Lose My Accent Blog

Adriana Lima wants to lose her accent; do you?

2012-01-23T09:31:00Z

Late last week, Fox News Latino announced that one of Adriana Lima's goals for 2012 was to work with an accent reduction coach to lose her accent. Rumors were flying that perhaps she is considering a new movie role. Perhaps she is. But maybe she's just tired of people thinking it sounds "cute" instead of taking her seriously. Or maybe she's tired of repeating herself and being noticed for her accent instead of for who she is. Her reasons may be very similar to yours. How would your life be different if you didn't have to worry about being misunderstood?

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 :

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.

There is Hope!

2011-12-08T09:26:00Z

Can you imagine wandering around in the dark, without a light to help you see? Would you be excited when at last you found the light?

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!

Turn Over a New Leaf in your American English Pronunciation

2011-11-17T08:44:00Z

It was raining cats and dogs at my house yesterday!

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!

The Last Leaf in your American Pronunciation

2011-11-10T10:31:49Z

One of my favorite things about fall in East Tennessee is the beautiful leaves. My backyard seems aglow with bright yellows, oranges, and reds. It leaves me breathless to look out my window at the sun shining down on those leaves. I feel so blessed to experience such beauty every fall, and I thought you would enjoy a glimpse of it.

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 green 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!

Scarier than a Haunted House

2011-10-26T14:43:35Z

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!

You're the Apple of My Eye

2011-09-26T09:43:00Z

You're the apple of my eye. How do you feel when someone says that to you? Are you frightened, angered, or pleased?

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.

Back to School and Pronunciation Rules

2011-08-25T10:36:00Z

It's back to school time and that means new school supplies, new teachers, and often new school rules. It can be frustrating for us and our kids when different teachers have different rules. Some are easy to remember and some can be more of a challenge, but following the rules is a key to a pleasant school experience.

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.

Are You Willing to Take the Risk?

2011-08-19T01:46:55Z

Years of hard work...people calling you crazy......putting your life at risk.....trying to do something others said can't be done ….is it worth it? Apparently, Orville and Wilbur Wright thought so.

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!

Did you miss me?

2011-08-11T09:25:00Z

Nothing says summer like a big, juicy slice of cold watermelon! I think Mark Twain summed it up well when he said, “ When one has tasted watermelon, he knows what the angels eat.” It is a favorite American summer treat, found at almost any barbecue or cookout all summer long.

One of the reasons that a watermelon is such a refreshing treat on a hot day is because it is 90% water. And it tastes so much better than a plain glass of water!

You haven't heard from me much lately because I've been enjoying some time off with my family this summer. And yes, we've been eating lots of watermelon fresh from the farmer's market.

The beginning of August marks a time of transition for our family, as we enjoy the last days of summer and prepare ourselves for the new school year to begin. Believe it or not, my kids go back to school next week and that means that I'll be back with more regular postings and a great new surprise to start the fall season off with a bang.

Some of you joined me over the summer for some intensive pronunciation study while everything else in life had slowed down for a couple of months. Many of you, though, have had some well-earned down time over the summer and now you are ready to work on your accent. Whether you're preparing to go back to school, looking for a job, or just want to communicate more easily with your friends, this is a great time to focus on your English skills. You will especially like what I have to share next week – a fun and painless way to ease back into practicing your American pronunciation!

What have you done this summer to improve your pronunciation skills? In the comment box below, share the one thing that has helped you the most. I can't wait to see what you've learned!

If you haven't made the progress you had hoped for and you're looking for some guidance, be sure to request your free pronunciation guide in the box on the right side of the page.

Are you tending your Speech Garden?

2011-03-21T13:15:00Z

Yesterday, I spent a glorious afternoon enjoying the first day of spring by working in the yard and planting the first vegetables of the year in my backyard garden. Unlike many people, I actually enjoy pulling weeds. I think it's the satisfaction I get of seeing how much better the garden looks afterwards! Also, I know that weeding gives the plants I'm trying to grow a much better chance of becoming strong and healthy.

What about you? Do you like to grow a vegetable or flower garden? What about a speech garden?

Have you ever thought about your American accent as being like a garden? The better you tend it, feeding and watering it and pulling the weeds of unnecessary speech patterns, the stronger and more beautiful your speech garden becomes!

So, here's my spring challenge to you.

Take some time to care for your speech garden this year.

What aspects of your speech need tended to so they can grow? You know that certain areas of your American accent are good - maybe grammar and vocabulary. But you also know that with a little practice, or a little feeding and watering, those areas could be even better.

