English Pronunciation & Fluency for Intermediate Learners

Welcome back English Lovers!

We begin our fluency journey by addressing the language aspects from the smallest of features; the sounds.

I like to focus our time mostly on the vowels of English because:

• There is often a LOT of confusion and mispronunciation because…

• There are 14 sounds but only 5 letters (wait…what???)

• And because vowels are the cornerstone for proper word and sentence stress.

With that said, let’s get started!

Don't forget to download the PDFs for /iy/ and /ɪ/ & /ey/ and /ɛ/.

Today, I would like you to download and read my ebook: The 14 Quick and Easy Steps to English Fluency.

While you are reading, follow the instructions below:

1. Slowly read the ebook

2. Take some notes to solidify the learning

3. Write down any questions that you have!

4. Download the IPA Handout. This will be very handy for you throughout the course and beyond!

Today, we continue focusing on the vowels of English.

Many students struggle with the vowels /æ/ and /ɛ/ because many languages do not contain these sounds and therefore students need to concentrate on proper pronunciation of them.

NOTE: This sometimes requires getting out of their comfort zone in order to move their mouths and faces to make the exact sound.

1. TAKE A LOOK at today’s video

2. Then DOWNLOAD the PDF

Hello Friends!

Today we are working on another foundational aspect of the American English vowel system.

Lesson 3 focuses on the /ə/ /æ/ /a/ sounds.

Hope you are enjoying the material!

Hi guys!

Our video of the day today continues our deep dive into the vowels of English by concentrating on the

/ar/ /or/ /ɜʳ/ sounds.

Hello students!

The lesson today covers the /ow/ /ʊ/ /uw/ sounds.

Again, these sounds are very similar and require practice for many learners.

So for today:

1. Watch the video

2. Download the PDF to study

Hi there...

Our video lesson today covers the /ay/ /aw/ /oy/ sounds. These sounds are called diphthongs (that won’t be in the quiz) and it really just means that there are two sounds that combine

Here are your tasks for today...as usual:

1. Watch the video

2. Download the PDF and

3. STUDY!!

Today we review of the sounds and conclude the vowel sounds of English!

Congratulations!

I promise you that even though this was a long set of videos that being able to distinguish these sounds is ESSENTIAL to clear and fluent English.

Consider the vowels the foundation that we will build throughout the rest of this course.

So, for today please just take a look at the video below:

In this lesson, we begin by looking at the International Phonetic Alphabet.
I hope that this isn’t the first time you are learning of this, but if so, not to worry! You will get a full overview today!

Learning to identify the IPA symbols can be very helpful for learning how to correctly pronounce words that you’ve never spoken before.

Because remember that ENGLISH IS NOT a PHONETIC LANGUAGE.
This means that our letters don’t always represent the same sounds.

For example, the ‘a’ in ‘apple’ is pronounced differently than the ‘a’ in the word ‘same’.

So, here you go! Also, you can refer to the IPA chart I gave you in one of the first lesson emails.

To do:

1. WATCH the video of the day

2. DOWNLOAD the American English Sounds, Examples & Symbols below

Today our lesson involves using another aspect of English pronunciation which is voiced or voiceless sounds. TAKE A LOOK at the video for today to learn more!

I have another video for you here today where I discuss some of the different pronunciations for the ‘t’ in American English.

FOR TODAY, I HAVE SOME HOMEWORK FOR YOU:

1. WATCH the video BELOW

2. REVIEW the two documents below:

   • DOCUMENT 1 contains the sentences using the English spelling, and

   • DOCUMENT 2 contains the SAME sentences using the IPA.

3. PRACTICE saying the sentences by reading both documents.

4. LISTEN AND COMPARE yourself saying the sentences and listen to them to compare them to the recording here by clicking the STEP 4 button below.

I just wanted to take a moment and say congratulations for working so hard on achieving your goals! You have just crossed the half-way mark!

The next set of lessons are critical ones because we move from the segmental to the suprasegmental aspects of English...what does that mean??

• Segmental aspects include the phonology or sounds (vowels or consonants) of English.

