Improve Your American English Pronunciation

by William S Andrews

Here are four things that you must study in order to improve your pronunciation of American English.

Your accent is the result of the way you use syllable stress, sentence stress, and intonation in addition to the way you pronounce individual sounds. Almost all editors at the services where you can ask to write my paper for cheap emphasize that in order to improve your American English pronunciation and reduce your accent you should follow a comprehensive study program that includes the following four areas:

1. Syllable Stress Patterns

You must learn to speak using the syllable stress patterns that Americans rely on for comprehension. This includes learning to stress the correct syllable in each word and how to use the schwa vowel sound in reduced syllables.

2. Vowel & Consonant Sounds

You must learn to pronounce unfamiliar vowel and consonant sounds-- this means moving your mouth, tongue, teeth, and jaws in ways that may feel uncomfortable.

3. Word Stress Patterns in Sentences

You must learn to apply sentence stress correctly including content words, focus words, and function words. You must also understand how American English speakers speak using thought groups.

4. Linking Words Together

You must learn to apply the three rules for linking that Americans use for smooth speech. This includes consonant + consonant linking, consonant + vowel linking, and vowel + vowel linking.

If you study the four areas describes here, you will be able to reduce your accent and improve your American English pronunciation. You will enjoy speaking with American English speakers!

English Pronunciation Practice Strategies

Make a Checklist!

Make a checklist of the pronunciation features that you need to work on. A checklist will guide you and keep you focused.

Each day choose one of the pronunciation features on your list that you need to improve. Practice this feature for at least 10 minutes. Start with one item and then add other pronunciation features as you make progress.

Since most students need at least some work on syllable stress and sentence stress, I typically recommend that you start with these and then add the vowel and consonant sounds you are working on. Vowel and consonant sounds might include voiced consonants, word endings, or the sounds of th.

Get an Accent Assessment and get an accent checklist that will keep you focused and on track to your improved American English.

In order to improve the way you speak English, you must be organized and practice every day. Using a checklist will help you do this.

American English Intonation

Intonation and sentence stress strategies

When you are speaking American English you need to use stress and intonation in sentences. That means that you need to stress the words that contain the most important or newest information. These are the content and focus words.

American English Idioms

Learning idioms will help your American English pronunciation sound more natural!

An idiom is an expression that has a meaning that doesn't reflect the literal definitions of the words. Every language has idioms, and the meanings can be difficult for non-native speakers to understand. Here are examples and explanations of two idioms that Americans use in everyday speech.

1. Like two peas in a pod

Americans use this idiom to describe two things that are nearly identical just as 2 peas from one peapod would be. For example: If my younger sister and her best a friend always talks and dress the same way I could say: "Those two girls are just like two peas in a pod."

2. To spill the beans

Americans use this idiom to describe a situation where someone told a secret or released some confidential information. Here is an example.

About the writer

William S Andrews is a personal development coach. He likes helping people cope with their problems. In this case, William has his own section on the website of the service where you can ask to write my papers. Moreover, he takes part in various conferences to improve his knowledge and develop new skills.

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