Clarity Accent Modification (Carol Edgel, M.Ed., CCC-SLP)

Practice Pronouncing the 'CH' sound in Standard American English -- Part 1

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the 'CH' sound in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Commonly Mispronounced Words in Standard American English -- Client Review 2

In this video, we will be reviewing words that are commonly mispronounced in Standard American English. These words have been taken from a client session. If you would like an accent coaching session, please sign up at the website listed below. :)

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Practice Pronouncing the vocalic 'ER' sound in Standard American English -- Part 2

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the vocalic 'ER' sound in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

How to Say 'THL' blends in Standard American English

In this video, we will discuss how to say 'THL' blends, where the TH sound is blended in with an L. This can be tricky for some speakers We will practice pronouncing 'L' blends in Standard American English, using simple words and sentences.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

The vocalic R sound of 'OR' can be a tricky one to pronounce. Learn how to say it correctly!

For more information, please visit www.clarityaccent.com.

View the video of this podcast on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCixtTxWCxgyH3jKRFDgpvMA

How to Pronounce All American Consonants - Part 2

Learn how to pronounce all American Consonants.  This is part 2, which covers G, H, J, K and L.  There is a chart of the consonants available for free download here:  

https://www.clarityaccent.com/american-consonant-chart/

For more information, please visit https://www.clarityaccent.com

Short Words in American English that Make a Difference - Part 2

In this video, we will practice pronouncing frequently used short words in American English. Learn how to pronounce them correctly to sound like a native speaker.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Practice Pronouncing the 'OW' vowel in Standard American English -- Part 3

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the 'OW' vowel in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Commonly Mispronounced Words in Standard American English -- Client Review 8  PART 4

In this video, we will be reviewing words that are commonly mispronounced in Standard American English. These words have been taken from a client session.  If you would like an accent coaching session, please sign up at the website listed below.  :)

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Learn how to say 'would've, could've and should've' in American English, and when you use each one. 'Would've' is short for 'would have', 'could've' is short for 'could have' and 'should've' is short for 'should have'. Also learn why people sometimes say 'woulda, coulda, shoulda'. Learn how to speak using the Standard American English (SAE) dialect to be better understood in work and social settings.

For more information, please visit https://clarityaccent.com

Learn how to pronounce all American Vowels. This is part 2, which covers the 'horseshoe u' and 'vocalic r' pronunciations such as ER, AIR, EAR, IRE, OR, and OUR.

There is a color coded chart of the vowels available as a free download here: https://www.clarityaccent.com/american-vowel-chart/

For more information, please visit https://www.clarityaccent.com

Practice Pronouncing the 'T' sound in Standard American English -- Part  1

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the 'T' sound in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

Learn how to speak using the Standard American English (SAE) dialect to be better understood in work and social settings.  

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Practice Pronouncing the 'V' Sound in Standard American English -- Part 2. 

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the 'V' sound in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings. For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Practice Pronouncing the -ING' sound in Standard American English -- Part 1

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the '-ING' sound in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Pronouncing Words at Work - Part 2 -- Learn how to pronounce business vocabulary correctly in Standard American English to be better understood at work. For more information, please visit https://clarityaccent.com.

Saying the 'Z' correctly is important, especially at the end of words. Learn how to say it in Standard American English. For more information, please visit www.clarityaccent.com.

View the video of this podcast on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCixtTxWCxgyH3jKRFDgpvMA

When 'S' Sounds like 'Z' -- Practice Sentences For American English

In this video, we will practice some sentences where the letter 'S' sounds like 'Z'.  For instance, the sentence 'Keeping busy helps me keep a positive attitude' has  Practice saying these words correctly.

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Reduce a Ukrainian Accent - Part 1

Listen to a Ukrainian accent and learn how to change the sounds and prosody to a Standard American English Accent.

Accent sample obtained from: https://www.dialectsarchive.com/

For more information, please visit https://www.clarityaccent.com

Practice Pronouncing the 'H' sound in Standard American English -- Part 2

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the 'H' sound in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

Learn how to speak using the Standard American English (SAE) dialect to be better understood in work and social settings.  

