And then it happened. You spoke to someone who totally misunderstood you.

So, you wonder. Was I REALLY making progress? Maybe this was just a false start. Maybe I’ll never get it and I should just quit trying.

Does that sound familiar?

Just last week, I had a client ask me about this. Just when she thought things were improving, a sentence slipped out that was hard to understand, and she began to question all the work she had been doing. Was it my fault? Will it ever improve? Should we just give up?

I asked her to think about whether the speech sounded better more often than it sounded worse. She agreed that it did, so I assured her that it is a step by step process, not an all at once change.

Yes, you may get a sound correctly when you practice at home and still say it wrong when talking to a colleague. That doesn’t mean you will never say it correctly to a colleague, but it does mean that your brain is still adapting to this new way of saying it.

There are some times that will almost certainly be harder than others, so let me prepare you for those.

At first, your speech will probably sound the best while working with a native speaker and imitating what they say. It is easier to repeat correct sounds and intonation than it is to produce them on your own. So, you might be surprised, for example, when you do really well during your lesson but practicing at home is harder.

Simple words are often harder to pronounce correctly. You would think that the little, simple words would be the easiest to change and that longer, more complicated words would be harder to learn. In reality, the simple, short words are usually the hardest to use correctly in conversation.Typically, these are the words you say many times every day and the old pronunciation has become firmly ingrained in your brain. You may find that it takes quite a bit of practice to correctly say words like and, the, with, of, make, or come .

Times of emotional stress, whether from nervousness or anger, will cause you to revert to your old speech patterns. It is very common when you give a presentation or have an emotional exchange with someone to find that your speech is harder to understand. Just when you really want to make your point clearly, it may be harder to do so. It will take extra practice to maintain your new speech patterns during stressful situations.

When you are tired, you will tend to revert to your old speech patterns. It takes extra effort to make any new skill an integrated habit, so don’t expect your speech to be any different. When I meet with my clients, I can almost always tell when they are tired because their accent sounds heavier than when they are well rested. It does take extra effort at first, but over time the new patterns will come more easily — even when you are tired.

At this point, you may be wondering if your American pronunciation will ever be where you want it to be.

Have you ever watched a baby learning to walk? They take a shaky step, then fall. They stand up again, take another step, and fall. They stand up again, take 2 steps, and fall again. Over and over, they repeat this process until before long, they can walk all the way across the room without falling down.

This is much the same way that your American pronunciation will develop — one step at a time. One day, you will be able to maintain it for an entire conversation.

If you give up the first time you make a mistake, you will have no more than a false start. But, if you keep getting up and trying again, then you have real hope of speaking English more clearly and confidently. And soon, you will be using that American pronunciation as easily as you walk down the street.

In baseball, spring training is a chance for more experienced players to practice some skills that they may not have used in a while, and an opportunity for new players to get their feet wet in a game before the competitive season starts. Those who participate in Spring Training definitely have a competitive edge over those who wait for the “real” season to begin.

When it comes to American accent training, many people wait until they have a crisis to begin working on their pronunciation. Maybe they have a huge presentation or a job interview in just a couple of weeks, or perhaps they were just passed over for a promotion at work. While you can make improvements in your accent in just a few weeks, you will see much greater improvement– and feel much less stress — when you plan ahead and begin training before the “big game”, so to speak. That way, when the big event comes, whether it is a presentation, a job interview, or the opportunity for a promotion, you can focus on demonstrating your superior skills without worrying about your accent. Your pronunciation practice will have paid off.

So, let’s begin our spring training together with those very words: Spring Training. One common mispronunciation that I hear is a difficulty with the –ing ending. There are actually two very common pronunciation errors that occur with this ending sound. The first is the short I sound. Often, it is incorrectly pronounced as a long E. The second problem happens with the NG sound. This sound, when made correctly, involves pushing the back of the tongue up against the palate in the back of the mouth. Many non-native speakers substitute an N sound for the NG. However, the N is made in the front of the mouth while the NG is made in the back.

