05
2020
Learn the American accent with The Office!
This is an in-depth analysis of a scripted conversation from the American TV show The Office. I'll analyze all areas of American English - pronunciation of vowels, consonants, syllable and word stress, intonation, and vocabulary. Take notes - this is a great way to learn!
Read More Jun02
2020
How to Pronounce the Schwa UH /ə/ Vowel
Improve your American accent and learn how to pronounce the most common vowel in American English: the schwa! It's so important that it has its own name! The schwa UH /ə/ vowel is in the words about, computer, and banana.
Read More Jun02
2020
How to Pronounce the UH /ʌ/ Vowel
Improve your American accent and learn how to pronounce the UH /ʌ / like in "butter" vowel! See the vowel up close and in slow motion, in both stressed and unstressed syllables!
Read More Jun01
2020
Introduction to the Schwa UH /ə/ Vowel
Perfect your American accent and learn all about the American schwa UH /ə/ vowel, like in the word "about". You'll learn why the schwa is the most common vowel in American English, and when to use it in word reductions!
Read More May25
2020
How to Pronounce the EH /ɛ/ Vowel
Improve your American accent and learn how to pronounce the American English vowel EH /ɛ/, like in the word "red"! See the EH vowel up close and in slow motion, in both stressed and unstressed syllables!
Read More May25
2020
How to Pronounce the AA /æ/ Vowel
Improve your American accent! Learn how to pronounce the American English vowel AA /æ/, like in the word "bat" - including how this vowel changes when it is next to an N, M, or NG consonant!
Read More May14
2020
How to Pronounce the OY /ɔɪ/ Diphthong
Learn the American accent! The OY /ɔɪ/, like in "boy", vowel is called a diphthong - this means it has TWO sounds! Learn the correct lip, jaw, and tongue placement as you say this American English diphthong vowel, in both stressed and unstressed words!
Read More May04
2020
How to Pronounce the AI /aɪ/ Diphthong
Learn the American accent! The AI /aɪ/ like in "time" American English diphthong has TWO vowel sounds. Learn the correct jaw, lip, and tongue positions as you glide from the first position to the last, in both stressed and unstressed words!
Read More Apr26
2020
How to Pronounce the AY /eɪ/ Diphthong
The American English AY in "day" vowel is called a diphthong, which means it has TWO sounds! Learn the correct tongue, lip, and jaw positions as you say this common vowel of American English!
Read More Apr20
2020
How to Pronounce the OW /aʊ/ Diphthong
The OW /aʊ/ in "how" is called a diphthong, and it has TWO sounds. Learn tips on how to correctly move your lips, jaw, and tongue to say the OW sound! Tip: Make sure you feel movement in your lips, jaw, and tongue as you say OW - and there is a lot of movement with this sound!
Read More Apr14
2020
How to Pronounce the OH /oʊ/ Diphthong
The OH /oʊ/ in "no" American English diphthong has TWO vowel sounds. Learn the correct jaw, lip, and tongue positions as you glide from the first position to the last, in both stressed and unstressed words!
Read More Apr08
2020
The Basics of Voice Production Part 6: Articulatory Exercises
This video is the final installment of the Basics of Voice Production Series. Learn to speak with precision as you practice these challenging tongue twisters!
Read More Apr07
2020
The Basics of Voice Production Part 5: Phonatory Exercises
This video is part 5 of the Basics of Voice Production series. A clear and strong voice is powered by vocal cords that vibrate easily and efficiently. Learn some quick exercises to improve your vocal cord vibration - no equipment required!
Read More Apr06
2020
The Basics of Voice Production Part 4: Resonatory Exercises
This video is part 4 of the Basics of Voice Production series. The Resonatory System is the reason why YOU sound like YOU. Learn how to maximize the resonance in your voice so that your voice sounds more rich, full, warm, and pleasant, with minimal effort!
Read More Apr02
2020
Sentence Analysis: Parks and Recreation Part 1
Test your English pronunciation skills with sentence analysis! This video discusses all areas of English pronunciation - vowels, consonants, syllable stress, word linking, word reductions, and vocabulary - using a scene from Parks and Recreation!
