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 ...
“Know yourself in order to know other people, comparing your heart with theirs” — a Chinese proverb which sums up the author’s approach to becoming a great presenter. Read More …
If you’ve ever lived in another country or with another culture, you quickly realize that politeness rules are not the same. Read More …
That’s the title of a little book published by Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers. Authors Paul Emmerson and Nick Hamilton have assembled a nice collection of warm-up/cool-down activities, across a range of skill levels, from elementary to quite advanced. The Read More …
Advanced English learners still struggle with endemic pronunciation problems. Here’s a strategy that helps! Read More …
How L1 Rhetoric Influences Chinese ESL/EFL Writing in English Two events converged to bring this paper to my attention. I recently witnessed a Chinese friend’s struggles writing his TEFL Master’s project. It was arduous and exhausting, thinking in Mandarin and Read More …
Thank you for your warm response to my CATESOL presentation on April 24th. I enjoyed speaking to and with you. My only regret is that I limited our time to 45 minutes, because there’s so much to talk about. Several Read More …
Rhetorical Grammar: Grammatical Choices, Rhetorical Effects by Martha Kolln This book is more than a writing text, and more than a grammar book. Kolln looks at grammar from a rhetorical point of view. She talks to us about keeping in Read More …
don’t try to understand them…it’s all gibberish…gotta love YouTube! It really does sound like it should make sense! It’s about rhythm. It’s all about the rhythm of English! =D
This is a link to the page where you’ll find a pdf of Judy B. Gilbert’s contribution to Speak Out! the SIG (special interest group) at the IATEFL (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language) conference of Read More …
A recent post on website Science Codex, 2 sides of the same coin: Speech and gesture mutually interact to enhance comprehension, discusses the connection between speech and gesture, indicating that the two form an integrated system that helps us in Read More …