If you want to hear me pronounce these sounds, be sure to listen to the audio download at the bottom of the post. We want to hear Spring Training, not Spreen traineen. When you substitute the N sound, it sounds like you are saying THIN for THING or SIN for SING. If you change the vowel and the NG sound, it sounds like you are saying BREEN for bring, SEEN for SING, and THEEN for thing.

Now try saying these words: bring, sing , thing, ring, going.

Now try them in short sentences:

• Please bring me a towel.
• Can he sing?
• What is that thing?
• She has a beautiful ring.
• I have to be going now.

Commit to your own spring training and practice along with me until you can say these sounds with ease. Whether you are a fan of baseball or not, this kind of spring training will get you ready for big payoffs with your American accent.

If you’re still having trouble with the pronunciation of these sounds or others, please visit www.losemyaccent.com to take your free accent screening. I want others to hear you and not your accent.

Listen to or download the podcast here and practice your pronunciation along with me:

Download

Was this helpful? If so, please click on the share button below to let your friends know!

In honor of her New Year’s Resolution, I’m going to give you something that will help you lose your accent. It is an audio recording of one of the sounds that Adriana Lima will probably work on if she does work with an accent reduction coach. Like many non-native speakers, she pronounces the short I as a long E, as in I want to get rid of my accent. But, it sounds like I want to get reed of my accent.

If you would like to get rid of your difficulty saying the short I sound, then download the American pronunciation audio below. This training is usually reserved for my personal clients, but today I want to share it with you absolutely free. And if you happen to know Adriana Lima, please pass it on to her with my compliments!

The Short I sound practice audio

Download

If you will listen and practice along with this audio daily, you will soon begin to lose your accent. And yes, you can share this American pronunciation training with your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Just click on the Share button below and be sure to tell them it was from me. Thanks!

Was the audio helpful? Leave me a comment in the box below and tell me how it worked for you.

We have an American expression that says “there’s a light at the end of the tunnel”, which means that you can see a light shining in the darkness. You can see a way out of your current hard situation and you have hope that it will be over soon.

What do you suppose the person who wrote these words was thinking?

The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light. On those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

I think it was more than just a sunrise. I think it was the beginning of a new way of life.

During this Christmas season, I wanted to take the time to share with you some traditions that you may not find in the stores full of presents and Santa Claus. There is another side to Christmas, and that is the birthday of Jesus, which is often celebrated during the period known as Advent.

Advent is a season of preparation, observed in many Christian churches for the four weeks before Christmas and finishing on Christmas Day, the day we celebrate Jesus’ birth. An advent wreath is often used for decoration. This is a ring with 4 candles in it. One candle is lit each week as a church or family discusses the meaning of the theme that week. While different churches use the candles to represent different themes, we are going to talk about the very popular ones of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

This week’s theme is Hope, and the quote I shared above is from The Bible. This light refers to Jesus and the hope of a better life that He brings.

What brings you hope? Are you hoping for a special gift for Christmas? Do you hope to make some changes in the New Year? Whatever your desire is, hope is a way of anticipating and looking forward to the changes that are to come.

Please tell me in the comment section below what you hope for.

I hope for each of you a joyous Holiday season with family and friends!

Even though I know that as the leaves turn colors, they are preparing to fall off of the trees, it doesn’t diminish their beauty to me. It is really a sign of hope, because after the leaves fall off the tree and die, new leaves grow in their place the following spring.

I wanted to share some of that hope with you, and you know that one of the best ways to improve your American pronunciation is by listening closely to native speakers, right? That’s why I wanted to share with you a recorded short story called The Last Leaf. Take a few minutes to listen to it, both for the literary enjoyment and for the clear American pronunciation that you will hear.

When you listen to this story, you will not only get listening and pronunciation practice, but you will also be encouraged to hold on to your hopes and dreams.

The Last Leaf

What is your “last leaf” — the thing that will make you hold on and try just a little bit longer?

