The Quickest Way to Improve Your Spoken American English

One of the most common questions my students ask me is: "What is the quickest and best way to improve my spoken American English?"

I'd like to focus on answering this question. When it comes to American English pronunciation, saying vowels and consonants correctly is very important. However, what I tell my students is this - they need to focus first on learning and applying syllable stress in words.

Research has found that learning to use syllable stress can bring more noticeable progress in a short time than learning to pronounce individual vowel and consonant sounds. That is why many teachers are now focusing on syllable stress in their English pronunciation classes.

What do I mean by syllable stress? Well, every English word with two or more syllables has one syllable that receives strong emphasis. Stressed syllables are pronounced louder than the other syllables in a word. The vowel sounds in stressed syllables are long and clear. Stressed syllables have a high pitch.            

You are probably wondering how studying syllable stress can help your American English pronunciation. Here are some of the benefits you will get:

• Using syllable stress correctly increases your comprehensibility.
  Knowing which syllables receive major stress is important because if
  you don't stress your syllables correctly, Americans won't understand
   what you are saying.

• Learning how to pronounce vowels in syllables with major and
  reduced stress greatly improves the rhythm of your speech.

• By focusing on syllable stress, you will learn how to use the
  'schwa' vowel sound. This is important because the 'schwa' vowel
  sound is the most common sound in spoken American English.

• As you learn about syllable stress your listening skills will
  improve. You will begin to notice how Americans use syllable stress
  and you will hear speech patterns and rhythm that you were not aware
  of before.

What all this means is this  - when you apply the rules for syllable stress to your own speech you will sound much more natural and comprehensible to American listeners.

Mini Lesson: Syllable Stress in Compound Words

In compound words two separate words join together to make a new word. There are many compound words in English. Some compounds are nouns and some are verbs. In spoken American English, compound nouns are stressed on the first word in the compound. Compound verbs are stressed on the second word in the compound.

Listening Activity

Here are some examples of compound nouns:

• homework
• notebook
• classmate
• airport
• suitcase
• passport

Here are some examples of compound verbs:

• understand
• underestimate
• outsmart
• outlive
• overcome
• overdue

Click Play below to listen to how these words are stressed. Practice by repeating each word yourself.

Compound Words Syllable Stress Quiz

Using the information provided above, decide whether the stress is on the first or second word in the compound word shown. Take the quiz now and see how you score. 

Click on this link to take the Quiz now.

Featured Learning Resource: EnglishClub.com

This website has a nice section on word stress that is worth reading. After you read the information there is a word stress quiz you can take. This is a commercial website so be aware that many of the links lead to other commercial sites that encourage you to buy products.    Click on the image to go to the site now.

Insight: Add a new Heteronym to your vocabulary - 'ADDRESS' 

Heteronyms are two words that are spelled identically. The way the words are pronounced indicates the meaning.

This week's heteronym is the word: ADDRESS.

When you say the word 'address' the syllable stress changes the meaning of the word. When you place stress is on the first syllable, address is a noun. When you place stress on the second syllable, address is a verb.

Here are two examples:

1. Lisa'sADdress is 201 Pine Street.
 ('Address' is a noun-the stress is on the first syllable)        
       
2. Lisa will adDRESS the class tomorrow.
('Address is a verb-the stress is on the second syllable)

Click Play below to listen and repeat each sentence: