The spelling of the word "skillern" may seem odd, but it actually follows the rules of English phonetics. Using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), the word can be transcribed as /ˈskɪlərn/. The first syllable, "skill," is pronounced with a short "i" sound, followed by the schwa sound in the second syllable, "-ern." This spelling may look unusual, but it accurately represents the pronunciation of the word. Ultimately, it's important to remember that spelling follows the rules of phonetics, not just intuition.