If you are frustrated with your American pronunciation and feel like it just might not get any better, I want you to try something. Let me be like that last leaf for you, clinging tenaciously to life and giving hope when it is most needed.

Here’s what I want you to do. Type in your most frustrating pronunciation problem in the comments below. I will do my best to offer a suggestion for each one listed and I will use your requests to decide what needs to be included in my Christmas home study course.

What is the hardest challenge with American English for you — is it a particular vowel sound, stress patterns, intonation, or something else? Tell me about it in the comments box and I will hopefully be like that last leaf, offering you a suggestion to improve your speech and giving you the assurance to keep on trying.

After you leave your comment, share this post on Facebook and Twitter (click on the share button below). Do you know what your friends struggle with the most in their American pronunciation? Let’s find out and see if we can address their concerns right here.

You could be the last leaf for them. You can give them the hope and encouragement they need to give their pronunciation one more try. So, challenge me with your questions and then invite your friends to join us.

I’m looking forward to chatting with each of you!

A nightmare.

Maybe you’ll survive.

Sounds like someone had a pretty scary experience, doesn’t it?

Did they just visit a Haunted House to enjoy a fright before Halloween? (Although why anyone enjoys being frightened, I don’t really understand!)

No, this person was worried about something much spookier than a Haunted House. He was worried about giving a presentation at work. It’s not because he doesn’t know the material, because he is good at what he does.

It’s because, as a non-native speaker, he has to speak English in front of hundreds of people, and he is concerned about his American pronunciation. He hasn’t had much opportunity to improve his spoken English, so he’s not sure the presentation will go well.

Have you felt that fear, too? Your boss tells you that you must give a presentation and you feel that tingle on the back of your neck, your stomach flips around, and you break out in a cold sweat.

What if they don’t understand me?
What if I pronounce important words wrong?
What if my presentation isn’t clear enough?
What if I lose my job?

You know that you are smart enough and that you do your job well; that’s not the problem. But speaking English in front of a roomful of people and hoping they understand you? Now that’s something to be afraid of!

Or is it?

Wouldn’t it be nice to feel confident the next time your boss asks you to give a presentation? It would be such a stress-reliever to know that you will be understood when you speak!

Did you know that one of the services I provide is coaching you one-on –one over Skype to prepare you for your next presentation?

We work on voice projection and pronunciation, focusing on your specific topic to be sure that you sound as clear and confident as possible. Giving a presentation doesn’t have to be scary anymore!

But what if your next presentation is very soon and you don’t have time to work with me right now?

Try these tips to improve your American pronunciation:

• Write out your presentation so that you can practice. Speaking unprepared is a great skill, but right now you want to focus on improving your pronunciation.
• Practice, practice, practice. Become very familiar with your topic so you can focus on the pronunciation of the words rather than the content.
• Open your mouth wide and over-enunciate your words. It may sound odd to you, but it will greatly improve how easily you are understood by others.
• Slow down. We all have a tendency to talk fast when we are nervous, but slowing down is one of the best ways to make sure that you pronounce your words clearly.
• Practice in front of a mirror. This will help you see if you are able to make good eye contact with your audience. Get comfortable watching yourself, and add facial expressions and gestures for emphasis when appropriate.
• Practice with a native speaker, if possible. Find someone who can listen to your presentation and point out obvious mispronunciations you can work on.
• Take a deep breath and think positively! The deep breath will help you relax and the positive thoughts will help you perform at your best. Research has shown that we usually perform about as well as we think we will, so the more positively you think, the better you will do.

Once the presentation is over, evaluate yourself fairly. Congratulate yourself on the things that went well, and make a note of the skills you want to improve for the next time.

Soon, you will see the stage not as a scary Haunted House, but as an exciting platform for you to share your brilliance!

Ready for some help preparing for your next presentation? The first step is to take your free accent screening.

If you found this article helpful, please share it with your friends by clicking on the button below. Thanks!

Understanding idioms is an important part of mastering American English. Wouldn’t you agree? After all, even perfect pronunciation can’t help you if you have no idea what the other person means.