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Word Variations and Syllable Stress in American English -- Part 1

In this video, we will learn how root words in American English are turned into various new and longer words, and how the syllable stress often changes with these word variations.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Commonly Mispronounced Words in Standard American English -- Client Review 8  PART 4

In this video, we will be reviewing words that are commonly mispronounced in Standard American English. These words have been taken from a client session.  If you would like an accent coaching session, please sign up at the website listed below.  :)

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

How to Speak with Smooth Prosody in Standard American English

In this video, we will discuss how to speak with smooth prosody in Standard American English. Learn how to sound like a native speaker.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Practice Pronouncing the 'T' sound in Standard American English -- Part  2

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the 'T' sound in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

Learn how to speak using the Standard American English (SAE) dialect to be better understood in work and social settings.  

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Practice Pronouncing the Long 'E' Vowel in Standard American English -- Part 1

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the Long 'E' Vowel in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Are wondering how to prepare for your child's speech-language evaluation? Do you want to know what kind of tests will be given? I'll tell you all about it! For more information on speech and language therapy, please visit www.clarityspeechandlanguage.com.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR CHILD’S SPEECH-LANGUAGE EVALUATION

If you suspect your child has a speech or language disorder, you may have taken the first step and requested an evaluation – either with the Early Intervention Center in your community, your public school, or a private therapist. How do you prepare? Really, just make sure your child is happy, well-fed, and well-rested. Take a water bottle if necessary. Visit the restroom beforehand. Depending on where your child is being tested, the amount of time might range from a half-hour to several hours. If your child is very young, I would recommend trying to split it up into half-hour sessions. Also, it’s better to leave other children at home, to minimize distractions. What kind of testing should be done? Ideally, a comprehensive speech-language evaluation should include at least these 5 things:

HEARING SCREENING – This is to rule out the contribution of hearing difficulties to the problem. Be sure to tell the examiner if your child has experienced frequent ear infections or has tubes in his ears. This hearing screening might consist of 2 parts:

PURE TONE TESTING

TYMPANOMETRY TEST

ORAL-MOTOR EXAM (this might also be called an Oral-Peripheral Exam or Oral-Mechanism Exam) – This is to make sure all speech structures are working properly. It can rule out other underlying disorders and may help identify conditions like Childhood Apraxia of Speech. This exam may include:

SPEECH STRUCTURES

VOICE AND AIR PRESSURE

SPEECH-MOTOR SKILLS

INTELLIGIBILITY TEST – This can determine whether your child is on track for speech in spite of any errors. It involves listening to the child speak in conversation and marking how many words were intelligible to the listener. The clinician can also mark down any sound and language errors that the child exhibits in conversation.

ARTICULATION TEST – This test can tell you if your child’s speech errors are typical or are a concern. It involves asking the child to produce target words and sentences to see what sound errors they might have.

LANGUAGE TEST – These tests can tell you if your child is having difficulty understanding or producing meaningful language. They look at the big picture of communication rather than just sound errors. These tests are designed to measure expressive language and receptive language. They involve asking the child to follow directions, respond to questions, label pictures, choose appropriate sentence structure, describe an object, tell how things go together, label items, etc.

POSSIBLE OTHER TESTS:

LANGUAGE PROCESSING TEST – This is similar to the other language test; however, it focuses on whether or not your child has trouble with language due to issues ‘behind the scenes’. There may be neurological problems with causes unknown that make it difficult for the child to understand language. A child with a language processing disorder might have trouble with attention, following directions, memory, organizing a cohesive story, and things like that.

AUDITORY PROCESSING TEST – This also involves the child’s ability to process language, but it is focused specifically on the child’s ability to use his auditory system in conjunction with his brain to make sense of the language signals he receives. The child may have difficulty understanding speech when there is background noise or identifying the difference between sounds that are similar.

SOCIAL LANGUAGE TEST – This test can tell you if your child is using language appropriately in social settings. It is often given to children suspected of being on the autistic spectrum or who may be socially delayed for other reasons.

