Topic: reduced sounds Error Pattern: If you don't reduce, it can sound less fluent. Americans say "tuh-day" and "tuh-the" rather than too-day and too-the. How to Correct: Practice common words and phrases with reduced "to." Today, tonight, tomorrow, to go, to talk, to think, to the library, to the meeting. Repeated phrase practice: I need to _____ (talk to you, eat something, go). I'm going to the ______ (store, train station, party) More Resources: Video (below): https://youtu.be/j9H_MMUbFhc Longer class on reduced sounds: https://youtu.be/A6L1X3MlWkc Website practice https://www.speechmodification.com/blog/how-to-improve-your-american-accent-reduced-sounds Real talk online course (with free trial): https://courses.speechmodification.com/courses/RealTalk
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Topic: Vowel /ɔ/ "aw" Error Patterns: No rounding, sounds like /ɑ/, job sounds like jahb. Note, some Americans don't make a distinction between /ɔ/ and /ɑ/. How to Correct: Open jaw, round lips. Practice Steps: Practice on common words: saw, all, off, gone, caught, thought Repeated phrase practice: I saw a ____ (friend, bird, movie, car) all _____ (done, good, the time) More Resources for this topic: Vowel /ɔ/ video (Below): https://youtu.be/p1gsOh_JXLs Website help for vowels https://www.speechmodification.com/free/category/vowels Need more help? Join our Friday Q & A: https://youtu.be/xKNMXEHjBG4 Topic: Vowel /eɪ/ "ay" Error Patterns: Using just /e/, or vowel /ɛ/. Name will sound like nem. How to Correct: Make sure you can hear the difference. Use minimal pairs: /eɪ/ vs. /ɛ/ main men wain when gate get bait bet Hold the /eɪ/ longer - let your mouth relax and your jaw close slightly at the end Practice Steps: Practice on common words: day, today, say, stay, wait, name, gain, state More Resources for this topic: Vowel eɪ video (below): https://youtu.be/BeWnbfgRzt0 Website help for vowels: https://www.speechmodification.com/free/category/vowels Topic: American R in the middle and ends of words (Vowel Er) Error Patterns: Using a front R, or using vowel schwa How to Correct: Make sure you can make an American R. See Lesson 16 if you need help with that. Practice words with "er" first: early, earn, word, work, bird, turn, paper, better, matter, other, either Then add words with vowel + er: or, air, ear, ire, are Repeated phrase practice: another _____ (cup, letter, call, day), turn it _____ (on, over, in, under) We were _____ (eating, talking, going, thinking) More Resources for this topic: American R Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJXFLCasjYl7_EMlyFP4LVsta6LQ6z6SW R in American English vs. Other dialects (video below): https://youtu.be/PE88nQcbRjI Website practice resources: https://www.speechmodification.com/free/american-accent-training-lesson-16-american-r Topic: TH Error patterns: sound stops, or tongue is too far back sounds like d or z, t or s that sounds like dat or zat, both sounds like boat or bos How to Correct This: Tongue rests between the teeth, keep the air flowing Steps to Practice: Say the TH sound by itself, use a mirror to check your tongue position Practice in simple words: think, thin, thing, both, with, bath that, the, this, them, there, then, than weather, either, other You may need syllable level: thoo, thee, thih, thay, eeth, ooth, ahth, ith, ehth oothoo ahtha eethee My book will take you through all of the steps with videos and diagrams. Download our free book: https://www.speechmodification.com/free/how-to-pronounce-the-in-american-english Resources: Download our free book: https://www.speechmodification.com/free/how-to-pronounce-the-in-american-english
American TH playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJXFLCasjYl6y4EZt5fR-uajcdgKIHgPS Website Resources: https://www.speechmodification.com/free/th Have more questions? Join our Friday Live Q & A on this topic next at 12:00: https://youtu.be/8ISnuXBIk-M |
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