A powerful rainstorm yesterday knocked most of our beautiful leaves to the ground, and as I was looking at those fall leaves, I thought about some idioms and expressions that use the word leaf.

If you are quickly skimming through a book, you might say that you are leafing through it.

We leafed through several books looking for the right information.

Next spring, the trees will once again have tiny green leaves growing on them. Sometimes it seems as if they appear almost overnight. When the leaves appear, we say that the tree has leafed out.

The trees leafed out earlier this year, didn’t they?

If you are scared or nervous about a certain situation, you might be shaking like a leaf.

I was so nervous about that job interview that I was shaking like a leaf.

On the other hand, if you have made a decision to change or improve the way you do something, you could say that you are turning over a new leaf.

No more smoking for me! I’m turning over a new leaf.

Some of you have decided to turn over a new leaf with your American pronunciation, haven’t you? Your old speech patterns just aren’t working well enough and it’s time to make a change.

Now is the perfect time to turn over a new leaf and get in some pronunciation practice before the holidays.

Just to see who is serious about turning over a new leaf, I will be following American tradition by offering a Black Friday special. For those of you who don’t know what that is, it simply means a special sale offered only the day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday. I can’t tell you all the details yet, but it will be a fully-downloadable home study product at a price that will knock your socks off! (That’s another idiom that means: you will be pleasantly surprised!)

So, be watching for an update next week. And if you’re not on my email list, be sure to sign up in the box on the right where it says “Free Report”. That way, you’ll be among the first to know about the special when it’s ready for you!

See you next week!

You should be pleased, because if you are the apple of someone’s eye, then they cherish or care deeply for you. They hold you in the center of their thoughts and want to please you and protect you.

But where did this idiom come from, and what is the apple of your eye?

The expression itself has been found as early as the ninth century, in the writings of King Alfred. At that time, the pupil of the eye was thought to be a solid round object. The apple was a very common round fruit, and because of the similar appearance, the center of the eye became known as the apple.

The word pupil is actually from Latin, appearing in English in about the sixteenth century. Even if you are not a Latin scholar, I think you’ll find it interesting that the original Latin word was pupilla, meaning little doll. Why is this significant? Because the name pupil was used to label the little doll, or tiny image of yourself that you see when you look into the center of someone else’s eye.

Since our sense of sight is very precious to us and in need of protection, calling someone the apple of my eye came to mean that the person was cherished and very precious to us. In fact, we would do almost anything for them because they are one of the most important things in our lives.

As the fall season approaches and apples are more readily available, I wanted to be sure that you were familiar with this idiom. Think of someone you care deeply for — maybe it is a spouse, a boyfriend or girlfriend, or a child. Is that person the apple of your eye? You would do almost anything for this person because you care for him or her so much. But have you told them how much you care?

Here is my challenge to you during this fall season. Each time you see an apple, I want you to use it as a trigger to remind you of this expression. Think of the apple of your eye, whoever it is. And, when you see an apple, I want you to tell that special person something that you love about him or her. You may say, ” You are the apple of my eye” or you may give them a specific example of something you love.

Use this opportunity to practice not only saying this expression, but showing that you mean it.

By the way, did you catch the pun in the picture above? If so, let me know in the comments below!

If you are having trouble pronouncing the word apple or other words in this expression, find out how you can get pronunciation classes for free.

Languages have their own set of rules, too, and failing to follow those rules can make communication frustrating and sometimes unsuccessful. I find that my clients sometimes know more grammar rules of English than I do, but they have not been taught the American pronunciation rules that they need.

You can’t follow a rule that you don’t know about, right? So, today I decided to share with you three of the most common American pronunciation rules that are hard for non-native speakers. I’ll show you the most common mistake or “rule-breaker” and then explain how to change it.

1. Saying an S sound instead of a Z sound

Many non-native speakers use an s sound for a z sound. S and Z use the exact same tongue and mouth shape; the difference is in the voicing. The S sound is produced without the voice, but the Z sound requires the voice. To feel the difference, put your hand on your throat and try saying S-s-s-s. You should not feel anything. Now try saying Z-z-z-z. You should feel a vibration in your throat. Practice saying words like Sue and zoo, and buzz and bus.