Do you have some unhealthy "weeds" in your speech patterns? Maybe these are sounds that make your speech difficult for others to understand. If you could just "weed out", or get rid of, a few of those pesky sounds, your speech would be much clearer.

How much better will your speech garden look in a few months if you take the time to plan for its growth right now?

What will you do to get rid of the weeds and ensure the healthy growth of your speech garden?

Sometimes, weeds can look a lot like a healthy plant, especially in the beginning. It can be difficult to figure out which ones to keep and which ones to pull and throw away. Often, the best way to figure it out is to ask someone who can identify those weeds and show you which ones to get rid of .

If you are looking for someone to identify the "weeds" that need to be pulled from your speech to improve your American accent, I would love to show you. Together, we can grow a beautiful speech garden for you! We'll identify all the strong, healthy plants that need to stay as well as the unhelpful weeds that need to go.

Spring is the perfect time to get your speech garden growing well. I'll help you eliminate the weeds that need to go, and I'll provide you with practice materials that are the food to strengthen the sounds you want to keep in your American accent. We'll walk through your speech garden every week to be sure that everything is growing as planned.

By fall, you will be amazed at the wonderful, bounteous garden of American speech that you have been able to grow!

I can't wait to get started! Are you ready to join me?

Click here to get your free Accent Screening and start growing your speech garden today!

American Pronunciation: Go To, Got To, or Gotta?

2011-03-02T12:02:00Z

One of my readers, Peter, sent me a question after reading my recent post on the pronunciation of T in hot tea . He wanted to know the difference in the American pronunciation of the expressions go to and got to. I thought this was such as wonderful question that I wanted to address it in a blog post.

To help you hear the differences, I have recorded a video of me explaining the sounds and have also written out the explanation for you below.

First, let's look at the pronunciation of each expression individually.

To pronounce go to, we say the hard G followed by a long O, GO, and then say a crisp, or released T followed by the long U, or OO sound. GO TOO.

To pronounce got to, we will say the hard G followed by the short o or AH vowel, hold the T at the end of the word, then release the T as we say to, with a long u, or OO sound. GAH-TOO

Also, I think we need to mention the shortened version of got to used in more casual conversation: gotta.

To pronounce gotta,we start out exactly the same as with GOT TO, using the AH sound, then blend the two T's in to a fast T , or D sound, and instead of ending with the precise pronunciation of TO, we shorten and simplify the ending with a SCHWA sound. So, when we put it all together in rapid speech, it becomes GAH-DUH.

Now, let's talk about when we would use these expressions. GO TO is a verb indicating movement from one place to another. I want to go to the store.

GOT TO indicates either that you were able to do something in the past, or that you need to do something in the future. When talking about the future, you must always use HAVE or HAS with it.

When talking about the past, you might say:

I got to go see a movie yesterday.

They got to ride in the new car.

But, when talking about the future, you would say,

I have got to finish my project.

I've got to go get some groceries.

Often in casual conversation, the GOT TO is reduced or simplified to GOTTA, as in:

I've gotta go to the store.

So, remember that go to, got to, and gotta each have their own distinct pronunciation and usage. You will impress those around you with your knowledge of American pronunciation when you can use these words correctly. Come on now, you've gotta give it a try! What have you got to lose?

Was this post helpful to you? What questions do you have about American pronunciation? Let me know in the comments below!

Love is in the Air, and I'm Introducing You to Someone Special

2011-02-14T13:43:00Z

Love is in the air because it is Valentine's Day. What a perfect day to improve your American English by talking about love idioms! And speaking of love, I'll introduce you to someone special at the end of this post.

Many expressions in American English use the word love. Some have to do with the relationship itself, while others have to do with how you relate to the world.

So, if we see a man and a woman who are attracted to each other, there are several expressions we might use to describe their relationship.

If we sense that attraction is building between them, we might say that love is in the air.

If they feel a deep connection with one another before spending much time together, we say it was love at first sight.

If they are deeply attracted to one another, we say that they are falling in love.

If this attraction goes deeper more quickly than expected, we say that they are head over heels in love.

If they are so in love that they cannot see one another's faults, then we say that love is blind.

If they can see difficulties ahead but are determined to work through them together, then we say that love will find a way.

On the other hand, if they begin arguing a lot but still appear to care for one another, we may say that they have a love-hate relationship.

If the arguments cause them to go their separate ways, hoping to never see each other again, we say there is no love lost between them.

However, we would hope that they each learned something from the relationship, leading us to conclude that it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

One last idiom that deals with love, though it doesn't actually use the word love, is the expression through thick and thin. This means that you have stayed together through good times and bad times, and you have a stronger relationship because of it.

