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Tamy Chapman,
Marla Yoshida,
and
Brad Gilpin
In this course, you’ll practice the sounds of American English that might sometimes be confusing. You'll practice both consonant and vowel sounds. You’ll also learn about the things that give English its special “music,” such as how to stress the right syllable in a word, how to make your voice go up and down in a natural-sounding melody, and how to naturally connect sounds and words. Learning these things will help you speak more clearly and make sure that others can understand what you're saying.
Read more
In this course, you’ll practice the sounds of American English that might sometimes be confusing. You'll practice both consonant and vowel sounds. You’ll also learn about the things that give English its special “music,” such as how to stress the right syllable in a word, how to make your voice go up and down in a natural-sounding melody, and how to naturally connect sounds and words. Learning these things will help you speak more clearly and make sure that others can understand what you're saying.
Read more
In this course, you’ll practice the sounds of American English that might sometimes be confusing. You'll practice both consonant and vowel sounds. You’ll also learn about the things that give English its special “music,” such as how to stress the right syllable in a word, how to make your voice go up and down in a natural-sounding melody, and how to naturally connect sounds and words. Learning these things will help you speak more clearly and make sure that others can understand what you're saying.
This course is useful for English language learners who want to improve pronunciation of American English for better communication.
Note that access to all of the lectures and handouts are free to anyone, but the graded assignments and quizzes are only available in the paid version of the course. You will need to submit recordings of your own pronunciation for graded assignments.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/0pj7wi/tricky
What's inside
Syllabus
Welcome
In this course, you will learn about the consonant and vowel sounds of American English and practice some of the difficult sounds. You will also learn about and practice intonation and stress. Practicing these things will help you improve your pronunciation and make your speech easier for others to understand.
Read more
Syllabus
Welcome
In this course, you will learn about the consonant and vowel sounds of American English and practice some of the difficult sounds. You will also learn about and practice intonation and stress. Practicing these things will help you improve your pronunciation and make your speech easier for others to understand.
Read more
Tricky Consonant Sounds
In this first week, you will practice the consonant sounds of American English. Consonants are the sounds where the air coming up from your lungs meets some obstacles on the way. The first sounds in the words time, sand, and moon are consonants. After a quick quiz to find out which consonant sounds are the most difficult for you, you’ll practice some pairs of sounds that might be confusing and learn some tricks for telling them apart, and you’ll start to understand how your mouth moves when you say these sounds.
Tricky Vowel Sounds
This week, you’ll practice some tricky vowel sounds in American English. Vowels are sounds that come out of your mouth very smoothly, like the first sounds in apple, ocean, and out. Vowel sounds are very important for being understood in English. They’re the “heart” of each syllable, and they need to be said clearly to avoid misunderstanding. Our goal is to help you pronounce English in a way that can be easily understood by listeners in real life, and mastering vowel sounds is an important step toward that goal. Now let’s practice the vowel sounds of American English.
The Music of American English Pronunciation
This week, you’ll learn about some things that give English its special rhythm and melody. You’ll learn about syllables—the small chunks of sound that make up the “beats” in words—and word stress—the way some parts of words are emphasized more than others. You’ll also see how some words become shorter and weaker when we talk. Since these words are used very often in ordinary speaking, we can’t understand spoken English without them. Our goal this week is to help you use the music of English to communicate more effectively and to be understood more easily when you speak. Enjoy learning about the music of American English pronunciation.
Other Tricky Things
In this final week of the course, you'll look at a few more tricky points in American English pronunciation. First, you’ll learn about the different ways to pronounce the –s and –ed word endings, which have important grammatical meanings, and you’ll learn when to use each kind of pronunciation. Next, you’ll practice pronouncing numbers like 14 and 40, 15 and 50, 16 and 60 that can cause misunderstandings. You’ll also learn about the pronunciation of the words “can” and “can’t” –the difference between them might surprise you. Finally, you’ll practice some sound changes that happen when words come together in common spoken expressions like "gonna" for "going to," "wanna" for "want to," and "shoulda" for "should have."
Good to know
Good to know
Know what's good ,
what to watch for , and
possible dealbreakers
Teaches comprehensive American English pronunciation skills, which is essential for clear communication
Builds foundation in English pronunciation
Explores finer points of American English pronunciation that may otherwise be overlooked
Instructors with experience in American English pronunciation
Covers fundamental aspects of American English speech
Interactive component enables practice and reinforcement of learning
Save this course
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Reviews summary
Pronunciation perfection
learners say this course, Tricky American English Pronunciation, is largely positive, emphasizing engaging assignments and instructors who are well received.
