound that closes the preceding syllable, and the third syllable is YU (as in you). The first YUD has a DAGESH CHAZAK, so its sound stretches from the end of the first syllable to the beginning of the second syllable. In other words, not VA YIH YU, but VAI YIH YU with the VAI and YIH syllables fused.

There are 1244 HEI/SH'VAs in Tanach - the SH'VA is always NACH. When reading these words, resist the natural tendency to give the HEI a short vowel sound and connect it to the coming syllable. It closes the previous syllable. SHEHAKOL NIH YA (or NIH YE) BID-VARO. The next to the last word of the bracha has only two syllables NIH and YA (or YE). Many (most?) people have a HI (as in hit) middle syllable which isn't there.