Read More Mar29
2020
AH /ɑ/ and UH /ʌ/ Vowels: Minimal Pairs Listening Quiz
How well can you hear the difference between the words "cot" and "cut"? Improve your listening and speaking skills of the AH /ɑ/ in "father" and the UH /ʌ/ in "butter" vowels with this minimal pairs listening quiz!
Read More Mar27
2020
EE and IH Vowels: Minimal Pairs Listening Quiz
How well can you hear the difference between the words bead and bid? Perfect your listening and pronunciation of the EE /i/ and IH /ɪ/ vowels in American English with this listening quiz!
Read More Mar26
2020
The Basics of Voice Production Part 3: Respiration Exercises
This video is Part 3 of the Basics of Voice Production Series. The breath is the power source of the voice - learn exercises to increase your breath support and control your respiration for strong, consistent voicing!
Read More Mar25
2020
The Basics of Voice Production Part 2: Vocal Warm-Ups
This is Part 2 of the Basics of Voice Production series. All muscles need to be warmed up before they are used, and the voice is no exception! Learn some quick and effective exercises to warm-up the voice so you can speak with clarity and precision!
Read More Mar22
2020
How to Pronounce 10 Difficult Words in English: Part 1
Learn the best tips on how to pronounce 10 difficult words in English (that you may be pronouncing wrong!), including milk, girl, world, million, clothes, months, vegetables, comfortable, three, and thirty.
Read More Mar16
2020
How to Pronounce the N /n/ and NG /ŋ/ Consonants
Learn the tips to pronouncing the N /n/ in "sun" and NG /ŋ/ in "song" - and learn when you can reduce the NG sound!
Read More Mar10
2020
Basics of Voice Production Part 1: Voicing Subsystems
Where do our voices come from? And how do they work? If you want to become a better English speaker, you need to learn the fundamentals about how you make your voice! In this video, you'll learn about the body systems involved in voicing and speech production!
Read More Mar02
2020
How to Pronounce the TH Sound
Here are the BEST tips to pronouncing the American TH sound - including the variations of the TH sound!
Read More Feb23
2020
How to Pronounce the Light L and Dark L Sounds
How is the L in "love" different from the L in "tall"? Learn about the light L and dark L sounds in this video!
Read More Feb16
2020
Rhythm in Sentences
Perfect the rhythm of your spoken English with this easy musical activity!
Read More Feb04
2020
The Best Way to Practice Your American English Pronunciation
Learn the most effective tips at improving your American English pronunciation!
Read More Feb04
2020
The Vowels of American English
What makes the vowel in "beat" different from the bowel in "bit"? Learn about the front, central, and back vowels of American English!
Read More Feb04
2020
Place, Manner, and Voicing of the American English Consonants
How is the "P" sound different from the "B" sound? Learn what makes the American English consonants different from each other!
Read More Feb04
2020
Stress in Sentences
Where does the rhythm come from when Americans speak? Learn about stress in sentences!
Read More Feb04
2020
AH and UH Vowels: A Visual Test
How well can you pronounce the AH (father) and the UH (butter) vowels in American English? Test your pronunciation skills with this visual test!
Read More Feb04
2020
EE and IH Vowels: A Visual Test
How good is your pronunciation of the EE (beat) and IH (bit) vowels in American English? Test your skills with this visual test!
Read More Feb04
2020
The American R Sound as a Consonant and a Vowel
How is the R in "right" different from the R in "learn"? Test your knowledge of the American R sound with this video!
Read More Feb04
2020
The American T in Sentences
The American T sound can be pronounced three different ways! Test your knowledge about the three American T sounds with this video.
Read More Feb04
2020
Word Reductions: Function Words
Where does American English get its rhythm and flow? Learn how to reduce the function words in American English in this video!
Read More Feb04
2020
Vowel to Vowel Linking in American English
Improve the flow of your spoken English through linking words together!
Read More Feb04
2020
Best Resources in Accent Reduction
Learn about the best resources to help you improve your English pronunciation!
Read More Jan15
2020
Linking In Connected Speech
Spoken English sounds like one, long connected word.
