Improve your American English intonation, rhythm, stress, and placement with San Diego Voice and Accent
Master the foundational concepts of American English in this introductory course! You'll learn about American English placement, intonation, stress, linking, imitation skills, and the basics of vocal anatomy and voice production! To view all course offerings, visit San Diego Voice and Accent: Courses.
Master the American Accent: American English Foundation



Course details
What will I learn?
Do you want to improve your American English rhythm? Fluency? Smoothness? Naturalness? Placement? Then this course is for you!
This course is comprehensive. You'll learn the foundational skills that are necessary to speaking clear and natural English with lessons on American English placement, intonation of words and sentences, common stress patterns, and linking.
All lessons are taught by Julie Cunningham, an industry-leading American accent coach and licensed speech-language pathologist. Julie has developed innovative practice methods that have been shown to maximize your progress and quickly help you to reach your goals.
Then the practice: You'll practice each foundational area with over 500 audio files, 25+ videos, and detailed instructions on "What to do / What not to do" when pronouncing that specific speech pattern. All audio files can be downloaded to your device or computer, as well as additional exercises in PDF format.
But that's not all! In addition to learning about each foundational area of American English, you'll also learn about vocal anatomy and physiology (e.g., what the voice is made of and how it works) and the best practice techniques that will get you the results you're looking for.
How do I receive extra help during the course?
There are many ways you can receive extra help during the course!
#1: You can participate in the online SDVA Discord community if you have questions or want extra help along the way. Julie will be there to answer your questions and give you feedback.
#2: You can also post your questions on the Discussions page of each chapter if you want help on a specific lesson or exercise.
#3: You can purchase discounted private accent training with Julie if you want more personalized coaching and pronunciation guidance as you complete the course. This discount is only available to students who enroll in this course! You can add these one-on-one sessions at the time of purchase, or contact Julie for more information (julie@sandiegovoiceandaccent.com).
#4: And don't forget: SDVA offers LIVE ENGLISH CLASSES! You can join Julie for a live English lesson every week at Julie's Conversation Club! Come to a meeting, ask questions, and receive live feedback on your pronunciation! Learn more about Julie's Conversation Club here: Julie's Conversation Club.
Who should take this course?
This course is appropriate for anyone who wants to crack the code to sounding clear and natural when speaking English.
Good pronunciation isn't just about vowels and consonants. If you focused on only these two areas, you'd sound like a robot, which is the opposite of what you want!
Good pronunciation also includes everything else besides the vowels and consonants - the rhythm, intonation, stress, reductions, and linking. These areas are just as important, if not more important, to sounding clear and natural when speaking English.
If you are ready to dive deep into the various foundational areas of American English pronunciation, then this course is for you!
Click here to learn about the other courses offered by San Diego Voice and Accent.
What English skill level should I have before I take this course?
The material in this course is best for a skill level of intermediate and above.
If you're a beginner of English, focus on improving your English vocabulary and language skills before you try out this course. You can always enroll once you're ready to advance your English pronunciation skills!
Why should I take this course on the American accent?
Pronunciation can't be learned from a book. Once a word is spoken out loud, its pronunciation often changes, and the only way to learn about that pronunciation is to listen to native speakers and then imitate them. This course will give you the opportunity to do just that - listen to and imitate native speakers of American English - with powerful practice material and instructions presented to you in an effective and easy-to-follow format.
Now's your chance to gain the confidence and fluency that you're looking for. Enroll today!
How much does this course cost?
The American English Foundation Course is a one-time payment of $89.95 for lifetime access to the entire course.
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Please note: The services provided by San Diego Voice and Accent are not clinical, and thus, clients do not receive a speech-language diagnosis or participate in insurance-based speech-language therapy.
American Accent: Top 10 Essentials



Course details
What will I learn?
You'll learn the top 10 essentials of the American accent through detailed lessons on American English syllable stress, word reductions and unstressed syllables, and how to pronounce the most common vowels and consonants of American English. Each chapter includes pronunciation videos, helpful text explanations, downloadable worksheets, and chapter quizzes to test your knowledge.
Who should take this course?
This accent reduction course was designed to improve the clarity and fluency of non-native speakers of American English. However, if you are a native speaker of English who grew up speaking another dialect or accent and you want to learn more about the American accent, you will also benefit from this course.
What English skill level should I have before I take this course?
The material in this course is best for a skill level of intermediate and above. However, I would encourage beginners of English to enroll (all videos come with captions). It's never too early to start learning about American English pronunciation!
Why should I take this course on the American accent?
Pronunciation can't be learned from a book. Once a word is spoken out loud, its pronunciation often changes, and the only way to learn about that pronunciation is to listen to native speakers and then imitate them. This course will give you the opportunity to do just that - listen to and imitate native speakers of American English, with helpful pronunciation tips and guidance along the way.
But even more important is this course will teach you the rules that govern American English pronunciation, such as:
- How a vowel is different from a consonant
- Which words to stress and destress in a sentence
- How to reduce vowels in unstressed syllables
As you become more aware of the sounds and patterns of spoken American English, your pronunciation skills will greatly improve!
How much does this course cost?
The American Accent: Top 10 Essentials course is free!