Pitch and Intonation When Speaking English – Intonation for Statements, Questions & Thought Groups

Have you noticed how English speakers may finish a statement or a question with their pitch higher at the end? Other times, you can hear that their pitch falls steeply at the end. Or perhaps you’ve noticed how slight rises in pitch throughout the sentence help you follow along with their thoughts. These subtle changes in pitch help us communicate our meaning through intonation. In this video, we’re going to talk all about pitch and … 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

Indirect Questions – Make Requests and Offer Subtle Suggestions

Do you happen to know what time it is? I was wondering if you’d help me move next week. Could you tell me where the nearest station is? Notice anything interesting about these sentences? That’s right – they’re questions hiding within other questions or statements. If you’ve ever missed answering a question because the question was actually hidden within a statement or another question, then this video will help. In this video, you’ll learn how … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Don’t Let This Outdated Accent Advice Keep You From Speaking English – Your Ideas Matter!

If you’ve spent any time working on your accent, pronunciation, or voice in English, then you’ve come across a ton of advice. Go to just about any corner of the internet, and you’ll find videos, podcasts, articles, and message board discussions telling you exactly what you need to do to achieve your accent goals. If you’re like most people, you’re probably feeling a little overwhelmed by all of the information out there. How do you … 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