By now you are probably overwhelmed at the thought of all these tests! Keep in mind that your child may not need all of them, and a good clinician will know how to keep your child engaged and when to stop to give him a break. It’s OK to voice any concerns you might have ahead of time. What happens after testing? It may take a week or two for the clinician to process and score all the tests. Then you will most likely be called in to go over the results and decide where to go from there.

What if it looks like your child has a speech-language disorder? Don’t panic! You are not alone. It is estimated that between 5-10% of school-age children have a speech-language disorder. Just congratulate yourself that you caught the problem and are getting your child help early so that they can improve their academic and social success!

If you want to find out more about how you can help your child with speech and language at home, please visit www.clarityspeechandlanguge.com.

Practice Pronouncing the Short 'O' Vowel in Standard American English -- Part3

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the Short 'O' Vowel in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Commonly Mispronounced Words in Standard American English -- Client Review 24

In this video, we will be reviewing words that are commonly mispronounced in Standard American English. These words have been taken from a client session.  If you would like an accent coaching session, please sign up at the website listed below.  :)

Learn how to speak using the Standard American English (SAE) dialect to be better understood in work and social settings.  

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Practice Pronouncing the Initial 'R' sound in Standard American English -- Part 3

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the Initial 'R' sound in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

How to Pronounce Homographs in Standard American English -- Part 1

In this video, we will discuss how to pronounce tricky words in American English that are spelled the same but pronounced differently (homographs).

For more information, please visit www.clarityaccent.com

Foreign Accent Syndrome -- Can You Hear Their Speech Errors? -- Part 1

In this video, we watch clips of people with Foreign Accent Syndrome and analyze what they are doing with their speech that makes them sound like non-native speakers. Understanding what they are doing may help you recognize certain patterns in your own speech.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

60Minutes9. (2019, January 23). Explainer: Why these women woke up with a foreign accent | 60 minutes Australia. YouTube. Retrieved February 6, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCYGI0LvQws

Practice Pronouncing the 'S' sound in Standard American English -- Part 4

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the 'S' sound in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

DOES MY CHILD HAVE A TONGUE THRUST?

What is it?  A tongue thrust is when the child’s swallow pattern never changes from the ‘reverse swallow’ pattern that babies use.  The tongue continues to push forward toward the front teeth when swallowing.  The child’s tongue may also do this during speech.  This could cause a lisp, but not all lisps are caused by tongue thrust.

How can you tell if your child has a tongue thrust?  Your child may breathe with his mouth open a lot, and his tongue may rest in a forward position.  He may have trouble pronouncing sounds like S and Z because the tongue wants to push forward, creating a lisp.  He may be a messy eater and drinker because the tongue is pushing forward during eating.  And, strangely enough, the child may grimace or lick his lips before swallowing, causing them to become chapped.  A true tongue thrust will likely cause orthodontic problems and the child may develop an open bite or an overbite as a result of the frequent pressure of the tongue pushing against the top teeth.

A simple test to see if it's a true tongue thrust is to have your child put some liquid in his mouth, part his lips, and swallow.  If any liquid escapes out between his teeth, he probably has a tongue thrust (because his tongue is pushing forward causing the liquid to spill out).

If your child does have a tongue thrust, talk to your dentist to see if an orthodontic device is warranted to keep your child’s tongue away from the front teeth.  A speech-language pathologist can help your child practice correct pronunciation of S, Z, and other sounds that may be affected.

To learn more about how to practice the S and Z sounds, please see my online course for parents at www.clarityspeechandlanguage.com.

Practice Pronouncing the Short U' 'sound in Standard American English -- Part 2

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the 'Short U' sound in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

Learn how to speak using the Standard American English (SAE) dialect to be better understood in work and social settings. For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

This is a video story to help children practice speech sounds and language.  It is a great resource for speech students working on the following sounds:

• VOCALIC R, especially ER
• S BLENDS

For articulation practice, have your child or student read the story to practice the sounds in reading.  Or, to practice the sounds in conversation, read the story to them first and let them retell it to you. 

