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” when you speak English. But the Korean sound system does not use stress in words and sentences in the way English does. [bctt tweet=”the Korean sound 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 ...
Connected speech is a skill that is learned once you can pronounce words accurately. It decreases the accuracy of some sounds you make (is he becomes izzee), and moves some final sounds from one word to the next (his pan Read More …
I can try to answer this from an American English perspective. It’s likely that the reasons are the same for British English since they are very similar accents. Below are the phonetic descriptions Merriam-Webster gives for ‘exist’ and ‘maximum’. This Read More …
That is a crazy question to ask! Here is the answer. Reason #1: It’s hard to articulate two syllables that end in R consequently, especially since the first one starts with T, and the next one starts with M, so Read More …
The problem: People tell me I use too many big words! What can I do to sound better? The answer: Hang around (socialize) with native speakers more—do things with them so you become accustomed to their style of speech. Native Read More …
Identifying the concepts or main ideas in a chapter of academic text can be challenging in a second language. Here are two links to useful information about main ideas and concepts, and two strategies that I teach my students. https://web.ccis.edu/offices/aca… Finding Read More …
Do you have trouble following English speakers when you hear them speak? Are you interested in hearing and studying English native speakers use of intonation? Do you want to understand how tone is used in different circumstances, for different reasons? Read More …
What is the difference in pronunciation between the ‘th’ sounds, theta and ð, at the end of words? Answered by Peggy Tharpe They are the same sound basically. The only difference is the airiness or soft hissing that comes with Read More …
My @Quora post: My answer to What is the best activity to learn English in an English-speaking country as lonely to… Post by Peggy Tharpe: My answer to What is the best activity to learn English in an English-speaking country Read More …
My answer to What is the difference between phonology and pronunciation? Answer by Peggy Tharpe: Phonology is a linguistics term. It is the study of the sounds and relationships between sounds that exists in a language. Different languages have different Read More …
My answer to What is the best activity to learn English in an English-speaking country as lonely tourist? Answer by Peggy Tharpe: How about looking through the town/city’s local paper or magazine for a conversation partner or language exchange? I Read More …