Since it is Valentine's Day, I want to introduce you to the love of my life, who has been through thick and thin with me over the last 20 years. This is a picture of me and my husband Rob. He is the technical support behind my website and videos. So, if you've watched any of my videos , he's the one who filmed and edited them (watch for several new ones going up this week). If you downloaded my free guide or have taken any of my classes, he's the one who has done all the graphic design and made those pages look neat and attractive. ( In fact, he edited this picture for me without knowing what I was going to do with it!)

So, today I want to publicly say:

Thanks, honey, for all of your help! I love what I do and I couldn't do it without you!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Do you have a love of your life? Or perhaps you are falling in love for the first time? Please tell us about your Love in the comments below!

Oatmeal: Breakfast Food or an Exercise in American Pronunciation?

2011-02-04T17:03:00Z

Who would have thought that talking about breakfast would be the perfect opportunity to practice your American pronunciation ? Just when you thought you were only trying to fill your stomach, you learn that you can also fill your mind with a great word for pronunciation practice.

Oatmeal.

Oatmeal, the breakfast staple in many cultures.

Yes, that humble little word can give your mouth a workout, not only as you chew your food, but also as you practice moving your lips to make the correct sounds.

To get the American pronunciation correct, you want to start by rounding your lips to make the long O sound to say oat. Then, rather than releasing the t on the end, you will catch that sound in your throat, like the sound in the middle of the word “uh-oh”. Alternately, you may put the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth as if you were going to make a T sound, but don't release it.

Now, it's time to smile wide as you say meal, holding that long E sound for just a second before dropping your jaw slightly to say the ul sound on the end of the word. You end the word with a quick schwa sound followed by an unreleased L. Oatmeal. Try saying it slowly: oatmeal.

Now say it a little faster: oatmeal

Wonderful!

Here are a few sentences to get some more practice with those long O and long E sounds:

Joe eats oatmeal before he goes to sleep.

Please eat your oatmeal and then go to school.

I feel like eating oatmeal in the snow.

Now that you've had the chance to practice it, I hope you'll think about the American pronunciation of oatmeal the next time you're fixing breakfast.

Don't like oatmeal? Leave me a comment and tell me your favorite breakfast food. We just might discuss its pronunciation in an upcoming blog post!

To hear the podcast and practice along with me, click below:

How Do You Say "Hot Tea" ? Do you use the British or American English Pronunciation?

2011-01-24T16:48:00Z

Nothing warms up your insides on a cold day like a nice cup of hot tea, right? And we've definitely had our share of cold days this winter, at least in my part of the world!

While coffee is certainly a popular choice, and hot chocolate is a delicious treat after a day in the snow, drinking hot tea is a long-lived tradition. In America, the tradition of drinking hot tea has been passed down from our British ancestors. But we have adopted our own traditions, not only in how we drink it, but even in the American pronunciation of hot tea.

One difference between the American and British pronunciation is in how we pronounce the T sounds at the end of hot and the beginning of tea. In British English, both T sounds will be very precisely and crisply pronounced, with a slight pause between the words: hot tea.

Americans, on the other hand, blend the two words together into one word, and in so doing, only pronounce one T sound. The first T is held and linked with the second T, and the resulting word sounds like : hotea.

Also, the British pronunciation of the vowel in hot uses a longer, more rounded o sound, while the American pronunciation uses the ah sound, or /a/, a shorter, more open-mouthed sound also used in words like father and stop.

This is the same sound you make when you take a sip of your comforting cup of hot tea and say, “Aahh” contentedly.

Both the British and American pronunciation of the final long E sound cause you to smile at the end of the word. Appropriate, don't you think?

So, let's put it all together and practice the American pronunciation of hot tea.

First, be sure to pronounce the H at the beginning of the word.

Next, say hot using the relaxed "aah" vowel.

Then, hold that first T sound, then release it as you say tea.

Finally, make a big smile so you get that long eee sound clearly at the end.

Now you can enjoy a warm drink while practicing the American pronunciation of hot tea! Aren't you ready for a nice, relaxing break?

When I really want to treat myself, I snuggle under a blanket with a cup of chai or Mighty Leaf brand tea. What is your favorite brand or flavor? Let me know in the comments below; I may want to give it a try!

To listen to an audio version of this blog post , please click on the button below:

Get Rid of the Speech Blocks in your American Pronunciation!

2010-12-17T19:21:00Z

Have you ever set a goal that you want to reach, but you have been blocked from accomplishing it by unexpected obstacles? Many of us had some unexpected schedule changes this week due to the snow or ice. Lots of people were stuck at home because the ice made driveways and roads impossible to navigate. They were blocked from following their original schedule and forced to change their plans.

