Episodes
In the fluent speaking shadowing practice, we work on naturally linking and reducing phrases with "and" and "or." --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartamericanaccent/support
Published 10/15/24
In this shadowing practice, we work on fluent speaking for phrases with was and wasn't, as well as reduced her your their my and our. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartamericanaccent/support
Published 09/14/24
In this listen and repeat shadowing practice, we use common phrases with should have (should've), would have (would've) and could have (could've), as well as the negatives shouldn't have (shouldn't've), couldn't have (couldn't've) and wouldn't have (wouldn't've). Practice integrating these contractions into fluent speech in short phrases. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartamericanaccent/support
Published 08/09/24
In fluent speech, we can sometimes reduce "his" to "iz." In this listen and repeat shadowing practice, we use common phrases to practice reduced "his" to increase your fluency and speak English like a native speaker. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartamericanaccent/support
Published 07/26/24
In fluent speech, we can sometimes reduce "her" to "er." In this listen and repeat practice, we use common phrases to practice reduced "her" to increase your fluency and speak English like a native speaker. You Tube Video: https://youtu.be/yIhgpWA8yok --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartamericanaccent/support
Published 07/24/24
One of the error patterns which is common for non-native speakers of English is to say an extra syllable in certain words. This usually occurs because the spelled word looks like it should have additional sounds/syllables, or the root word has a different syllable pattern. Here are some words to work on, written so you can see the syllables: Different DIF rint Difference DIF rinss General GEN rul Groceries GROS(H) reez Vegetables VEG tuh blz Several SEV rul Interest IN...
Published 07/19/24
In this lesson, we learn how to use Backwards Chaining to practice intonation. Listen and shadow to get natural sounding rhythm in fluent speech. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartamericanaccent/support
Published 07/19/24
In this fluent speaking practice, we use shadowing and backwards chaining to have perfect intonation, while working on integrating W and V sounds into fluent speech.
Published 06/14/24
In this shadowing lesson, we work on intonation for verbs with and without phrasal verbs. Here are the phrases we cover in this lesson: That's where she ran. That's where she ran into it! They play soccer after school. Just play along with it for now. He walks to work every day. Let's walk through the notes. I don't know where to look. She will look out for her younger brother. She reads books before bedtime. Let's read up on it before class. You can hang your coat by the door....
Published 06/09/24
Have difficulty integrating your TH sounds into fluent speech? This practice focuses on the most common words with TH at the start and ends, to help you use this sound correctly and fluently in connected speech.
Published 05/28/24
Letters PRO are pronounced differently when stressed on unstressed. We'll practice mix and match phrases with PRO as /prə/ (unstressed) and /prɑ/ (stressed) words in this shadowing lesson.
Published 05/25/24
In this advanced mix and match practice, we work on integrating vowel schwa and vowel /ɑ/ into phrases. Many speakers struggle with differentiating vowel schwa and vowel /ɑ/ as in "nut" and "not." In this listen and repeat practice, we use common phrases with these vowels to help you master the vowels in fluent speaking. For more basic practice and learning these two vowels, check out this video: https://youtu.be/RQ1d4zQ9GCY For more on minimal pairs and other vowel contrasts, check out...
Published 05/12/24
In typical intonation patterns, we stress the last content word in a phrase, which is sometimes the verb. But in a phrasal verb, the meaning is contained in the preposition which follows the verb, so it gets the stress instead of the verb.  For example, we stress play in the phrase I like to play. But we stress out the phrase Let's see how it plays out. Phrasal verbs covered: run into, play along, walk through, look out for, read up on, hang in, write down, sing along, watch out, draw out,...
Published 04/10/24
In this lesson, we cover ST blends as well as how to pronounce words with Final L. Get pronunciation and fluent speech practice for these sounds. Shadow, list and repeat. For visuals, see our video: https://youtu.be/6xSoxz7FUb4
Published 04/07/24
Sometimes, an L at the end of the word functions as a syllabic L.  That is to say, it functions as a full syllable (a vowel and a consonant).  It sounds like /əl/ or /ʊl/, with a the vowel being very short and reduced. One strategy for making syllabic L sound natural is to practice using words with ʊl to shape the syllabic L.  For words with ble, try saying bull, then shorten and reduce the vowel to "bl." For example, say "bull, bl, trouble." Listen, repeat, and shadow words and phrases...
Published 04/03/24
In this lesson, we work on Vowel /u/ as in new shoe and vowel /ʊ/ as in good book. We'll practice phrases and sentences with minimal pairs like Luke and look, shooed and should, listen and repeat practice for fluent speech and shadowing. Check it out! Video for this lesson: https://youtu.be/ftvQPdMe_OI
Published 04/01/24
Learn and practice the correct intonation patterns for compound nouns. Stress the first syllable or first word in a compound noun phrase. repeated phrases: I need the, it's in the, where's my did you see the, what happened in the, what about the, see you by the compound nouns: toothbrush classroom bookshelf waterfall football raincoat headache pancake moonlight newspaper jellyfish toothpaste hairbrush sunlight doorbell backpack haircut fishbowl handbag moonshine raindrop firefly compound...
Published 03/30/24
In this fluent speaking practice, we work on phrases with Flap T plus /ər/, like "better, water, lighter, and tighter." Listen and repeat everyday phrases with these words in this mix and match practice. phrases: getting, it's been, it's gotten, I'm feeling targets: better wetter water sweeter greater flatter tighter lighter Video for this lesson: https://youtu.be/cd8lrclnOp4
Published 03/29/24
Words that begin with the letters CON usually say /kɑn/ "KAHN" when they are stressed, and /kən/ "kn" when they are unstressed. For example, "content" the noun sounds like "KAHN tent" and "content" the adjective sounds like "kn TENT." We'll do a mix and match listen and repeat practice with this set of verbs, adjectives and nouns: consider, concerned, convey, concludes, content, connect concept, content, context, conduct, concert, contacts See the video with visuals for this lesson here:...
Published 03/27/24
Shadow, listen and repeat for Vowel O linking! When we link words ending with /oʊ/ to words starting with a vowel sound, we have a /w/ glide as we link between the vowel sounds. In this lesson, we practice fluently linking with vowel /oʊ/.
Published 03/27/24
In this mix and match fluent speaking practice, we focus on shadowing and listen and repeat for Vowels u ʊ i ɪ as well as linking unreleased /d/ sounds. See the video for visuals: https://youtu.be/h9UYK5LK7co
Published 03/24/24
In this lesson, we look at fluent speaking for the phrases "might have" (might've, "MIGHduv") and "might not have" (might not've, "Migh(t)NAHduv). We'll learn how the stress pattern changes with different verbs, and do a listen and repeat practice for common sentences with these phrases. Also available as a video with visual supports on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/2Aew2WbNaQ4
Published 03/22/24
Vowel /ɛ/ (red tent) and vowel schwa /ʌ/ (such fun) have a similar amount of opening. Vowel /ɛ/ is a front vowel, which means the back of the tongue will be lifted, while vowel /ʌ/ is a central vowel, which means the tongue will be relatively flat.  Use the recording below to practice these vowel contrasts, as well as phrases with both sounds, to feel the similarities and differences between the vowels.
Published 03/11/24
Practice pronouncing "water" with a Flap T like a native speaker in this fluent speech practice. Listen and repeat, practice slow speech, and shadowing for sentences to master the word "water" in American English.
Published 03/07/24