For language practice, ask the child to retell the story to you, using as many story elements as possible:

• CHARACTER – who?
• SETTING – where, when?
• PROBLEM – what’s wrong?
• FEELINGS – how do they feel?
• PLANS – what do they decide to do?
• ACTIONS – what do they really do?
• SOLUTIONS -- how is the problem fixed?
• ENDING – how does it end?

Ask them questions about details of the story.  Point out pronouns and ask them to switch proper nouns to pronouns.  As they retell the story, check for proper past tense verb usage.  To practice inferences, stop the story at key points and ask the child what might happen next.  As them what a character might be feeling or what they might do.

This story is included as a downloadable pdf in the online course:

VOCALIC R SOUNDS

For more tips on speech therapy and online courses, please visit www.clarityspeechandlanguage.com.

Have fun!

Does your child have speech sound errors, but you’re not sure which ones?  I'll give you some examples to help you figure it out.

Does your child have speech sound errors, but you’re not sure which ones?  Let me give you some examples to help you figure it out.  I’ll start with some of the more common ones.

L and Initial R – These are often mispronounced with a ‘W’ sound, like  ‘wabbit’ for ‘rabbit’, or ‘wike’ for ‘like’.  “I see a wabbit!  I wike it!”

S and Z – These are often mispronounced with a lisp.  It could sound like a TH, SH or ZH, as in “thoup” for “soup”, “shun” for “sun”, or “zhebra” for “zebra”.  “Can I have some thoup?”   “The shun is bright today.”  “Where are my glashezh?”

TH – This might be pronounced as an F or a D.  A child might say ‘free’ for ‘three’, or ‘duh’ for ‘the’.  “Duh dog has free puppies.”

Vocalic R – This is the R that is connected to a vowel sound, like the ER at the end of ‘teacher’.  Vocalic R errors can range from a mild accent to a definite distortion that can make a third grader sound like he’s talking baby-talk.  A child might say “dowa” for “door”, or “teachoh” for “teacher.”  There’s a wide range of distorted sounds for this one.  “My teachoh is nice. She’s at the dowa.”

SH, CH, & J – These sounds will often be substituted with T or D.  Sometimes the SH might be said with an S instead.  For example, “shoe” might be pronounced “sue” or “too”.  “Watch” might be pronounced “wat”, and “pajamas” might be pronounced “padamas”.   “I take off my sues and put on my padamas.”

P & B – These sounds might be deleted altogether, as in “maw” for “mop”, or “ee” for “bee”.  Because these are some of the easier sounds to produce, these errors would most likely occur in very young children or those with co-occurring developmental or health issues. 

G & K – These sounds might be mispronounced as D or T.  For example, “dog” might be pronounced “dod”, or “cat” might be pronounced “tat”.  “I see a dod and a tat.”

F & V – These might be pronounced as P or B, as in “pun” for “fun” and “ban” for “van”.   “It’s pun to go in the ban!” 

I hope this helps you decide what sounds your child might be producing in error.  Thanks and have a nice day!

Who Am I? And Why I have an Accent Coaching Channel

In this video, I explain what I do as a speech-language pathologist, and how it relates to my work as an accent coach.

For more information, please visit www.clarityaccent.com.

Pronouncing Words at Work - Part 3 -- Learn how to pronounce business vocabulary correctly in Standard American English to be better understood at work. For more information, please visit https://clarityaccent.com.

Learn how to pronounce words ending in 'ULL' using Standard American English (SAE). That 'L' sound on the end can be difficult to make after the /ʊ/ vowel in words like 'full, pull, bull, wool'. I'll show you how to do it.

For more information, please visit https://www.clarityaccent.com

Practice Saying -ED endings in American English -- Part 1

In this video, we will discuss the different ways to pronounce -ED endings in American English, and practice them in sentences.

For more information, please visit www.clarityaccent.com

Commonly Mispronounced Words in Standard American English -- Client Review 14 -- Part 1

In this video, we will be reviewing words that are commonly mispronounced in Standard American English. These words have been taken from a client session. If you would like an accent coaching session, please sign up at the website listed below. :)

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Learn how to pronounce the short 'I' sound in American English, used in words like 'big, sit, lid, him, river, liver'. Listen to the differences between vowel sounds so that you can say them correctly and use them at the right time. Learn how to speak using the Standard American English (SAE) dialect to be better understood in work and social settings.

