Pronunciation Tips

• Familiarize yourself with symbols that represent US English sounds.
• Use resources like https://youglish.com to hear words pronounced in real contexts. 

• These are word pairs that differ by only one sound (e.g., ship vs. sheep).
• Focus on pairs that are challenging for speakers of your first language. For example:
  • Spanish speakers: bit vs. beat
  • Mandarin speakers: rake vs. lake 

• Listen to short clips from TED Talks or podcasts with transcripts.
• Repeat immediately after the speaker, mimicking their pronunciation and rhythm. 

• Use your phone or laptop to record your speech.
• Compare your pronunciation to native-like models using tools like https://youglish.com or https://elsaspeak.com. 

• US English vowels can be short or long, and this often changes word meaning.
• Practice with words like sit vs. seat, full vs. fool. 

Apps like ELSA Speak, Sounds of Speech (University of Iowa), and the AEC’s YouTube channel offer interactive pronunciation practice. 

The Applied English Center (AEC) offers specialized courses that focus on suprasegmental features: 

Pronunciation Fundamentals

• Ideal for building a foundation in both segmental and suprasegmental skills.
• Focuses on patterns of stress, rhythm, and intonation.

Intermediate Pronunciation

• Emphasizes suprasegmental features like thought groups, linking, and sentence stress.
• Includes practice with real-life speech patterns and connected speech.

Advanced Pronunciation Projects

• Combines segmental and suprasegmental skills through creative projects like podcasts or presentations.
• Great for learners preparing for academic or professional communication. 

Shadowing with Transcribed Videos 

• Use platforms like https://www.ted.com or https://youglish.com to:
• Listen to a speaker.
• Read the transcript.
• Repeat immediately after the speaker, mimicking rhythm and intonation. 

Thought Group Practice 

• Break long sentences into chunks or thought groups.
• Example: 
  “When you’re learning English // it’s important to practice every day.”
• Pause slightly between groups and emphasize the key word in each. 

Stress and Intonation Games 

• Try applied improvisation games like:
• “Say It with Emotion” – Say the same sentence with different emotions to practice pitch variation.
• “Stress Detective” – Listen to a sentence and identify the stressed words. 

Record and Compare 

• Record yourself reading a short paragraph.
• Compare your rhythm and intonation with a proficient speaker’s version.
• Focus on pitch movement, word stress, and linking

• Use apps like ELSA Speak, Speechling, or Praat to analyze your intonation and stress patterns.
• Practice with a peer or tutor using video calls and shared transcripts.