The course covers a range of pronunciation topics and skills.
"It's a very thorough course"
"the best pronunciation course I've ever had"
"This is an amazing course, I recommend and says much about the University's language program"
"This course really helped me a lot because it taught me things about pronunciation that I never knew."
The engaging assignments help students practice their pronunciation and get feedback.
"shadowing exercises are really helpful"
"I learned more about pronunciation and increase my communication skills."
"shadowing a conversation method is a
great way to improve English Pronunciation"
This is a well received foundational course for anyone interested in improving their English pronunciation.
"especially when you want to improve your pronunciation"
"great for improving English pronunciation"
"This course helps me improve my pronunciation."
"I got more confidence to speak English."
Students may not receive feedback from instructors on their work, relying on well received peer feedback instead.
"I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to improve their speaking and pronunciation skills."
"the instructors were explained all subject clearly to us"
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Tricky American English Pronunciation with these
activities:
Practice American English Consonant Sounds
Show steps
Practice makes perfect! You'll improve your pronunciation and make your speech easier for others to understand.
Show steps
-
Identify the most difficult consonant sounds for you.
-
Practice pairs of sounds that might be confusing.
-
Learn tricks for telling these sounds apart.
Practice American English Vowel Sounds
Show steps
Mastering vowel sounds is an important step towards improving your pronunciation.
Show steps
-
Practice some tricky vowel sounds in American English.
-
Learn strategies for pronouncing these sounds correctly.
Learn About the Music of American English Pronunciation
Show steps
Understanding the rhythm and melody of English will help you communicate more effectively.
Show steps
-
Learn about syllables and word stress.
-
Identify how words become shorter and weaker when we talk.
-
Practice using the music of English to communicate more effectively.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice Other Tricky Things in American English Pronunciation
Show steps
This practice will help you improve your pronunciation and make your speech easier for others to understand.
Show steps
-
Learn about the different ways to pronounce the –s and –ed word endings.
-
Practice pronouncing numbers like 14 and 40, 15 and 50, 16 and 60.
-
Learn about the pronunciation of the words “can” and “can’t”.
-
Practice some sound changes that happen when words come together in common spoken expressions.
Record Yourself Speaking American English
Show steps
This activity will help you identify areas where you need improvement and track your progress.
Show steps
-
Choose a short passage or conversation to record.
-
Record yourself speaking the passage or conversation.
-
Listen to your recording and identify areas where you need to improve.
-
Repeat the process until you are satisfied with your pronunciation.
Practice Speaking American English with a Partner
Show steps
This activity will give you an opportunity to practice your pronunciation with a native speaker or another learner.
Show steps
-
Find a partner who is willing to practice speaking American English with you.
-
Choose a topic to discuss.
-
Take turns speaking and listening to each other.
-
Provide feedback to each other on pronunciation and other communication skills.
Find a Mentor Who Can Help You Improve Your American English Pronunciation
Show steps
A mentor can provide you with personalized guidance and support.
Show steps
-
Identify the areas where you want to improve your pronunciation.
-
Find a mentor who has experience in teaching American English pronunciation.
-
Set up regular meetings with your mentor.
-
Work with your mentor to develop a plan for improvement.
Practice American English Consonant Sounds
Show steps
Practice makes perfect! You'll improve your pronunciation and make your speech easier for others to understand.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify the most difficult consonant sounds for you.
- Practice pairs of sounds that might be confusing.
- Learn tricks for telling these sounds apart.
Practice American English Vowel Sounds
Show steps
Mastering vowel sounds is an important step towards improving your pronunciation.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Practice some tricky vowel sounds in American English.
- Learn strategies for pronouncing these sounds correctly.
Learn About the Music of American English Pronunciation
Show steps
Understanding the rhythm and melody of English will help you communicate more effectively.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Learn about syllables and word stress.
- Identify how words become shorter and weaker when we talk.
- Practice using the music of English to communicate more effectively.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice Other Tricky Things in American English Pronunciation
Show steps
This practice will help you improve your pronunciation and make your speech easier for others to understand.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Learn about the different ways to pronounce the –s and –ed word endings.