For more information, please visit https://clarityaccent.com

5 Ways to Say 'T' in Standard American English -- Part 2

In this video, we will discuss the 5 different ways to pronounce the 'T' letter  in Standard American English:  Regular T, Final T, Middle T, Disappearing T, and TR blends.

Learn how to speak using the Standard American English (SAE) dialect to be better understood in work and social settings.  

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

When Do You Pronounce 'S' as a 'Z' in American English?

In this video, we will talk about when you pronounce 'S' as a 'Z' at the end of words in American English. There are many commonly used short words in American English where the 'S' is pronounced as a 'Z' -- is, has, was, etc. We also pronounce it as a 'Z' at the end of certain plural words -- dogs, judges, etc. Learn more about when to pronounce 'S' as 'Z'.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Learn the easy way to make the 'L' sound, and how to pronounce 'L' blends in Standard American English (Western States Region). For more information, please visit www.clarityaccent.com.

View the video of this podcast on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCixtTxWCxgyH3jKRFDgpvMA

Practice Pronouncing the Short 'A' Vowel in Standard American English -- Part 3

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the Short 'A' Vowel in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Learn how to pronounce health care vocabulary correctly in Standard American English to be better understood at work.

For more information, please visit https://clarityaccent.com.

See definitions and example sentences of these health care words at: https://www.englishclub.com/english-for-work/medical-vocabulary.htm

Turkey Part 2 - Listener Sample 3 - American Pronunciation

In this video, we will be reviewing a speech sample sent in by a listener from Turkey.  We will analyze how to change certain speech sounds and patterns into a more Standard American Accent.

Learn how to speak using the Standard American English (SAE) dialect to be better understood in work and social settings.  

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Commonly Mispronounced Words in Standard American English -- Client Review 14 -- Part 2

In this video, we will be reviewing words that are commonly mispronounced in Standard American English. These words have been taken from a client session. If you would like an accent coaching session, please sign up at the website listed below. :)

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Four Tricky Sounds in American English -- SH, ZH, CH and J

In this video, we will talk about four tricky sounds in American English -- SH, ZH, CH and J. These sounds can be difficult to produce for those who don't have them in their native langauge. Learn the difference between them and how to produce each one.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Practice Pronouncing the 'J' Sound in Standard American English -- Part 2

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the 'J' sound in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Commonly Mispronounced Words in Standard American English -- Client Review 12

In this video, we will be reviewing words that are commonly mispronounced in Standard American English. These words have been taken from a client session. If you would like an accent coaching session, please sign up at the website listed below. :)

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Practice Pronouncing the 'V' Sound in Standard American English -- Part 3.

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the 'V' sound in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings. For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

'Y' is a subtle sound in Standard American English, but a very important one. Don't leave it out! Learn how to hear and pronounce the 'Y' sound. For more information, please visit https://www.clarityaccent.com

View the video of this podcast on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCixtTxWCxgyH3jKRFDgpvMA

How to Say the American R Sound -- A Quick Review

In this video we will review how to produce the American R sound, and how it is different from the R in other languages.

For more information, please visit www.clarityaccent.com

Commonly Mispronounced Words in Standard American English -- Client Review 7

In this video, we will be reviewing words that are commonly mispronounced in Standard American English.  This words have been taken from a client session.  If you would like an accent coaching session, please sign up at the website listed below.  :)

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

How to Speak with American English Intonation

In this video, we will discuss correct intonation, or how your voice should sound, in American English. Learn how to sound like a native speaker.

To learn more about hyponasal and hypernasal speech, please see my video here: https://youtu.be/z50jZQE5BxE

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Commonly Mispronounced Words in Standard American English -- Client Review 4

In this video, we will be reviewing words that are commonly mispronounced in Standard American English.  This words have been taken from a client session.  If you would like an accent coaching session, please sign up at the website listed below.  :)

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Commonly Mispronounced Words in Standard American English -- Client Review 8  PART 3

In this video, we will be reviewing words that are commonly mispronounced in Standard American English. These words have been taken from a client session.  If you would like an accent coaching session, please sign up at the website listed below.  :)

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Does your child have a lisp?  Here are some fun exercises that will help your child learn to produce 'S' correctly.