Read More Jan15
2020
Unstressed Syllables and Word Reductions in American English
In spoken English, some syllables are longer, or more stressed, compared to the other syllables in a word.
Read More Jan08
2020
Syllables and Stress of American English
Clear English pronunciation is not only about pronouncing consonants and vowels correctly.
Read More Nov20
2019
How to Pronounce the AH /ɑ/ Vowel and the UH /ʌ/ Vowel
Pronouncing the "ah" and "uh" vowels can be difficult for non-native English speakers to pronounce.
Read More Oct16
2019
How to Pronounce the L sound: Light L vs. Dark L
There are a few sounds in American English that are consistently tricky for most of my clients, but one that also deserves a spot at the table is the L sound.
Read More Sep21
2019
I'm a Native American English speaker...With an Accent
There are many, many regional accents throughout the United States. And even within the same region, there are even more specific differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.
Read More Aug31
2019
5 Tips to Ease Presentation Anxiety
It happens to the best of us.
Read More Aug19
2019
Six Vocal Warm-ups Everyone Should Be Doing
Most of us can agree on the importance of warming up our bodies before we start exercising. Without a proper warm-up, our muscles may be stiff and be more susceptible to injury.
Read More Aug06
2019
What Can a Corporate Speech Trainer Do For You?
How many times during any given day would you guess that you communicate with other people?
Read More Jul22
2019
How to Improve Your Spoken American English
Many of my clients ask me how they can sound more like a native speaker. Even if you know how to pronounce all of the vowels and consonants of English, you may not sound as natural as a native speaker when you’re talking in a conversation.
Read More Jul17
2019
What's Voice Got To Do With It?
Consider this scenario: You have to give a speech at your daughter’s wedding. You prepared your speech weeks ago...
Read More Jul13
2019
Where Do American Accents Come From?
We know that accents are everywhere. We all have one, and depending on where someone has lived and how old they were when they lived there, we may have a combination of many accents in our speaking pattern.
Read More Jul03
2019
Let's Learn the IPA! American English Vowels
The IPA is a notation system that uses symbols to represent the sounds of spoken language. Each symbol corresponds to a distinct sound, and as long as you know the symbol-to-sound correspondence, you should be able to pronounce any word you encounter. Today I’d like to focus on the IPA symbols of American English Vowels.
Read More Jun20
2019
The Top 5 Problematic Sounds in American English: The AY /eɪ/ "bait" and EH /ɛ/ "bet" vowels
Learn the tricks to pronouncing the American English tense/lax vowel pair AY /eɪ/ (bait) and EH /ɛ/ (bet)!
Read More Jun18
2019
Let's Learn the IPA! American English Consonants
The International Phonetic Alphabet, or IPA, is a notation system that uses symbols to represent the sounds of spoken language.
Read More Jun09
2019
The Top 5 Problematic Sounds in American English: The “eee” and “ih” vowels
This is Part Four of the Top 5 Problematic Sounds in American English.
Read More Jun03
2019
The Top 5 Problematic Sounds in American English: The "r" Sound
This is Part Three of the Top 5 Problematic Sounds in American English.
Read More May25
2019
The Top 5 Problematic Sounds in American English: The TH Sound
This is Part Two of the Top 5 Problematic Sounds in American English. Based on my experience with accent modification, most people have difficulties with these same 5 sounds, regardless of their native language. So let’s continue with the next sound: The TH sound.
Read More May11
2019
The Top 5 Problematic Sounds in American English: The "t" Sound
Based on my experience with accent modification, most people have difficulties with these same 5 sounds, regardless of their native language. I’ll begin this series with the first sound, “t”.
Read More May08
2019
Exciting news! I've been featured in a newly published book!
I’ve been featured in the book Here's How to Do Accent Modification: A Manual for Speech-Language Pathologists , written by my colleague Robert McKinney!
Read More May01
2019
American Accent Basics: What is an accent? Why do I have one? How do I reduce my accent to sound like a native American English speaker?
Let's consider the definition of an accent to be: “A distinctive mode of pronunciation of a language, especially one associated with a particular nation, locality, or social class.” According to this definition, we all have an accent.
Read More