Improve Your American Accent 🇺🇸 Advanced Pronunciation Secrets for a More Natural Accent

So you’ve been working on your accent and trying to sound more American when speaking English! You’ve been fixing your consonants, working on your vowel sounds, and even starting to play around with how you use your voice. But you feel like you might be missing some essential elements of the American accent, some secrets that would help you get even closer towards your goals. You’re right! These four secrets will help you sound more … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Thoughtful Questions to Ask When Checking In With Friends and Coworkers During a Crisis | COVID-19 Small Talk

When your friend, coworker, or acquaintance is going through a difficult time, you probably want to check in to see how they’re doing. But you may worry that your questions will bring up an uncomfortable or upsetting topic. When you’re not sure what to say, it may feel easier to say nothing at all. However, most people appreciate your efforts to connect when they’re experiencing a crisis. During challenging moments, we need more reassurance than … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Global English vs. Native English – Does Accent Really Matter?

Have you ever said that you want to sound just like a native English speaker? Do you feel like you have to eliminate all traces of your native language in order to be understood by other people? Or do you wonder if it’s really necessary to sound like a native in order to be taken seriously when speaking English? In this video, we’re going to talk about how English has become a global language of … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Learn to Like Your Voice and How You Sound When Speaking English (Or Any Language)

Let’s be honest with each other. Do you like your voice when you speak English? Are you comfortable with how you sound when speaking English? Or do you find it challenging to listen to your accent? Does hearing your voice make you feel insecure or self-conscious because you don’t sound the way you think you should sound? A few years ago I was meeting with a client who told me that she wanted to speak … Read the article and watch the video lesson

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

How to Use Pitch in American English | Pitch Stress, Intonation, and Tone of Voice | Pitch vs Volume

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