The Rhythm of English

Why do we need rhythm?   What type of rhythm does English have?   What are its characteristics.   Is there rhythm in words as well as in sentences?  The repetition audio practice for this lesson is combined with the audio practice for the next lesson.

What types of words do we stress?  You'll see a chart which breaks it down.  We'll go through many examples.   Practice the examples again and again with the repetition audio provided.  You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the PDF or Word doc for this particular section here.

What do we do with our voices in order to stress a word or de-stress a word?   You'll find a chart to help organize the procedures.  We'll even look at how to create energy and relaxation within words.   Then practice with the repetition audio provided.  You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the PDF or Word doc for this particular section here.

You'll learn how to fit (or squeeze) the function words between the main stresses.  You'll practice with many examples, both during the lesson and on the go with the repetition audio provided.  You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the PDF or Word doc for this particular section here.

This video is a review of Lectures 1-5!  Know the basics well before you move on!   You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the PDF or Word doc for this particular section here.

Here's a list of common function words and how to reduce their vowels.  Get to know them and practice with the repetition audio now.  We'll find more examples of many of these function word reductions in the next lessons.  You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the PDF or Word doc for this particular section here.

Let's look in depth at how to pronounce can when it is both reduced and stressed.  Practice with the repetition audio.  You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the PDF or Word doc for this particular section here.

Let's look in depth at how to pronounce have and has when they are both reduced and stressed.  Practice with the repetition audio.  You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the PDF or Word doc for this particular section here.

Here we go into depth with many examples of reducing and stressing you, your, yours and yourself.  Use the repetition audio to perfect your skills.  You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the Word doc for this particular section here.

This section has two different stories.  The first one (on video) reduces several prepositions such as to, for, of, in, as, and at.  The second (not on video) focuses only on the two different ways to reduce "to."  You'll also find the practice audio for "of" reductions.  You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the PDF or Word doc for this particular section here.

We will practice omitting the H in he, his, him and her in the middle of a sentence.   After watching, use the repetition audio to practice.  You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the PDF or Word doc for this particular section here.

Learn how to make "they" quick in the rhythm without reducing the vowel.  Also learn they'll, where the vowel can be reduced.  Practice with the repetition audio.  You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the PDF or Word doc for this particular section here.

Contractions help us achieve rhythm by speeding up the function words.   To be is commonly contracted.  Learn all the forms.  Then practice with the audio provided.  You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the PDF or Word doc for this particular section here.

Practice the simple future tense in contracted form for better rhythm.   Don't forget to drill the rhythm into your muscle memory with the repetition audio.  You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the PDF or Word doc for this particular section here.

Practicing the rhythm of contracting would.   Repetition audio included

We looked at Have and Has as reductions.  Now we specifically look at them as contractions, just for extra practice.   The practice repetition audio is waiting for you.  You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the PDF or Word doc for this particular section here.

Now we combine grammar with rhythm and learn how to pronounce the contractions for complicated future tenses, including the future perfect.  You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the PDF or Word doc for this particular section and the next section here.

Learn when to use and how to contract the future perfect progressive tense.  The sentences are found in the repetition audio, PDF and Word doc for the previous lecture.

Learn how to contract had after each pronoun and other nouns.

Learn how to contract negatives and which part of the word to stress.  You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the PDF or Word doc for this particular section here.

Learn how and when to stress this, that, these and those.  Learn to combine with the to be verb and learn to use them in different examples, when they are demonstrative adjectives or demonstrative pronouns.   Then practice with the repetition audio provided.  You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the PDF or Word doc for this particular section here.

Learn how to quickly link a consonant to the same consonant at the beginning of the next word.   The linking video audio repetition and PDF/Word, found here, covers all the examples in linking parts 1-7.   The general linking audio material  is extra practice that accompanies the written lesson but is not found in the video.   You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the PDF or Word doc for this particular section (Linking Part 1 + general linking) here.

Learn to link two different consonants next to each other.  We will link stop consonants and then continuant consonants.  Note how some continuant consonants change depending on what type of sound we're linking them to.  We will also look at what happens with linking 3 consonants in a row, where T is the middle consonant.  You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the PDF or Word doc for this particular section here.

Learn how to connect the consonant at the end of one word to the vowel at the beginning of the next word.   Special attention will be given to linking NG to a vowel, and Linking Part 8, lecture 29, will have more practice with NG linking.  Find repetition audio in Linking Part 1.  You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the PDF or Word doc for this particular section here.

Learn how to link when words end in various types of T and D.  Learn how the T changes in different linking environments.  Find the Word Doc and PDF here, or as part of the whole course PDF in Lecture 1. 

Learn how to link a Long vowel (A, E, I, O U, OU or OI) to the vowel at the beginning of the next word.   There are extra sentences in the written lesson and on the audio recording that are not in the video.     Keep practicing with the repetition audio.  You can print out the PDF or Word doc for the entire course in Lecture 1, but you can also look at/print out the PDF or Word doc for this particular section here.

Learn how to link a short U or an ER to another word that starts with a vowel.  There is an extra lesson, not in the videos, on R to vowel linking in the written materials and in the audio practice in this section.  The written materials are the same as in the PDF/Word for the whole course in section 1.

Let's practice a little bit of all the different types of linking in one conversation.  Download the text here or find it with the PDF/Word for the whole course in Lecture 1.

This is a supplement for the NG portion of Linking- Part 3- Consonant to Vowel Linking.  Linking NG to a vowel is very difficult for some, so I've explained it further and made extra dialogue practice for you.

Learn how to connect the article, "an" to every vowel.

Learn how to link "the" to all possible sounds.  Find the recordings and PDF or Word doc here.  The written part can also be found as part of the whole course PDF/Word in Lecture 1.

Learn how to link past tense verbs to the next word that starts with a vowel.  Find the written documents in Lecture 1 or here (linking past tense to consonants and to vowels is combined in one written document).

Learn several rules for linking past tense verbs to the next word that starts with a consonant.  Find the PDF/Word doc and recordings in the previous section on linking Past tense to Vowels.

Learn more rules for linking past tense verbs to consonants.

Learn when to make a Clear T or Held T, and learn what to do when you have TN or NT.

Learn how to tone down the fast D between words, putting more emphasis on the vowels.

Learn how to reduce T and D to a fast D between vowels, when the 2nd vowel is unstressed.  Learn what happens to T and D after an R and/or before an L.

Learn how to blend words that end in either T, D, S or Z with words that begin with Y.   

Blending is tricky, so let's continue practicing it.  This time we'll look at the blending between words in a story.  The blending helps you say the function words faster so that you can spend more time on the content words.

Let's practice and review our rhythm skills with a poem.   Poems should sound rhythmical.

Learn American history and practice your new rhythm skills at the same time!