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If you learned to speak Spanish as your first language, it is likely that you have some of the following pronunciation patterns that contribute to your accent when speaking English. You can use this chart to identify which pronunciation targets you can work on to improve your American Accent. Some sounds link to practice materials or further information. Also available as a free download in our store.
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This site contains practice materials for you to improve your pronunciation and intonation in American English. The materials here are a small sample of the materials available on our subscription-based online practice site. Try them out, and if you find them helpful, consider purchasing a subscription to the full site. If you need help knowing what sounds and patterns you need to work on, you can complete a free speech screening here. For a free consultation to learn more about using this site, working with an accent coach, or how to work on your own, simply provide your contact information below. We will call you to arrange a free consultation via telephone or Skype. New to this page? You may want to start here. The American R can be a challenging sound for non-native speakers, even those who speak other English dialects. In some accents, the r sound is rolled or trilled. In others, it sounds more like vowel schwa, or the sound "uh." Did you know that the "r" sound is different depending on where it falls in the word? You may have no trouble saying the "r" in red or really, but struggle with the "r" sounds in bird or forever.
Whatever your difficulty, this may be a sound that needs practice at the phoneme and syllable level. Rather than trying to start by saying words with r, practice the sound by itself and in nonsense syllables. You might find the trouble is not with making this sound, but rather with breaking the habits of your old pronunciation in words. Use the recordings below to try the sound, syllables, and words in a new way. New to this page? You may want to start here. One of the most commonly mispronounced sounds in American English is the "th" sound. This is likely due to the fact that the “th” phonemes are rare sounds, not found in most European and Asian languages. When we do not have a sound in our own language, the natural tendency to substitute a similar sound, such as “z,” “d” or “t.” Unfortunately, this has a big impact on accent, because the “th” sound is found in 20% of the 25 words we say the most in English. The most commonly used word, “the,” begins with this sound. So when we mispronounce “th,” it is very noticeable in everyday speech.  Common mispronunciations of this sound involve improper tongue placement. To make the “th” sound, the tip of the tongue needs to rest between the teeth. Try making the “th” sound by itself. First make the “quiet th,” (/θ/), as in the words “think” and “with.” Then add voicing to make voiced “th,” (/ð/), as in “that,” “them” and “those.”
New to this page? You may want to start here.
One of the most common error sounds in American English is the Vowel I, or short i vowel. This is frequently mispronounced as the long e vowel, or Vowel ee. For example, the word it is mispronounced as eat. Is sounds more like ease, ship like sheep, etc. First learn how to make Vowel I and Vowel ee. Then try the recordings below to work on your new sound, Vowel I.
How to Make Vowel I and Vowel EE
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