First of all there’s the Smiling Librarian trick.  First you pucker your mouth as you say ‘SHHHHH!’ and after a couple of seconds, you switch your mouth shape to a smile as you continue to do it.  Smiling should change it to an ‘S’ sound.  Then switch back to a pucker shape and the ‘SH’ sound should return.  Keep trying that to see what happens to your tongue as you do this.  Your tongue should move forward a bit for ‘S’ and back a bit for ‘SH’.

Another fun exercise is the rainbird sprinkler -- hold your arms out in front of you, hands together, and imitate a rainbird sprinkler.

First you make the ‘T’ sound, one per second, as you slowly move your arms to the right 90 degrees. Then, quickly return back to your original position, making the 'T' sound increasingly rapidly until it is continuous and turns into an 'S' sound. 

Basically, the 'S' sound is a 'T' where the airstream is no longer stopped by the tongue but allowed to escape through a narrow gap.  Have your child do the rainbird exercise with you to see if it turns into an ‘S’ sound.

Have fun!

Sometimes kids get discouraged while working on vocalic ‘R’, because it can take days or months for them to get it right.  To lighten up the mood and help them feel where their tongue should go, I do the ‘R Warmup Cheer’.  The idea is to get them to produce ‘Y’ syllables, because making ‘Y’ moves the back of their tongue to the back of their mouth where it should be for ‘R’.  Most kids can say the ‘Y’ sound in ‘yoyo’ fairly easily.  So the ‘R’ warmup cheer goes like this (and you can’t be afraid to be silly-- you’ve got to own it, and so do they!): 

Yo! Yo!  (do the hand motions and the voices in the video)

Yi! Yi!

Yay! Yay!

Yah! Yah!

Yee! Yee!

Yeeeeee Yeeeeee!

Yee Yeeeerrrrrrrr!  And your tongue goes back and up to make the R sound!

 (Use your thumbs to represent your tongue going back and up.)

The 'EEE' vowel is a good one to practice to try to get an 'ER' sound, because your tongue is up and back in the mouth already.

Good Luck!

How to Use the Preposition 'BY' in American English

In this video, we will discuss common American English phrases and sentences that use the preposition 'BY'. Using the wrong preposition can make your listener confused, so it's important to learn which ones to say when.

For more information, please visit my website: clarityaccent.com

Check Your Vowels -- Are You Saying American Vowels Correctly?  Part 2

In this video, we will be checking your understanding of American vowels using words that sound the same except for the vowel.  Vowels are very important in Standard American English because they can change the whole meaning of a word and sentence if you get them wrong. You must understand the vowel correctly to understand the correct word.  Also, you must say the vowel correctly for other people to understand the word.  Try it out and see how well you do with American vowels!

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Reduce a Ukrainian Accent - Part 4

Listen to a Ukrainian accent and learn how to change the sounds and prosody to a Standard American English Accent.

Accent sample obtained from: https://www.dialectsarchive.com/

Learn how to speak using the Standard American English (SAE) dialect to be better understood in work and social settings.  

For more information, please visit https://www.clarityaccent.com

Reduce a Spanish Accent (Spain) - Part 1

Listen to a Spanish accent and learn how to change the sounds and prosody to a Standard American English Accent. This speaker is from Spain, and his original interview can be found here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylZR79JqB6o  

Can you pick out the differences in pronunciation that might indicate where he is from?

Learn how to speak using the Standard American English (SAE) dialect to be better understood in work and social settings.  

For more information, please visit https://www.clarityaccent.com

Practice Pronouncing the Initial 'R' sound in Standard American English -- Part 1

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the Initial 'R' sound in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Practice Pronouncing the Long 'U' Vowel in Standard American English -- Part 1

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the Long 'U' Vowel in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Learn how to pronounce health care vocabulary correctly in Standard American English to be better understood at work.