• Suprasegmental aspects include the prosody of English including intonation patterns, stress placement, and rhythm; the ‘connected’ nature of speech.

So today, in the video lesson we begin looking at syllables and word endings.

I hope that you are doing well and that you are enjoying the lessons. This lesson is a good review of the -ed word endings.

So please watch it and then do the exercise that I have here for you to practice and solidify your learning.

Today, make sure to:

1. WATCH the video of the day to brush up:

Thanks for being a part of this journey of bettering your English and therefore yourself.

The skill that this lesson focuses on is something that is rarely taught and often overlooked: VOWEL REDUCTION

The critical steps to proper word stress is:

1. Properly STRESS the stressed syllable and…

2. Properly REDUCE the unstressed syllable

If you get these two steps correct, your fluency rating will go sky high!

Today, I have a video lesson here for you that will help provide more information regarding the lessons we did this week. This lesson comes from the Live Classes that I offer in the Gold Membership level.

If you are not already a Gold Member, click below to learn more! www.goenglishcoach.com

This is one that is near and dear to my heart; numbers stress.

So here are a couple things for you to do today:

1. WATCH your video below:

2. DOWNLOAD the PDF by clicking the button below the video.

Enjoy your learning!

Today, I have some practice for you to work on at your own pace. This lesson supports the work you have been doing and a lesson that is upcoming. Here are the steps to complete today’s lesson.

1. DOWNLOAD the PDF by clicking the button below.

2. DO YOUR HOMEWORK:

• Create a sentence using 10 words from the list.

• Record the sentences

• Listen to your recording and see if you like what you hear. You be the judge!

What do you think of your speech? Keep plugging away! You are doing great!

“It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.” --Confucius (551-479 BC), philosopher

This lesson covers Stress in Longer Words; words that contain 2, 3 or even more syllables.

Did you know there are some rules about that? Well there are and…Keep up the good work!

WATCH the video below:

Great work on tackling all of these lessons and concepts!

You are nearing some very critical pieces in English pronunciation and fluency…I can’t wait to share with you some of the higher level/advanced lessons pertaining to English fluency.

It is important to know if your language is syllable-timed or stress-timed.

English is a stress-timed language meaning that we stress important or key words and we reduce the function words or the words that don’t carry much meaning but connect the content together.

Take a LOOK at your video for today!

Welcome back, {name},

It is important to know if your language is syllable-timed or stress-timed. English is a Stress-timed language meaning that we stress important or key words and we reduce the function words or the words that don’t carry much meaning but connect the content together.

Take a LOOK at your video for today here:

Today, our lesson is on linking.

Linking or connecting the end of one word with the beginning of the next word helps give English its flow. And remember, the word fluency means ‘flow’.

So, here is where the rubber meets the road (another idiom for your back pocket) :)

There are a couple rules that are easily digestible that I will include in tomorrow’s email.

Take a look at the Linking Video!

Today’s lesson covers thought groups and bringing the essence of fluency well into reach for you.

Remember, that fluency is less about grammar or perfect pronunciation as it is a state of “being” within a language.

Many people who have studied languages for a long time have described having to “find themselves” within the language. Think about that for a second...what does that actually mean?

It can mean many things to many different people but to me it means that you have to ‘find your groove’ with the language...finding your personality in a second language.

It doesn’t mean a different YOU. You don’t have to give anything up of who you are...it’s about adding a new piece to your character.

I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences related to this concept. If you have had a similar experience before, please let me know!

Intonation allows you to use your voice to impact meaning or message. We typically use intonation in a variety of ways such as:

1. Falling Intonation (voice going down) at the end of a statement indicates the completion of an idea. You can hear my voice go up and then down in the final word of each sentence. Check out an example of "Falling Intonation" in the Resources section.

2. Rising Intonation (voice going up) at the end of a statement indicates surprise uncertainty of a desire for more confirmation. Check out the "Rising Intonation" sample in the examples below.

3. Rising Intonation (voice going up) can also be used at the end of yes/no questions. Listen to the examples below.