- Practice pronouncing numbers like 14 and 40, 15 and 50, 16 and 60.
- Learn about the pronunciation of the words “can” and “can’t”.
- Practice some sound changes that happen when words come together in common spoken expressions.
Record Yourself Speaking American English
Show steps
This activity will help you identify areas where you need improvement and track your progress.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Choose a short passage or conversation to record.
- Record yourself speaking the passage or conversation.
- Listen to your recording and identify areas where you need to improve.
- Repeat the process until you are satisfied with your pronunciation.
Practice Speaking American English with a Partner
Show steps
This activity will give you an opportunity to practice your pronunciation with a native speaker or another learner.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find a partner who is willing to practice speaking American English with you.
- Choose a topic to discuss.
- Take turns speaking and listening to each other.
- Provide feedback to each other on pronunciation and other communication skills.
Find a Mentor Who Can Help You Improve Your American English Pronunciation
Show steps
A mentor can provide you with personalized guidance and support.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify the areas where you want to improve your pronunciation.
- Find a mentor who has experience in teaching American English pronunciation.
- Set up regular meetings with your mentor.
- Work with your mentor to develop a plan for improvement.
Career center
Learners who complete Tricky American English Pronunciation will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Pronunciation Coach
Pronunciation Coach
Pronunciation Coaches help people improve their pronunciation of a particular language. This course may be useful for Pronunciation Coaches who want to improve their own pronunciation of American English or who want to learn more about the sounds of American English and how to teach them to others.
English Language Learner Teacher
English Language Learner Teacher
English Language Learner (ELL) Teachers help students who are learning English as a second language to develop their English proficiency. This course may be useful for ELL Teachers who want to improve their own pronunciation of American English so that they can better model correct pronunciation for their students. Additionally, the course can help ELL Teachers understand the challenges that their students face in learning American English pronunciation.
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Voice Actors use their voices to bring characters to life in movies, television shows, video games, and other media. This course may be useful for Voice Actors who want to improve their pronunciation of American English so that they can more accurately portray American characters. Additionally, the course can help Voice Actors learn about the different ways to use their voices to create different characters.
ESL Instructor
ESL Instructor
ESL Instructors teach English as a second language to students who are not native English speakers. This course may be useful for ESL Instructors who want to improve their own pronunciation of American English so that they can better model correct pronunciation for their students. Additionally, the course can help ESL Instructors understand the challenges that their students face in learning American English pronunciation.
Interpreter
Interpreter
Interpreters facilitate communication between people who speak different languages. This course may be useful for Interpreters who work with English speakers and non-native English speakers. By learning about the sounds of American English and practicing intonation and stress, Interpreters can improve their ability to accurately interpret spoken English.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Speech-Language Pathologist
Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) assess, diagnose, and manage disorders related to speech, language, cognitive-communication, voice, swallowing, and fluency. This course may be especially useful for SLPs working with clients who speak English as a second language or who have difficulty with American English pronunciation. By learning about the sounds of American English and practicing intonation and stress, SLPs can help their clients improve their communication skills.
Translator
Translator
Translators convert written text from one language to another. This course may be useful for Translators who want to improve their understanding of American English pronunciation so that they can more accurately translate spoken English text. Additionally, the course can help Translators learn about the different ways that words are pronounced in different contexts.
Broadcast Journalist
Broadcast Journalist
Broadcast Journalists report on news and current events for television and radio audiences. This course may be useful for Broadcast Journalists who want to improve their pronunciation of American English so that they can more clearly and effectively communicate with their audiences. Additionally, the course can help Broadcast Journalists learn about the different ways to use their voices to create different effects.
Podcaster
Podcaster
Podcasters create and host podcasts, which are audio recordings that are distributed online. This course may be useful for Podcasters who want to improve their pronunciation of American English so that they can more clearly and effectively communicate with their audiences. Additionally, the course can help Podcasters learn about the different ways to use their voices to create different effects.
Tutor
Tutor
Tutors provide individualized instruction to students in a variety of subjects. This course may be useful for Tutors who want to improve their pronunciation of American English so that they can more clearly and effectively communicate with their students. Additionally, the course can help Tutors learn about the different ways to use their voices to create different effects.
