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Accent Reduction Training on Skype Video
In my Accent Reduction Training Course I work with you one-on-one via Skype video to help you achieve your American English communication goals. This course is designed for professionals who want to reduce their foreign accents and communicate comfortably and effectively with American English speaking clients, colleagues and coworkers.
Continue reading...Improve Your American Accent
16. October 2011
Do you speak English with a foreign accent? Do you find that native English speakers find it difficult to understand you? Even though your English grammar and writing are excellent, your accent may be preventing you from communicating in your workplace, getting a promotion or even making new friends. The most effective way reduce your accent and improve the way you speak American English is to work with an accent reduction coach. That's because accent coaching is very personal. The lessons are customized to meet your specific needs and goals.
Continue reading...The Schwa Sound in American English
28. April 2011
In order to reduce your accent effectively, it is absolutely critical that you learn to use the schwa vowel sound. In this post I will explain what the schwa sound is and why using the schwa will improve your accent. What is the schwa sound? The schwa sound is the most common vowel sound in North American English. The schwa sounds like “uh”. It is pronounced with the mouth and tongue in a very relaxed position. The schwa sound can be represented by any vowel. The IPA symbol for schwa is /ə/.
Continue reading...American English Intonation Patterns
10. April 2011
Perhaps you have heard people say that intonation creates the music of spoken American English. That's because English speakers use different types of intonation or pitch patterns in sentences and phrases. These intonation patterns, which are not visible in the written language, are extremely important because they convey meaning. If you are not aware of how Americans use these pitch or intonation patterns you could risk confusing or offending your listeners.
Continue reading...Accent Reduction for Chinese Speakers
17. March 2011
One accent reduction technique that Chinese speakers can use to improve their American English pronunciation is to use linking. American English speakers link or join words toegether so that they are easy to say and flow together smoothly. It often sounds like people are saying one long word since they don't leave spaces between words. Chinese speakers don't usually use linking when they speak English. This makes their speech sound choppy and difficult to understand. Here are 2 common types of linking that we use in spoken American English.
Continue reading...Pronunciation of “ed” in American English
29. November 2010
Many Spanish and Chinese speakers do not pronounce word final sounds correctly. This creates an accent. When they are speaking English, many Spanish and Chinese speakers fail to pronounce word final sounds correctly. If you do this, it contributes significantly to your accent. One problem that arises are the sounds of the past tense "ed". In American English the past tense "ed" has three different sounds. These sounds are: /d/ as in the word "loved", /ed/ as in the word "wanted" and /t/ as in the word "stopped".
Continue reading...The Benefits of Accent Reduction Coaching
3. September 2010
Many professionals including: doctors, nurses, clergy, business executives, engineers, professors need to speak American English clearly and confidently in their work. These professionals understand that improving their spoken American English will allow them to communicate more effectively with business associates, customers, colleagues and friends. That's why many professionals are looking for the best way to reduce their accents.
Continue reading...Syllable Stress in American English
2. July 2009
In English words one syllable always pronounced with more emphasis than the other syllables. The vowel in the stressed syllable is lengthened and clear. We call this emphasis syllable stress. Learning to use syllable stress is one of the very best ways to improve your English pronunciation.
Continue reading...Pronouncing Numbers in American English
5. February 2009
In my accent reduction coaching and video lessons I teach you how to pronounce numbers and abbreviations in American English using the correct sounds and syllable stress patterns.
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20. January 2012
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