Communicate Clearly with Your Voice in American English Archives • Page 4 of 12 • English with Kim

Asked to Repeat Yourself? What to Do When You Have to Repeat a Word or Idea in English

I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that. Could you repeat what you said? Would you mind saying that again? As a non-native speaker, you’ll be asked to repeat yourself every once in a while. Maybe you mispronounced a word, used language that didn’t quite work, or the other person simply didn’t hear what you said. When this happens, you might freeze, wondering if it was a word or the whole idea that the other person missed. … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Explore Your Pitch in American English – Pitch, Stress, Intonation, and Tone of Voice

Ever asked yourself one of these questions about pitch? I don’t understand how to use pitch. Why can’t I hear pitch in my own voice? What’s the difference between pitch and volume? Are they the same thing? They sound like it. How do you use pitch to communicate meaning in English? What does tone mean in English? Is English a tonal language? What’s the difference between pitch, stress, and intonation? Some people talk about them … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Don’t Speak Fast English – Speak Clear English Instead (Here’s How)

So you want to sound more like a native English speaker. That means you have to speak fast English, right? Absolutely not! One of the biggest issues I have with American accent advice is the emphasis on speaking fast English. If you only spoke faster, you’d sound more natural and more American. 🤔 The problem with this advice is that it emphasizes speed over clarity. You may think you’ll impress people with how quickly the … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Respond Naturally in Conversations in American English with Rejoinders – Intonation Practice

Ever been in a conversation in English where you felt like someone was waiting for you to say something, but you weren’t sure exactly what? They were probably waiting for a quick response to show that you were listening and interested to encourage them to go on. We call these short responses or replies rejoinders, and they’re an essential part of an engaging conversation. Rejoinders are sounds, words, short expressions, or questions that we often … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Stop Saying Sorry About My Accent | Stop Apologizing for Your English

Do you find yourself apologizing for your accent or your English before you’ve even started a conversation? As non-native speakers, we may feel the need to acknowledge that we don’t speak with a perfect accent, or that we make mistakes because we’re still learning the language. To be perfectly honest with you, I used to do it too! For many years, I’d point out that I have an obvious accent in Spanish every single time … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Three Simple Ways to Sound More Polite and Tactful in American English

Have you ever been told that you’re too direct, too demanding, or too aggressive when you’re speaking English, especially at work? Just like kids, when we first learn a language, we focus on communicating clearly in the most straightforward way possible: I’m hungry. I want some pizza. Where is the train station? I’m looking for the ATM. This language is simple, precise, direct. As your language skills continue to evolve, you’re able to add more … Read the article and watch the video lesson