If your native language is Mandarin, these are the most likely accent patterns you will find in your speech. The links will take you to the appropriate video lessons and additional practice materials. You can purchase this module for $0.99 on the Subscriptions button or in our store page below.
Practice in the order listed, as the most important patterns are listed first.
Practice in the order listed, as the most important patterns are listed first.
Step 1: Z
can sound like s at the ends of words
was /wʌz/ sounds like wass
Step 2: D
can sound like “t” at the ends of words,
or be left off the ends of words
code sounds like coat,
or we’d sounds like we
Step 3: /ɪ/ “vowel ɪ”
can sound like vowel ee /i/
it sounds like eat
Step 4: TH /θ/ (as in “think, with”)
can sound like s
thing sounds like sing
with sounds like wiss
Step 5: TH /ð/ (as in those, breathe)
can sound like d, z or th
those sounds like dose or zoze
breathe sounds like breeze or breeth
Step 6: /æ/ “vowel a”
can sound like vowel ah /a/
cat sounds like cot
Step 7: V
can sound like F at the ends of words
leave sounds like leaf
Step 8: /ɹ, ɚ/ "vowel er"
can sound like vowel schwa /ə/
bird sounds like bud
Step 9: R
can be rolled
Step 10: P
can sound like “b” at the start of words
pay sounds like bay
Step 11: T
can be left off the ends of words
boat sounds like bow
Step 12: ng and n
can be switched
thing sounds like thin
on sounds like ong
Step 13: Consonant Clusters
can have sounds left off,
or the same error patterns as above
lived sounds like lift or live,
want sounds like wan,
words sounds like word or worts
Step 14: /e/ “vowel ay”
can sound like vowel eh /ɛ/
wait sounds like wet
Step 15: /a/ “vowel ah”
can sound like vowel o /o/
not sounds like note
Step 16: /ʊ/ “vowel U”
can sound like vowel oo /u/
look sounds like Luke
Step 17: /ə/ “vowel schwa”
can sound like written letter rather than the American "uh" sound
between sounds like bee-tween
above sounds like ay-bove
Step 18: G
can sound like K at the ends of words
pig sounds like pick
Step 19: /ei/ “Vowel Ay”
can sound like vowel eh
snake sounds like snack
Step 20: J
can sound like ch or zh at the ends of words
ridge sounds like rich or rizh
Step 21: /i/ “Vowel Ee” as in eat
can sound like vowel /ɪ/
meet sounds like mitt