Speech Modification SMART American Accent Training

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 this playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJXFLCasjYl43lFxdcqCzUGbulhKIlRra&si=YgjVJhAz5zYFqsd6

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

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, pull up, get up, build up

video with visuals: https://youtu.be/6u7LJQwsdPg

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

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 with Syllabic L in this lesson.

Video with visuals: https://youtu.be/CCrgIbjr6rs

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

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 noun phrases: grocery store, high school, coffee shop, air conditioning, swimming pool, book club, movie theater, ice cream truck, bus stop, power outage, traffic jam, fire department, police station, bank account, email address, job interview, music festival, rain shower, football game, birthday party, train station

See the video with visuals: https://youtu.be/FAoxBxGO1aE

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

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: https://youtu.be/pM36nnU0XXI

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/.

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