2. Using Long E and Short I interchangably

These two vowels are often substituted one for the other, but doing so can change the meaning of the word. The long E is made by pulling the lips back into a smile. This is the vowel in the sentence: Meet me on Green Street. The short I, on the other hand, is made by keeping your tongue flat on the bottom of your mouth. Open it just a little and say ” ih”, as in Give the tip to him on the ship.

3. Saying a W instead of a V sound

The W sound is made by rounding the lips and saying “ooh-uh”. This is the sound that begins words like water, where, and watch but this is not the sound we want to make when saying words like vacation or violin. The V sound is made by lightly placing the top teeth on the lower lip, turning on the voice and blowing. Practice each sound separately, then try saying: Victor’s watch, winter vacation, and wash the vegetables.

Were those tips helpful? I’ll be giving away American pronunciation tips like that and many more on my free webinar coming up in two weeks. Have you reserved your spot yet? Seats are going quickly, so reserve your space now.

• 9/8/2011 1:05 PM Pedro Alvarez wrote:
  1. Even if you train your students to produce both /s/ and /z/, they will have problems wrt when to produce /s/ and /z/.There are some heuristics:
  1. plurals, possessives and corresponding assimilation. Exceptions in this category, if any.
  2. There is a heuristic that many ESL speakers have learned: /s/ in noun, but /z/ in verb (cf. use, advice, etc). However, this heuristic fails in words: crease, increase, decrease, lease, release, cease, decease (cf. disease), fleece, etc.

Today, August 19, we celebrate National Aviation Day in honor of the Wright brothers who got their first airplane to take flight in 1903. These brothers had a dream and they were determined to make it happen. They knew that if they studied hard enough, they could figure it out. Do you know what they studied?

Birds.

Birds fly effortlessly and without thought, masters of their craft. If you want to learn how to do something well, the best thing to do is to copy a master. So, the Wright brothers studied birds, the structure of their wings, and the way they flew, and applied these principles to their airplane wings.

If you want to do something well, find a master to learn from. If you want to learn to fly, study the birds. If you want to learn to ski, learn from professional skiers. And if you want to learn to speak English more clearly, learn it from a native speaker who knows how it sounds and how it works.

Sure, there is a risk involved in working on your pronunciation. You might make a mistake while learning a new sound; in fact, you probably will. Most people do. But is that a reason not to try?

And yes, a colleague might ask you to repeat yourself or laugh at you when the new word that sounded so good in class didn’t come out right at all in conversation.

But, chances are, if you work hard, you will see improvement in your speech. You will speak English more clearly and others will understand you better. Your confidence will improve and you will begin to believe that you can accomplish more than you ever thought possible.

I want to partner with you as you take that risk and feel the thrill of accomplishment in your pronunciation skills.

And it all starts with a simple step. Click on the link below to reserve your space in my free webinar coming up on September 12.

http://www.anymeeting.com/PIID=E958DE85854B

Yes, that’s right. A FREE webinar! I’m taking away the risk for you. It’s no cost and no obligation. All you have to do is show up and give it a try.

You will learn tips and techniques to improve your pronunciation and ideas for increasing your vocabulary. You will find out about common grammar pitfalls and why it is so important that you work on your accent now.

Imagine being able to say whatever you want, any time you want because you know you will be understood. Doesn’t that sound great?

It just takes a small risk — it’s what I call “sign up and show up.” That’s it. Reserve your space here and show up ready to learn.

http://www.anymeeting.com/PIID=E958DE85854B

If you’re willing to take that risk, the rewards will be worth it; I promise! So don’t wait to reserve your place; space is limited and I don’t want you to miss out !

If you’re excited about this opportunity to improve your pronunciation, please share it with your friends. Pass around the link on Facebook and Twitter, and let’s see who is ready to take the risk to speak clearer English with confidence!