Word and Sentence Stress in American English

Fast Speech – Shortcuts English Speakers Use to Speak Quickly and Efficiently

Have you noticed how we say “comfterble,” even though the word is spelled com-for-ta-ble? Have you ever heard anyone say “ax” when talking about asking questions? Or have you wondered why people often call the second month of the year “Febyuary,” even though there’s technically an “r” in the middle? In this video, we’re going to talk about fast speech, and the interesting things native English speakers do in order to speak the language more … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Change Your Meaning with Your Voice – Intonation, Inflection, & Tone of Voice

You can say the same question in several different ways: What are you doing? (falling intonation) What are YOU doing? WHAT are you doing? What are you doing? (steep fall in pitch) What are you doing? (wavy pitch) What are you doing? (flat pitch) Even though the words are the same, the feeling you get from them is totally different. In this video, you’re going to learn three ways to change your meaning with your … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Find Your Flow When Speaking English – Stress, Rhythm, Melody, Contrast and Thought Groups

Ever noticed how native English speakers use their voices to emphasize important words and help you follow what they’re saying? The rise and fall of their pitch, and the contrast between the words that matter, and those that don’t, create the natural rhythm and melody of American English. If you’re wondering how to find your own flow when speaking English, then this video is for you. In this video, you’ll learn how to use stress, … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Dropped Sounds & Deleted Syllables – Why Entire Syllables Disappear from Words in American English

The words we’re going to talk about today aren’t especially interesting, but they probably sound different than you expect. We’ll focus on several words that you use almost every day, so that you feel more comfortable saying them naturally. Is what we’re discussing today still a mystery? Then grab a warm beverage, like hot chocolate, and let’s get started! In this video, you’ll learn 20 words in American English that have dropped, deleted, or disappearing … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Advanced Word Stress – Practice Contrast Between Stressed and Unstressed and Reduced Syllables

By now, you know the number one piece of accent advice I wish I could give every non-native speaker: stress your words clearly. Word stress helps you pronounce words accurately, and it helps other people identify and understand the word you’re saying. When we stress a word, we emphasize one syllable of this word by making the vowel sound longer, louder, and higher in pitch, with extra clear mouth movement. Stressing words consistently helps you … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Communicate Clearly and Confidently in American English – Four Ways to Use Your Voice

One of the biggest concerns I hear from my clients and students is that they want how they sound in English to reflect the quality of their ideas. In other words, they want to communicate clearly and confidently, so that other people can easily understand and follow what they’re saying. Let’s talk about four ways you can improve how you use your voice in order to speak more clearly so that you’re more easily understood. … Read the article and watch the video lesson