pronunciation of the article "a"

Many accent students are confused about the correct pronunciation of the article "a." Why do some people say /ei/? You can pronounce it both ways, either as /ɘ/ or as /ei/. It just depends on how quickly you are speaking and whether you pause before the "a." /ei/ is usually used in slower speech and for special emphasis.

So, there's no right or wrong, but you will hear most people say: /ɘ/.

pronunciation of numbers - common mistakes

Here is a video lesson I just made about some common mistakes in pronouncing some difficult numbers, such as "fifty" versus "fifteen."

click here to view video.

Don't Stop Practicing

“Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their champion character.” T Alan Armstrong.

The above quote inspires me and reminds me of one the students that I worked with today. She had spent an hour and a half at home just practicing one particular vowel sound that she had been struggling with. She recorded herself over and over again until she got it right. Then she played the recording for me and it sounded perfect!! I was so impressed with how good her accent was. If you have the discipline to work hard, you will see great results!

Listen to Famous Speeches for Practicing your Accent

A wonderful way to work on improving your accent is to listen to famous speeches. I found this great website which contains hundreds of famous speeches. You can hear the audio and sometimes see the video of the speech. The best part is that each speech has a transcript with it. That way, you can practice reading it out loud.

I recommend that you listen to the whole speech several times while reading it. That way you can learn the pronunciation of some new words. Then, I recommend that you listen again, clicking on pause after some short phrases. Try to repeat the rhythm and intonation of the speaker. Pay attention to how the speaker is linking words together.

This website includes all of Obama's major speeches and speeches from some classic American films. It can be a fun way to practice. Enjoy!!

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/

(To learn all the rules of linking, rhythm and intonation, I recommend that you purchase "The American Accent Course:50 Rules You Must Know" available at: accurateenglish.com/dvd's.htm)

pronuncation of "TH" + "S"

Paolo asked the following question:

I bought a copy of your dvds.. you mentioned that sometimes the "th sound" is silent, in words such as: "months" or "clothes" so that months sounds like mons am i right? and clothes should sound like close.. but there are also other words you haven't mentioned... like deaths,, truths, smiths.. so my question is: how should i pronounce these other words? and also is there a steady rule for the silent th?
thanks
Paolo

Hi Paolo,

Good speakers of English always pronounce the "th" followed by an "s" as in words like "strengths" and "Smiths." This is a very difficult combination of sounds to create. You have to practice moving your tongue quickly and smoothly from the tip of the tongue for the "th" (with a vibration of air) to the position slightly behind your upper teeth (the gum ridge) for the "s."
However, in today's speech it has become pretty standard to not do this with the words "months" and "clothes." Most people drop the "th" and just say "mons" and "close." Those are the only two words that I can think of where it's standard and acceptable to take short cuts in pronouncing both of these consonants. Otherwise, standard, educated speech requires that you not take those short cuts.

10 Tips for Public Speaking

Make a New Year's resolution to improve your speaking skills. I recommend that you join Toastmasters.

Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of meeting locations. Find one in your area.

The organization has nearly 250,000 members in more than 12,500 clubs in 106 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people of all backgrounds become more confident in front of an audience.

Here is an article from Toastmasters to help you gain confidence speaking in front of people:

1. Know your material. Pick a topic you are interested in. Know more about it than you include in your speech. Use humor, personal stories and conversational language – that way you won’t easily forget what to say.
2. Practice. Practice. Practice! Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan on using. Revise as necessary. Work to control filler words; Practice, pause and breathe. Practice with a timer and allow time for the unexpected.
3. Know the audience. Greet some of the audience members as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to strangers.
4. Know the room. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids. Read the rest of the article here: http://www.toastmasters.org/tips.asp
   

Accent Reduction Practice with Audio Books - part 2

A reader of my blog asked the following question:

Hi Lisa,

My name is George, I just read your blog, could you please recommend me which audio book is better for learning English? Could you please give me some names of these audio books?

I appreciate it.

George:

Regarding your question about which audio books I recommend for learning English and reducing your accent:

I don't have any recent names of books that I recommend. There are so many good ones available. It's best to find a topic that you enjoy and that will hold your interest.

But here are some tips to keep in mind:

It's best to get a non-fiction book, preferably a "self-help" or a "how to" type of book. With such topics, the speaker usually speaks at slower rate. It's still very natural, but not as rushed as in fiction books. The speech can also be more clear because it's got a more instructional tone. It could also be beneficial if you are able to find books related to your field of work. For example, if you are in the business or financial field, you might be able to find audio books related to that topic. This way, you will come across a lot of words that you need to use regularly at the workplace.

Stay away from fiction books. These sometimes have an actor who does too much "performance" with his voice, or they might use British actors/readers.

I hope that helps.

Best wishes with your accent.

Lisa Mojsin