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 ...
I’m working with a client on giving presentations in English, his second language. We all know what can happen when you stand up in front of that sea of faces…we forget what we were going to say, we lose our Read More …
When we speak in front of a group, we’re not up there just to get through it…we are speaking to be heard and maybe even to transform. In 1998, I began learning everything I could about public speaking and bought Read More …
During a “mastermind weekend” at colleague Jennifer England’s home in L’Albi Spain last fall, someone asked if I remembered a moment that changed how I teach. One of my “aha” moments was in the dentist’s office; I finally understood why Read More …
I just discovered something wonderful! The National Library Service of the U.S. has a website and one of the resources they offer is a pronunciation guide for BRAND NAMES and ACRONYMS. This is soooo helpful for ESL and EFL. Check it Read More …
I’ve heard it said that a single page of text can be used to teach all the pronunciations and intonations of English. So let’s see what we can use from a single holiday. The vocabulary associated with Halloween offers some fun Read More …
I have a few “principles” that guide my teaching and planning. One of them is this: Disequilibrium is a good thing.” I say that because as a teacher, I have found most big jumps in learning come when a Read More …
Dr. Kjellin is a leader in the study of auditory processing and second language learning. If you teach English pronunciation (or any language’s sound), I recommend his work and research. Here are a few quotes from one of his white papers. “Choral Read More …
Even if you never reach fluency and never sound like a native speaker, keep studying…the benefit to your brain is measurable and remarkable! In this NYT post, William Alexander shares his own experiences failing at French, and some research that Read More …
This is an amazing TedTalk. I had thought (and hoped) that exposing babies and toddlers to the sounds of second and third languages through video or radio might be a viable way to teach them to recognize the sounds of Read More …
I teach pronunciation so I’m always interested in how speech and language develops in L1 and L2 (first languages and second languages). I just watched a wonderful video by Dr. Deb Roy, an MIT researcher, who studied his baby’s first Read More …