So, how do you respond when meeting your goal isn't as easy as you thought it would be? Maybe it takes longer than you thought, it's harder than you expected, and you're not seeing the results you wanted. What do you do? Do you give up or do you press on, knowing that the end results will be worth the effort?

Perhaps you are like some of my clients who start accent reduction training with high motivation and great anticipation. Often, several weeks into the course, they hit the unexpected block of a stubborn habit or well-ingrained muscle memory pattern that just won't change as easily as they had hoped. Like the ice storm that stops our intended progress and changes our plans, these old speech habits can stop you from making the progress that you thought you would make. But, you have a choice – you can give up and decide that it's just too hard. Or, you can press on and keep practicing until you master that new American pronunciation and you meet the goal of clearer speech that you've always wanted.

For some of you, the blocks happen before you even get started. You're afraid that changing your accent will be too hard, too much work, or too expensive. I want to show you how to get through those mental blocks and get started on the path to clearer, easier speech.

You can't break through those blocks if you don't try, and your speech probably isn't going to get clearer on its own. You need a guide, a coach who can work with you, encourage you, and help ensure that you meet your accent reduction goals. To encourage you to push through those blocks and start working towards your goals, I want to make you a special offer.

I want to help you solve your most frustrating “speech block”. What is the one thing that always embarrasses you about your speech? Which words or sounds do you avoid saying because they're just too hard?

Let's work on it together so you can get rid of that frustration. Wouldn't that be a great feeling?

I'm going to give you a free 15 minute consultation with me (a $25 value!), but I only have room in my schedule for 20 people. So, if you're ready to end your frustration with your American pronunciation, then e-mail me right now at lisa at losemyaccent dot com so you can claim one of those spots.

I can't wait to clear up those speech blocks and give you the gift of clearer speech!

To claim one of the 20 free consultations, e-mail me at lisa at losemyaccent dot com and put “Get Rid of my Speech Blocks!” in the subject line.

Shattered Glass, Shattered Dreams, and Accent Reduction Classes

2010-12-03T12:14:00Z

What do shattered glass, shattered dreams, and accent reduction classes have in common? A lot- if you look at the end result. While traveling over the holiday weekend, our family was caught behind several backups on the interstate. Trying to take a shortcut, we started down a smaller road where a deer suddenly jumped at the side of our van, shattering the window in the sliding door. Although it was scary at first, no one was hurt.

We had thought it would be easier and quicker to go down a different road, but our expectations were suddenly shattered. Riding home for several hours with a plastic bag taped over the hole, we gave up on conversation because the wind noise was deafening. Its constant presence weighed on us the entire way, and we couldn't wait to get home and have a new, quiet window installed.

It made me think about some people I know who came to America as second-language English speakers expecting to blend in easily, not realizing that their accented speech would be an obstacle to their success. They had studied English for years, knew all the grammar rules, and felt secure in their ability to communicate. But, once they got here, people misunderstood them and kept asking them to repeat themselves, and their expectations shattered around them much like the glass in that van window.

At that point, they had two choices. They could put tape over the shattered windows of their dreams, fighting to be heard above the wind noise of their heavy accent.

Or, they could recognize that life wasn't exactly how they expected it would be, but that they could create a better life for themselves by replacing those shattered dreams with new ones. By taking accent reduction classes, some of them learned to reduce their accent and make their speech much clearer than before. Instead of struggling to be understood, they can now communicate clearly and easily with those around them. The shattered dreams are gone and have been replaced by new, clear speech patterns and new dreams of success.

Which choice have you made? Are you struggling to get through each day, repeating yourself and feeling more and more defeated as the "noise" of your accent drowns out what you really want to say? Or, have you taken steps to reduce that noise, to improve your pronunciation, and open up the path to clearer communication?

Don't settle for less than what you had hoped for. You deserve to be heard and not to be drowned out by your accent. It's time to put aside your shattered dreams and replace them with a window of hope. By taking accent reduction classes, you can get rid of the "wind noise" in your speech and begin communicating clearly and easily. That's a dream that really can come true.

Let's Talk Turkey! And Other Thanksgiving Sayings

2010-11-24T12:15:00Z

This week, all over America, people are cooking turkeys and stuffing, baking pumpkin pies, and preparing for a Thanksgiving feast with family and friends on Thursday.

I will be taking a few days off to enjoy time with my family as well, but first I want to leave you with a few idioms using Thanksgiving related words, such as turkey, stuffing, and blessing.

As you know, if you want to speak English like an American, you have to be familiar with our idioms and expressions. Here are some expressions you might hear. I have put them in bold and the explanation in italics underneath it.