For more information, please visit https://clarityaccent.com.

See definitions and example sentences of these health care words at: https://www.englishclub.com/english-for-work/medical-vocabulary.htm

Eliminate Extra Schwa Sounds From Your Speech

In this video, we will practice reducing unwanted extra 'schwa' sounds in Standard American English.  Say sentences that have S blend words and try not to insert an extra vowel sound in front of them.

Learn how to speak using the Standard American English (SAE) dialect to be better understood in work and social settings.  

For more information, please visit https://clarityaccent.com

Reduce a Ukrainian Accent - Part 7

Listen to a Ukrainian accent and learn how to change the sounds and prosody to a Standard American English Accent.

Accent sample obtained from: https://www.dialectsarchive.com/ Learn how to speak using the Standard American English (SAE) dialect to be better understood in work and social settings.

For more information, please visit https://www.clarityaccent.com

Commonly Mispronounced Words in Standard American English -- Client Review 27

In this video, we will be reviewing words that are commonly mispronounced in Standard American English. These words have been taken from a client session.  If you would like an accent coaching session, please sign up at the website listed below.  :)

Learn how to speak using the Standard American English (SAE) dialect to be better understood in work and social settings.  

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Do you have hyponasal or hypernasal speech? What is the difference? What causes it? In this video, I'll quickly answer these questions. For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Can you say the short 'U' vowel correctly? Learn how to pronounce it properly in Standard American English (Western States Region). For more information, please visit www.clarityaccent.com.

View the video of this podcast on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCixtTxWCxgyH3jKRFDgpvMA

How to Say the American -ING ending -- A Quick Review

In this video, we will review how to say the -ING ending in American English, and how NOT to say it.

For more information, please visit www.clarityaccent.com.

Learn the Four Ways the 'OR' Sound is Spelled in American English -- Pronounce Them All the Same

For, Door, Pour, Wore... are you saying these words correctly? Learn how to speak using the Standard American English (SAE) dialect to be better understood in work and social settings.

For more information, please visit https://clarityaccent.com. For more information, please visit https://www.clarityaccent.com

Practice Pronouncing the 'AR' sound in Standard American English

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the vocalic 'AR' sound in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings. Learn how to speak using the Standard American English (SAE) dialect to be better understood in work and social settings.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Pronouncing Words at Work - Part 6 -- Learn how to pronounce business vocabulary correctly in Standard American English to be better understood at work. For more information, please visit https://clarityaccent.com.

Practice Pronouncing the 'L' sound in Standard American English -- Part 1

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the 'L' sound in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Practice Pronouncing the 'SH' sound in Standard American English -- Part 1

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the 'SH' sound in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Check Your Vowels -- Are You Saying American Vowels Correctly?  Part 1

In this video, we will be checking your understanding of American vowels using words that sound the same except for the vowel.  Vowels are very important in Standard American English because they can change the whole meaning of a word and sentence if you get them wrong. You must understand the vowel correctly to understand the correct word.  Also, you must say the vowel correctly for other people to understand the word.  Try it out and see how well you do with American vowels!

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Practice Pronouncing Words Containing 'COM' and 'CON' in Standard American English -- Part 4

In this video, we will practice pronouncing words containing 'COM' and 'CON in Standard American English. 'COM' and 'CON' are pronounced differently depending on syllable stress. Learn how to say them correctly.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Practice Sentences for Commonly Mispronounced Words - Client Review 9  - Part 1

In this video, we will be practicing sentences that contain words that are commonly mispronounced in Standard American English.  These words have been taken from a client session.  If you would like an accent coaching session, please sign up at the website listed below.  :)

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Practice Pronouncing the Initial 'R' sound in Standard American English -- Part 2

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the Initial 'R' sound in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Practice Pronouncing the Long 'U' Vowel in Standard American English -- Part 2

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the Long 'U' Vowel in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Vowels in Standard American English -- Listening Exercises - Part 1

One vowel can change the meaning of a word in Standard American English. Are you hearing them correctly? Are you saying them correctly? Listen to these sentences and find out if you can hear and say these vowels the right way.

