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 ...
This question came up recently (again): Why do native English speakers sometimes pronounce the word “the” as rhyming with “see”, and other times pronounce it to rhyme with “duh”? The most common pronunciation of the is with schwa, to rhyme Read More …
This YouTube video will get your feet moving, your toes tapping, and your spirits soaring! When the songwriters composed this tune, they changed the natural intonation patterns to something less natural, adding an element of surprise and excitement to the Read More …
Watch Henri the cat’s hilarious existential video, discuss the vocabulary, converse on the topics of New Wave dark films, French cinema, dark or black humor, how cultural humor differs, how cultures perceive their pets, parodies, and puns (pas de deux), Read More …
Case Study Handbook, How to Read, Discuss, and Write Persuasively About Cases, by William Ellet Published by Harvard Business Review Press, this looks like it will fill a gap–a need for a variety of teaching materials using case studies. If Read More …
ScienceDirect® is one of the largest online collections of published scientific research in the world. It’s a full text electronic journals service, providing access to over 1800 journals published by Elsevier Science. At their SciVerse hub link, you can view Read More …
Here’s a text that will get you started thinking abut the purposes and dynamics of intonation at a level not usually covered in ESL/EFL books and materials. You may be able to find it in a university library, but I Read More …
Teaching Amerian English pronunciation for the first time? You can only find this used, and you’re lucky if you can find it! It’s a great teacher resource and if you’re studying American English pronunciation on your own, this just might Read More …
Even a language teacher can be a global financier! I whole-heartedly support Kiva, and urge you to consider helping the working poor. One small contribution will make a huge difference to another person in our global community. This is such Read More …
WIKIPEDIA: believe…support…learn…nurture…contribute! So…how often do you check something on Wikipedia? Can you even imagine your life without information sources such as this? Wikipedia has been instrumental in changing the nature of the internet, from a home-shopping, blind-dating random network to Read More …
“The role of the teacher becomes that of negotiations coach, facilitator, reference person, and provider of feedback and the classroom becomes a workshop in communication and language skills and cross-cultural awareness development.” Drew Rodgers Read More …