Category: Videos (Page 4 of 6)

Hi! This is Amy with Go Places English and today I want to talk about the pronunciation and reduction of BE in American English.

There are many words that begin with the sound BE that are commonly reduced in American English. We tend to reduce the BE when the BE sound is the first syllable of the word, and the stress falls on the second syllable. Let’s look at an example.

BEFORE. Notice how the BE sound is reduced to B’. BEFORE. B’ B’ B’ BEFORE

Also notice the stress is on the second syllable. B’FORE. B’FORE.

Let’s look at some commonly reduced BE words and practice.

Behind, Behind

Below, Below

Begin, Begin

Between, Between

Benign, Benign

Believe, Believe

Because, Because

Beguile, Beguile

Bereave, Bereave

Befriend, Befriend

Nice work.

You can instantly improve your English and sound more like a native speaker by practicing and reducing BE words correctly.

When you master American English pronunciation, you can speak with confidence knowing that your pronunciation is accurate and listeners will understand you.

If this lesson was helpful, please give it a thumbs up, share it with your friends, and subscribe to Go Places English.

Where will English take you?

Hi!

This is Amy with Go Places English and today I want to talk about the pronunciation of the sound combination ESTH in American English.

These are difficult sounds to pronounce together.

I think the best way to approach this sound combination is with some examples. Let’s look at the word Esthetician. ESTH, esthetician; ESTH, esthetician; ESTH, esthetician. The challenge of this sound combination is the ES sound followed immediately by the TH sound. ESTH, esthetician.

Let’s practice together.

Esthetician

Esthetician

Esthetician

Esthetician

Esthetician

Esthetician

Let’s look at more words.

Aesthetics

Aesthetics

Aesthetics

Aesthetics

Aesthetics

Aesthetics

Let’s try another word.

Anesthetic

Anesthetic

Anesthetic

Anesthetic

Anesthetic

Anesthetic

Good job.

You can instantly improve your English and sound more like a native speaker by practicing and saying the sound combination ESTH correctly.

When you master American English pronunciation, you can speak with confidence knowing that your pronunciation is accurate and listeners will understand you.

If this lesson was helpful, please give it a thumbs up, share it with your friends, and subscribe to Go Places English.

Where will English take you?

Thanks!

Hi!

This is Amy with Go Places English and today I want to talk about the pronunciation of the words SUGAR and SURE in American English.

These two words can be deceiving, because the letters SU in these words are pronounced SH. Many students mispronounce these words. So I want to spend some time practicing with you today. Don’t worry, there are only a few words like this, and SUGAR and SURE are the most common. So you really only need to remember two.

The /sh/ sound is made by putting the teeth together and puckering your lips like you would for a kiss. The middle of the tongue comes up only slightly and barely touches the corners of the top teeth without touching the roof of the mouth.

In the case of the word SUGAR, we emphasize the first syllable. Practice with me. SUgar, SUgar, SUgar, SUgar, SUgar, SUgar.

Let’s practice the word SUGAR in some sentences. Repeat after me.

Do you take cream or sugar in your coffee?

Sugar is believed to cause tooth decay.

Until recently, sugarcane was grown in Hawaii.

Nice work. Now let’s talk about the word SURE.

The word SURE is one syllable. Practice with me. Sure, Sure, Sure, Sure, Sure, Sure

Let’s practice the word SURE in some sentences. Repeat after me.

Are you sure you want to go?

She sure is a good student.

I’m not sure if this is right.

Good job.

You can instantly improve your English and sound more like a native speaker by practicing and saying Sugar & Sure correctly.

When you master American English pronunciation, you can speak with confidence knowing that your pronunciation is accurate and listeners will understand you.

If this lesson was helpful, please give it a thumbs up, share it with your friends, and subscribe to Go Places English.

Where will English take you?

Thanks!

Hi! Today I want to talk about the cadence, reduction and linking of the common phrase What did you want? in American English.

Cadence is the rhythm and pitch of spoken English. We stress certain words and syllables, and reduce and link others.

It is common to reduce the phrase “What did you want?” to “WHADJA WANT?” This is why it is not always easy to understand native English speakers or American tv shows.

So listen and practice these phrases aloud. Notice the reduction and linking, and how the words and sounds blend together.

What did you want?

What did you want?

What did you want?

What did you want?

What did you want?

What did you want?

Notice the linking and reduction. Whadja, Whadja.

Keep practicing! Cadence is learned through lots of repetition.

What did you want?

What did you want?

What did you want?

What did you want?

What did you want?

What did you want?

When you master the cadence, reduction and linking of American English you can speak with confidence and your listening skills will improve dramatically.

If this lesson was helpful, share it with your friends and Subscribe to Go Places English. Where will English take you? Thanks!

Today I want to talk about the word OFTEN in American English.

Let’s take a closer look at the word OFTEN. The t was pronounced until the 17th century and then people in North American and Great Britain started saying it without the T sound. It is still sometimes pronounced ofTen but most educated native speakers will opt for the silent t pronunciation, OFtEN.

