Expert English Pronunciation, Accent Reduction & Fluency
Q. Why is it difficult for native speakers to understand me when I talk with them in English? A. You are using the sound system of your first language when you speak English, which has it’s own sound system. Did you know Read More ...
If Arabic is your native language, you may be using the Arabic “sound system” when you speak English. There are some important differences between Arabic and English. There are many more vowels in English than Arabic, and the ones that aren’t Read More ...
If Japanese is your first language, you may be using a Japanese “sound system” when you speak English. Japanese has fewer vowels with very regular lengths, but English vowels can be stretched or shortened anytime, depending on the need. English Read More ...
If an Indo-Aryan language like Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Nepali, Sinhala, or Divehi, is your native language… you may be using its “sound system” when you speak English. The more you understand about the English sound system, the better you will sound Read More ...
If French is your native language, you may be using the French “sound system” when you speak English. The “mode” or starting position in French is different from English. English front vowels are longer and more tense than French vowels. Schwa exists Read More ...
If Korean is your first language, you may be using the Korean “sound system” for English. But the Korean sound system does not use stress in words and sentences in the way English does. English consonants, especially final position, are Read More ...
If your first language is Russian, or a dialect of Russian, you may be using the Slavonic “sound system” when you speak English. You may not have learned much about this if you studied English as a foreign language. Some Read More ...
If Chinese is your native language, you may be using the Chinese “sound system” when you speak English. In Chinese, tone is word-specific, but in English tone is statement-based and must be adjusted for what’s new, what’s different, and what’s Read More ...
If Spanish is your native language, you may be using the Spanish “sound system” when you speak English. You may not be stretching and shrinking your English vowels to shape each word. You may be using a Spanish melody for your Read More ...
If you are difficult to understand when you speak English, you are probably using your first language sound system as you say English words. English is stress-based, and you must learn to “package” words and “package” phrases, using strategies that Read More ...
Written for ESL and EFL teachers, tutors, and accent reduction coaches, as well as advanced level English students who can read and understand the English on this website. Inside, you’ll discover how our languages differ and learn great strategies and Read More ...
Take Private Lessons. American Pronunciation Coach provides private, intensive, customized training to help you speak English more fluently and comprehensibly, and reduce your accent. We will work together to help you achieve your goals. I will diagnose your speaking habits in English and teach you Read More ...
Just as artists use charcoal or paints or clay to create an experience, teachers use research, best teaching practice and personal insights to craft the best learning experience for their students. I consider what I do to be an art Read More ...
After years (and years) of teaching ESL and EFL, I have distilled my knowledge, skills, and experiences into guiding “principles” in a few areas of teaching, and happily, no longer have to search for materials or buy something a publisher Read More …
Want to hear what English accents sound like in Belfast, London, Ontario, Alabama, Singapore, Delhi and lots of other places? At soundcomparisons.com you’ll hear the same word spoken with many, many accents. It’s amazing that we can understand each other! The great thing Read More …
Just being silly! Are you correcting my grammar right now/ Do you yearn to capitalize that lowercase t in the title? Are you having one of those days, when you wish you had some kind of control over something?!?!?!?!? Print the button Read More …
One of the features I like about using SoundCloud for pronunciation feedback is the ability to mark a spot on a student’s recording, and write a note about the sound, and attach the note to that place on the recording.
I’ve been playing with different software, looking for good tools that help English learners and practitioners improve their pronunciation. Today’s post is about SoundCloud. I found the following clip on SoundCloud, put up there by someone else, and it’s the Read More …
Englishcentral.com offers video clips for English listening and speaking comprehension, and also pronunciation practice– and the great part is that you get feedback on your pronunciation. It’s free if you sign up and allow the site to temporarily use your Read More …
Angle Heart, a Facebook Page fan, requested more information about strong and weak forms. This is so easy to teach in person, and so hard to write about, because strong and weak forms are about sounds, not written words. You’ll Read More …
Today a client encountered an unfamiliar word ending in -ture; I think it was overture. So we had a brief review of the pronunciation of this end syllable. It can be part of a noun, as in the word nature, or Read More …
Some people say “thee”; some say “thuh”, many people say both! Here is the short answer for why and when we say them. In the daily practice of speaking, American English speakers strive to stay as relaxed as possible, in Read More …
Fun English for learners website–I especially like their Mixers: 6 different people speaking English, some with accents, discussing the same topic, for example: their worst haircut, or…asking someone to do them a big favor and take care of their pet. Read More …