Welcome back! Have you checked out my Accent Reduction classes yet?
Will you ever be able to totally eliminate your foreign accent when you speak American English? The truth is, probably not. However, you can improve the way you speak so that people will understand you. To do that you need to learn the accent reduction strategies that will help you and practice those strategies every day.
How much you improve will depend on these factors:
- Your ability to target the speech features that are contributing to your accent
- Your motivation to improve
- Your ability to practice daily
Learning to improve your spoken American English does not mean simply learning the 44 vowel and consonant sounds. You must also learn the key factor to speaking English like an American. That means learning to use the correct stress patterns in words and thought groups.
You will not change your accent overnight but with focused practice and commitment you can speak English more confidently and clearly!
If you are not sure which sounds and patterns you need to change to reduce your accent you may want to consider an Accent Assessment. This is a very valuable and affordable way to start your personal accent reduction program!
Posted in: Accent Reduction Techniques, American English Pronunciation, accent assessment.
Tagged: accent assessment · Accent Reduction Techniques · American English Pronunciation · learn american accent · Sentence stress · Syllable stress
I know that many of my readers are teachers who are looking for quality lessons and resources they can use to teach American English pronunciation to their students. I am currently working on a resource page for you and it will be up soon.
In the meantime please check out Teach American English Pronunciation to find some of the best books, lessons and websites you can use with your students.
Posted in: teaching pronunciation.
Tagged: teaching pronunciation
WOW! This week many people have emailed to ask me to explain the English schwa vowel sound. This vowel sound is found in both American and British English and it is the most common sound in the English language.
The best place to learn about the schwa is here on the BBC website. Be sure to view the funny video at the bottom of the page.
Click here to see the best American English Audio course for learning about the schwa vowel sound.
Posted in: American English Pronunciation, Learn American Accent, Schwa Vowel Sound, american english audio.
Tagged: Accent Reduction Techniques · American English Pronunciation · schwa sound
In spoken American English there are many pairs of consonant sounds that are articulated using the same tongue and mouth shape. The difference between these pairs of sounds is that one sound is voiced and the other is voiceless.
Voiced sounds cause the vocal chords to vibrate. Voiceless sounds are softer and do not cause the vocal chords to vibrate. Here are a few examples:
In spoken English the /s/ & /z/ sounds employ the same tongue position and mouth shape but the /z/ is voiced and the /s/ is voiceless.
The English /k/ & /g/ sounds are both produced in the back of the throat but the /g/ is voiced and the /k/ is voiceless.
The /p/ & /b/ sounds are both made by pushing your lips together and then releasing them but the /b/ is voiced and the /p/ is voiceless.
Many non-native English speakers used the voiceless sounds /s/, /k/ & /p/ when they should use the voiced sounds /z/, /g/ & /b/. Making this type of pronunciation mistake will both contribute to your accent and cause misunderstandings.
Posted in: Accent Reduction Techniques, American English Pronunciation, Phonetic pronunciation, voiced & voiceless sounds.
Tagged: Accent Reduction Techniques · american english consonants · American English Pronunciation · vietnamese speakers · voiced & voiceless sounds
Many of you have written and asked me questions about the IPA and how to read 
phonetic transcriptions of English words.
I did some searching on the web and found this page from the Antimoon site. The page shows you how to read and write phonetic transcriptions. Each word and transcription has an audio recording using American English. Check it out!
IPA for American English
Posted in: American English Pronunciation, Pronunciation Exercises, american english audio, teaching pronunciation.
Tagged: american english audio · American English Pronunciation · IPA
One of the best books for learning and practicing the rhythms of spoken 
American English is Ann Cook’s American Accent Training. The book includes 5 CDs. You can read the reviews of this best selling book here American Accent Training
Posted in: American English Pronunciation, Books & CDs, Intonation Patterns, american english audio.
Tagged: american accent · american english audio · American English Pronunciation · Books & CDs · learn american accent
A couple of days ago I explained that heteronyms are two words that are spelled identically. The way the words are stressed determines the meaning.
One good example is the word: OBJECT.
The way you use syllable stress say the word ‘object’ changes the meaning of the word.
When the stress is on the first syllable the word is a noun as in this sentence:
James has many beautiful OBjects in his home.
When the stress is on the second syllable the word is a verb as in this sentence:
Sylvia əbJECTed to her husband’s drinking.
Note that the reduced syllable in the verb form has a schwa (ə) vowel sound. I teach all about heteronyms in my free 4 week accent reduction e-course.
Posted in: Accent Reduction Techniques, American English Pronunciation, Learn American Accent, Syllable stress.
Tagged: accent reduction course · Accent Reduction Techniques · American English Pronunciation · learn american accent · Syllable stress
One reason that you need to use syllable stress correctly when you are speaking is because English has many heteronyms.
Heteronyms are two words that are spelled identically. The way the words are pronounced determines the meaning.
One good example is the word: ADDRESS.
When you say the word ‘address’ the way you use syllable stress changes the meaning of the word.
When you place stress is on the first syllable, address is a noun as in this sentence:
Susan’s ADdress is 2010 Pine Street.
When you place stress on the second syllable, address is a verb as in this sentence:
Susan will ədDRESS the class tomorrow.
Note that the reduced syllable in the verb form has a schwa (ə) vowel sound.
There are many more examples of syllable stress in heteronyms and I’ll post more of these in the next couple of days.
BTW-don’t forget to add this blog to your bookmarks!
Posted in: Accent Reduction Techniques, American English Pronunciation, Schwa Vowel Sound, Syllable stress.
Tagged: Accent Reduction Techniques · American English Pronunciation · schwa sound · Syllable stress
Lots of people will tell you to watch American television shows to hear authentic examples of American English. That’s an excellent idea but you can take it a step further to get some serious pronunciation practice.
Instead of simply watching your show, choose a character to imitate. As soon as your character starts to speak, try to say exactly what they are saying. Speak right along with the character!
Mirror the character’s spoken English for about 15 seconds at a time. This will really help you get a feel for the way American English speakers use syllable stress, sentence stress, linking and intonation patterns.
Don’t be a couch potato! Put your TV time to work.
Posted in: Accent Reduction Techniques, American English Pronunciation, Learn American Accent, Pronunciation Exercises.
Tagged: Accent Reduction Techniques · American English Pronunciation · learn american accent