Personally I prefer to pronounce this word without the T, and I encourage you to do the same. It is a more modern and educated pronunciation.

The word OFTEN is an adverb. It means “frequently.”

Notice the O is pronounced AH.

Practice the pronunciation with me. Repeat aloud.

Often
Often
Often

Now let’s practice using the word often in some sentences. Repeat aloud with me.

I often work late.

We often make mistakes when learning.

How often do you study?

She comes here often.

They are not often late.

You can instantly improve your English and sound more like a native speaker by practicing and saying the word OFTEN correctly.

When you master American English pronunciation, you can speak confidently knowing that your pronunciation is clear, accurate and listeners will understand you.

If this lesson was helpful, give it a thumbs up and subscribe to Go Places English. Where will English take you? Thanks!

Hi! Today I want to talk about the sound pairs of IH & EH in American English.

Certain word pairs can be tricky to pronounce correctly. Many students confuse the pronunciation of these words. So I want to spend some time practicing with you today.

Let’s consider some examples.

The words miss and mess. The word miss has the IH sound. The word mess has the EH sound.

Let’s look at a few more pairs. Say them aloud with me. Record yourself practicing and compare your pronunciation with mine.

miss / mess

bit / bet

pit / pet

till / tell

will / well

sit / set

bliss / bless

quill / quell

You can instantly improve your English and sound more like a native speaker by practicing and speaking these word pairs correctly.

When you master American English pronunciation, you can speak confidently and accurately, and listeners will understand you.

If this lesson was helpful, give it a thumbs up, share it with your friends, and subscribe to Go Places English. Where will English take you? Thanks!

Hi! Today I want to talk about the cadence, reduction and linking of the common phrase What do you want? in American English.

Cadence is the rhythm and pitch of spoken English. We stress certain words and syllables, and reduce and link others. In my opinion, the best way to learn cadence is by listening and practicing over and over, until it comes naturally to you.

So listen and practice these phrases aloud. Notice the reduction and linking, and how the words and sounds blend together.

What do you want?

What do you want?

What do you want?

What do you want?

What do you want?

What do you want?

Notice the linking and reduction. Whadduhya, Whadduhya

Keep practicing! Cadence is learned through lots of repetition.

What do you want?

What do you want?

What do you want?

What do you want?

What do you want?

What do you want?

When you master the cadence of American English you can speak with confidence and your listening skills will improve significantly.

Hi! Today I want to talk about the sound pairs of E & A.

Certain word pairs can be tricky to pronounce correctly. Many students confuse the pronunciation of these words. So I want to spend some time practicing with you today.

Let’s consider some examples.

The words send and sand. The word SEND has the E sound.

The word SAND has the A sound.

Let’s look at a few more pairs. Say them aloud with me. Record yourself practicing and compare your pronunciation with mine.

set / sat

ten / tan 

pen / pan

Ken / can

lend  / land

bend / band

bed / bad

rent / rant

You can instantly improve your English and sound more like a native speaker by practicing and speaking these word pairs correctly.

When you master American English pronunciation, you can speak confidently and accurately, and listeners will understand you.

If this lesson was helpful, give it a thumbs up, share it with your friends, and subscribe to Go Places English. Where will English take you? Thanks!

Today I want to talk about the word “debt” in American English.

The word debt is a noun, and it refers to something that is owed, like money. It also means an obligation to pay for something, or the condition of being under such obligation.

Debt can be both an uncountable and countable noun.

You might notice by now, that the B is silent in the pronunciation of debt.

Let’s practice some example sentences with the word debt.

He wants to get out of debt by the end of this year. 

His poor decisions have put his family in debt. 

Her debt was forgiven. 

Her debts were forgiven. 

You must pay your debts if you hope to borrow money again in the future. 

You can instantly improve your English and sound more like a native speaker by practicing and saying debt correctly.

When you master American English pronunciation, you can speak with confidence knowing that your pronunciation is accurate and listeners will understand you.

If this lesson was helpful, give it a thumbs up and subscribe to Go Places English. Where will English take you? Thanks!

Today I want to talk about the word “says” in American English.

I’ve noticed many students pronounce the word “says” incorrectly. I often hear student pronounce SAYS like “say-z” This is a common mistake, and easy to fix.

The reason this may be confusing is that the word SAY is pronounced SAY SAY. But the word SAYS is pronounced SAYS.

Let’s practice the correct pronunciation together. SAYS SAYS SAYS SAYS SAYS SAYS.

Good, now let’s practices some sentences together. Say these aloud with me.

It says turn left at the next stoplight.

He says he doesn’t know how to get there.

She says she doesn’t want to go.

My teacher says I need to practice pronunciation.

You can instantly improve your English and sound more like a native speaker by practicing and speaking the word SAYS correctly.

When you master American English pronunciation, you can speak with confidence knowing that your pronunciation is accurate and listeners will understand you.

If this lesson was helpful, give it a thumbs up, share it with your friends and subscribe to Go Places English. Where will English take you? Thanks!