I'm ready to work out the details of this merger. Let's talk turkey!
Let's get serious and solve the problems.

Did you hear that Jan stopped smoking? She quit cold turkey!
She suddenly stopped a bad habit.

I don't really like the new boss; he's such a stuffed shirt.
He's old fashioned and very formal, and thinks he's more important than everyone else.

That was a huge meal. I'm stuffed!
I'm so full that I have no room for any more food.

I wish they'd quit stuffing our heads with all this propaganda.
I wish they'd quit filling our minds with all this biased information.

After she lost her job, she was much less stressed and had more time to spend with her kids. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise.
Although it seemed bad at first, it was really a good thing.

When things seem rough, it's time to count your blessings. You have a lot to be thankful for!
Think of all the good things in your life.

Your challenge is to try and think of a way to use each of these expressions in conversation over the next week. The more you use them, the more they will feel natural to you, and you will begin to believe that you really can speak English like an American. I hope you will take some time this week to count your blessings and enjoy your loved ones! Have a wonderful long weekend, and I'll talk with you next week!

A Sneak Peek into my Newest Accent Reduction Class

2010-11-11T12:55:00Z

We all like to try out new products or services before we commit to them, right? That's why I've decided to give you a sneak peek into my newest accent reduction class. In fact, over the next few weeks, I'm going to give you several opportunities to sit in on my class virtually, so you can see just what goes on in my American pronunciation classes.

I just have one favor to ask: if you like what you see, will you let me know? I'm considering offering this class live over the internet, and I want to see if this is something you are looking for.

Please leave a comment below and tell me the one thing you would most like me to teach in my internet class. Thanks for your help!

How Do You Say Wednesday? And the American Pronunciation of Other Common Words

2010-10-26T12:30:00Z

You've been working on your American pronunciation, practicing your new sounds and trying hard to speak with an American accent. Then someone asks you what day it is, and you pause, not sure whether to say "wed-nes-day" or "windz-day".

I know that sometimes you just need a little help with some common, everyday words. So, today I have made you an audio of basic words such as days of the week, months, holidays, seasons, numbers, colors, and shapes.

You can download this audio and practice along with it until the correct pronunciations just come easily and naturally for you. If you're having a hard time remembering to use the new pronunciations, be sure to read back over my series on how to use senses to improve spoken English . Whether you use sticky notes , a watch , candy , a pebble , or perfume , I'm sure you'll find the trick that works best for you!

Here is your podcast of the American pronunciation of some common words:

If you'd like to follow along with visual cues, I've printed the word list below:

Common American Words

Days of theWeek

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Months

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Seasons

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall, or Autumn

Holidays

New Year's Day
Martin Luther King Day
Groundhog Day
Valentine's Day
Washington's Birthday
Easter
Earth Day
Arbor Day
Mother's Day
Memorial Day
Flag Day
Father's Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Halloween
Veterans' Day
Thanksgiving
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Christmas Day
St. Patrick's Day
Mardi Gras
Lent

Colors

red
blue
yellow
green
orange
black
white
pink
purple
brown

Shapes

circle
square
triangle
oval
rectangle
diamond
star
hexagon
octagon

Numbers

1 one
2 two
3 three
4 four
5 five
6 six
7 seven
8 eight
9 nine
10 ten
11 eleven
12 twelve
13 thirteen
14 fourteen
15 fifteen
16 sixteen
17 seventeen
18 eighteen
19 nineteen
20 twenty
21 twenty-one
22 twenty-two
23 twenty-three
24 twenty-four
25 twenty-five
26 twenty-six
27 twenty-seven
28 twenty-eight
29 twenty-nine
30 thirty
40 forty
50 fifty
60 sixty
70 seventy
80 eighty
90 ninety
100 one hundred,or a hundred

Did you find this helpful? Then, please share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.

Wishing you could get more personalized help with your pronunciation? Just sign up in the box to your right to get your FREE pronunciation guide.

American Pronunciation Help: End the Frustration!

2010-10-11T13:30:00Z

Today I want to share with you a video that my 11 year old daughter put together for me. I'm so proud of her and the video editing talents she is developing ! But I really wanted to share this, not to brag on my daughter, but to offer hope to those who are discouraged by their American pronunciation. Learning a new language is hard work, and mastering it to the point of feeling comfortable and confident can seem like an impossible task. If you are tired of being misunderstood and feel like you'll never fit in, this video is for you.

If you liked the video, please share it with your friends. I want you to know that you don't need to feel frustrated or embarrassed any longer. You CAN speak English more clearly. Visit www.losemyaccent.com today and start learning the American pronunciation you've always wanted.