Salesperson
Salesperson
Salespeople sell products and services to customers. This course may be useful for Salespeople who want to improve their pronunciation of American English so that they can more clearly and effectively communicate with their customers. Additionally, the course can help Salespeople learn about the different ways to use their voices to create different effects.
Teacher
Teacher
Teachers educate students in a variety of subjects. This course may be useful for Teachers who want to improve their pronunciation of American English so that they can more clearly and effectively communicate with their students. Additionally, the course can help Teachers learn about the different ways to use their voices to create different effects.
Public Relations Specialist
Public Relations Specialist
Public Relations Specialists manage the public image of organizations and individuals. This course may be useful for Public Relations Specialists who want to improve their pronunciation of American English so that they can more clearly and effectively communicate with the media and the public. Additionally, the course can help Public Relations Specialists learn about the different ways to use their voices to create different effects.
Audiologist
Audiologist
Audiologists diagnose and treat hearing and balance disorders. This course may be useful for Audiologists who work with patients who have difficulty understanding speech. By learning about the sounds of American English and practicing intonation and stress, Audiologists can better understand the challenges that their patients face in understanding speech.
Writer
Writer
Writers create written content for a variety of purposes, including news articles, blog posts, marketing materials, and fiction. This course may be useful for Writers who want to improve their understanding of American English pronunciation so that they can more accurately represent spoken dialogue in their writing. Additionally, the course can help Writers learn about the different ways that words are pronounced in different contexts.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/0pj7wi/tricky
Reading list
We've selected 15 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Tricky American English Pronunciation.
This is the largest and most comprehensive dictionary of the English language, and it includes pronunciations for both American and British English.
This is the definitive dictionary of the English language, and it includes pronunciations for both American and British English.
Comprehensive and technical account of the pronunciation of American English, offering detailed descriptions of each sound, along with spectrograms, tables and diagrams to illustrate.
This dictionary is the standard reference for pronunciation in the English-speaking world. It includes transcriptions of words in both Received Pronunciation and General American, and provides extensive information on stress, intonation, and other aspects of pronunciation.
While more technical than most sources, this book not only provides detailed coverage of all the sounds of American English, it also includes chapters on weak forms and intonation.
This dictionary is known for its clear and easy-to-follow pronunciations, making it a good choice for learners of English.
This dictionary good alternative to the Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, and it includes pronunciations for both American and British English.
Offers a comprehensive overview of English phonetics and phonology. It's a widely-used academic textbook, and is helpful for understanding the theoretical aspects of English pronunciation.
This dictionary is based on a corpus of real-world English usage, and it includes pronunciations for both American and British English.
Save
This good all-purpose dictionary for learners of English, and it includes pronunciations for both American and British English.
This dictionary good choice for learners of English, as it includes clear and concise definitions, as well as pronunciations for both American and British English.
This comprehensive dictionary of American English, and it includes pronunciations for both American and British English.
This dictionary good choice for learners of English, as it includes clear and concise definitions, as well as pronunciations for both American and British English.
While this book focuses specifically on American accent training, it is useful for improving your understanding of American English pronunciation at a deeper level. This will help you make more nuanced pronunciation decisions and identify and correct pronunciation errors in your own speech.
Save
While this book provides an introduction to phonetics and not solely to English pronunciation, it includes transcripts of the author's own pronunciations of words and texts, giving you an opportunity to compare his speech with the transcriptions and improve your understanding of the sounds of the language.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/0pj7wi/tricky
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Effort
3-4 hours per week for 4 weeks
Level
Introductory
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of California, Irvine
Instructors
Tamy Chapman
Marla Yoshida
Brad Gilpin
Language
English
Transcripts
Español
Français
Português
Deutsch
Italiano
中文
العربية
한국어
日本語
हिंदी
Nederlands
Svenska
Pусский
Türkçe
Polski
Ελληνικά
українська мова
magyar nyelv
Bahasa Indonesia
ไทย
қазақша
اُردُو,
فارسی
বাংলা
tiếng Việt
پښتو
آذربایجان دیلی
Good to know
Teaches comprehensive American English pronunciation skills, which is essential for clear communication
Builds foundation in English pronunciation
Explores finer points of American English pronunciation that may otherwise be overlooked
Instructors with experience in American English pronunciation
Covers fundamental aspects of American English speech
Interactive component enables practice and reinforcement of learning
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