Here is an example. When a word that ends with an /s/ or /z/ sound is followed by a word that starts with a /y/ sound the linked blended sound is a /sh/. Examples include:

that’s your, what’s your, how’s your

When a word that ends in a /t/ sound is followed by a word that starts with a /y/ sound the linked blended sound is a /tch/.

Examples include: put your, cut your, got you

Linguists call these palatalized sounds because your tongue moves over the hard palate on the roof of your mouth when you say them.

Remember that English consonants and vowels can have many sounds. The sound they make depends on their location in a word or phrase.

If you are a  Spanish speaker, here is one technique you can use to reduce your accent.

Words in Spanish do not typically end in a consonant clusters but English words frequently do. Since Spanish speakers are not accustomed to articulating consonant clusters (without vowels) at the end of words they frequently leave off a consonant sound.

One accent reduction technique to help with this problem is to use linking. Here is how it works:
When a word ends in a consonant sound and the next word begins with a vowel, try to use the last consonant to link those words together.

Here are a few examples:
In the phrase We worked on it link the ‘d’ (which has a /t/ sound) to the ‘o’ so that it sounds like We work don it.

In the phrase I liked it link the ‘d’ (which has a /t/ sound) to the ‘i’ so that it sounds like I like tit.

In the phrase I loved it, link the ‘d’ to the ‘i’ so that it sounds like I love dit.

In the phrase I studied economics link the ‘d’ to the ‘e’ so that it sounds like I study deconomics.

The above phrases may look a bit silly when written like this but it represents the way we SAY them.

Don’t forget that leaving the last sound off a word will contribute to your accent!

One of these is the tendency to delete the /h/ sound at the beginning of words. Word initial /h/ is almost always pronounced in American English. That means that the /h/ must be articulated clearly in words such as: hat, here, hot, host, half, hair, hungry & husband. Exceptions to this rule include the words honest, honor and herb.

Speakers of Haitian Creole also have a tendency to pronounce words with the lax vowel sound /I/ using the tense vowel sound /iy/. That means that the word sit sounds like seat, the word live sounds like leave and the word chip sounds like cheap.

The /n/ & /l/ sounds are articulated in almost the same manner as the tongue touches behind the tooth ridge. The tongue is a bit flatter for the /n/ sound.

However, the /n/ sound is a nasal so you need to force the air through your nose to make this sound. The /l/ sound is a liquid so the air flows along side your tongue and out of your mouth.

Here are a few words with the /n/ & /l/ sounds that may be problematic:
financial, intellectual, international & analysis.

One book that you can use to help you learn these sounds is Ann Cook’s American Accent Training. Ann explains many problems encountered by Chinese speakers in this book and CD set.
American Accent Training (Book and Audio CD, 2nd Edition)

1. exAct→egzact

2. exActly→egzactly

3. exAmple→egzample

4. exAm→egzam

5. exAmine→egzamine

When an X is followed by a consonant sound it is pronounced like /ks/.

1. exTreme→ekstreme

2. exTinguish→ekstinguish

3. exPect→ekspect

4. contexT-contekst

5. nexT→nekst

When the letter X is at the end of a word it is also pronounced as /ks/.

1. tax→taks

2. fax→faks

These pronunciations of X can be tricky so take it slow and try to feel both of the sounds in /gz/ & /ks/.

When you make the light /l/ sound, the tongue touches the alveolar ridge behind the upper teeth. This is the /l/ sound that you hear in the words: light, listen and only.

When you make the dark /ɫ/ sound the tongue is more bunched up and the back of the tongue is raised. This is the /ɫ/ sound you hear in the words: bell, call and fall.

To make the /r/, start with your tongue in the relaxed position of the schwa sound (say “uh”), then bunch your tongue up and back and say “red”. Do not let your tongue touch the roof or any other part of your mouth when you make this sound!

You can try to round your lips and push them forward when you make the /r/ sound. This will help.

Try using the contrast drills below to pronounce the sounds of /l/ and /r/.

These word pairs contrast the light /l/ sound with the /r/ sound. Say each word slowly to feel the tongue position for the /l/ and /r/.

lake/rake
Eileen/Irene
led/red
light/right
list/wrist
long/wrong
pilot/pirate

These word pairs contrast the dark /ɫ/ sound with the /r/ sound.

call/car
fall/far

Ann Cook does a wonderful job explaining the sounds of /r/ & /l/ in he book, American Accent Training. You can take a look at this book by clicking on the link below.

American Accent Training (Book and Audio CD, 2nd Edition)

Sometimes they say the /r/ sound too softly when it comes before another consonant as in the words; forward, learn and short.

To articulate the /r/ you need to pull your tongue back in your mouth. Your tongue should not touch the gum ridge behind your front teeth!

While some American English consonants can be silent (such as the silent T sound) we always pronounce the R!

One difference between American English pronunciation and French pronunciation is that in English we always pronounce s at the end of a word. French students learning English often forget to say that sound.

You must pronounce word final s when you are speaking English. Failure to do so will cause you to make both a pronunciation and a grammatical mistake!

Keep in mind that word final s has three different sounds in spoken English. These are: /s/ as in pets, /z/ as in kids, and /əz/ as in bunches.

Click here to read more about about how to pronounce the s sound in American English.

That means that when students try to say shopping it sounds like they are saying chopping.

When they try to say ship it sounds like chip.

When they try to say share it sounds like chair.

Here are a couple of tips you can use to articulate these sounds correctly:

1. When you say the sh sound don’t let your tongue touch the roof of your mouth. The air should pass freely around your tongue. Round your lips to make this sound.

Here are some words with the sh sound: show, washing, cash.

2. When you say the ch sound you tongue touches the roof of your mouth and briefly stops the air.

Here are some words with the ch sound: chair, teacher, much.

Try to pronounce the following short dialog using the correct sounds of sh & ch.

Shopper: How much is the chicken?

Clerk: The chicken is on sale. It’s really cheap. Will that be cash or charge?

Shopper: I’ll have to charge it. I don’t have any cash.