For more information, please visit https://www.clarityaccent.com

Reduce a Ukrainian Accent - Part 5

Listen to a Ukrainian accent and learn how to change the sounds and prosody to a Standard American English Accent. Accent sample obtained from: https://www.dialectsarchive.com/

Learn how to speak using the Standard American English (SAE) dialect to be better understood in work and social settings. For more information, please visit https://www.clarityaccent.com

Pronouncing Words at Work - Part 5 -- Learn how to pronounce business vocabulary correctly in Standard American English to be better understood at work. For more information, please visit https://clarityaccent.com.

Practice Pronouncing the Long 'I' Vowel in Standard American English -- Part 1

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the Long 'I' Vowel in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Practice Pronouncing the 'S' sound in Standard American English -- Part 2

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the 'S' sound in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

The 'L' Sound can be tricky when it follows a vowel at the end of the word. Learn how to pronounce your vowels before the 'L' sound in Standard American English (Western States Region). For more information, please visit www.clarityaccent.com.

View the video of this podcast on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCixtTxWCxgyH3jKRFDgpvMA

Commonly Mispronounced Words in Standard American English -- Client Review 22

In this video, we will be reviewing words that are commonly mispronounced in Standard American English. These words have been taken from a client session.  If you would like an accent coaching session, please sign up at the website listed below.  :)

Learn how to speak using the Standard American English (SAE) dialect to be better understood in work and social settings.  

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Reduce a Chinese (Beijing) Accent - Part 1

Listen to a Chinese (Beijing) accent and learn how to change the sounds and prosody to a Standard American English Accent.

Accent sample obtained from: https://www.dialectsarchive.com/

Learn how to speak using the Standard American English (SAE) dialect to be better understood in work and social settings. For more information, please visit https://www.clarityaccent.com

PROSODY: It's not always what you say, but how you say it! Learn how to use the proper speed, pitch, volume and word stress to get your message across.

For more information, please visit https://www.clarityaccent.com

Practice Pronouncing 'This' and 'These' in Standard American English

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the words 'This' and 'These' in Standard American English. Learn how and when to say them correctly.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

2 ways to Pronounce the 'oo' Sound in American English

The 'oo' spelling in American English can be pronounced 2 ways: one way is with a 'horseshoe' U vowel sound, as in the word 'book'. The other way is with a long U sound, as in 'room'. Practice saying the 'oo' sound in these 2 ways, and learn which words in American English use each pronunciation.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

'Y' is a subtle sound but very important to pronounce in Standard American English. Practice hearing and pronouncing the 'Y' sound while reading a passage. For more information, please visit https://www.clarityaccent.com

View the video of this podcast on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCixtTxWCxgyH3jKRFDgpvMA

When can I say 'uh' and when can I not? Is it ok to add 'a' on the end of words when I'm speaking? Learn how to speak in Standard American English (Western States Region). For more information, please visit www.clarityaccent.com.

View the video of this podcast on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCixtTxWCxgyH3jKRFDgpvMA

How to Use the Preposition 'OF' in American English

In this video, we will discuss common American English phrases and sentences that use the preposition 'OF'. Using the wrong preposition can make your listener confused, so it's important to learn which ones to say when.

For more information, please visit my website: clarityaccent.com

Reduce a Chinese (Beijing) Accent - Part 3

Listen to a Chinese (Beijing) accent and learn how to change the sounds and prosody to a Standard American English Accent. Accent sample obtained from: https://www.dialectsarchive.com/

Learn how to speak using the Standard American English (SAE) dialect to be better understood in work and social settings. For more information, please visit https://www.clarityaccent.comsit: https://www.clarityaccent.com.

My Car Has an Accent!

In this video, we will be discussing the Asian accent of a message coming from a bluetooth device.  What makes the accent difficult for Americans to understand?  Are there some accents that are easier to understand than others?  How could that message sound more intelligible?

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.

Practice Pronouncing the 'L' sound in Standard American English -- Part 2

In this video, we will practice pronouncing the 'L' sound in Standard American English, using words and sentences common to various professional settings.

For more information, please visit:  https://www.clarityaccent.com.