This course is mostly video lectures, so you can pause and rewatch, copying and repeating the sounds as often as you like. This means that you can use this course even if you've never had a voice lesson before. It is aimed at adults with good reading ability of the English language, but who might struggle with pronouncing some of the words they are fully able to read. This can be useful if you're attending an English-speaking workplace or school but struggle to be understood. Throughout the course you will:
This course is mostly video lectures, so you can pause and rewatch, copying and repeating the sounds as often as you like. This means that you can use this course even if you've never had a voice lesson before. It is aimed at adults with good reading ability of the English language, but who might struggle with pronouncing some of the words they are fully able to read. This can be useful if you're attending an English-speaking workplace or school but struggle to be understood. Throughout the course you will:
I have a clear, friendly English voice. My accent is very slight, you may or may not be able to hear that I grew up in the south of England (Dorset), then moved to Suffolk, then Essex, then Kent, then Suffolk. Generally people find my voice to be quite neutral. You will be able to listen to me explain the sounds and reproduce them easily. The words and sentences are in the resources and you can add to them by following the links. You might have watched other videos and struggled with being able to reproduce the sound yourself, this course will help you to make those sounds yourself. This course is
So if you are able to read English well, but become easily frustrated when people cannot understand you, try this course to iron out those difficult sounds.
Try these contentious words :)
Think about why breathing is so important for vocal exercises. Try some exercises with Pauline then on your own. Practice them regularly to increase capacity and strength. Review with some extra exercises to try alone.
Here we will use those full lungs to warm up the vocal chords without damaging them. Pauline will teach you how to gently and safely warm up your voice before using it. This is really useful for many areas of your life! Pauline will also teach you some strengthening exercises.
Review everything we have learned in the preceding lecture.
The majority of Received Pronunciation is at the front of the mouth. Using forward voice is a skill that can be learned! Use these exercises to bring and keep the voice forward!
Pauline will go through long, short, semi and diphthongal vowel sounds in isolation. She'll then put them into words, then sentences, then tongue twisters.
The oooh sound in isolation, in words and in sentences for you to listen to and repeat.
The or sound in isolation, in words and in sentences.
The diphthongal ay sound in isolation, in words and in sentences.
The long I in isolation, in words and in sentences.
A as in cat, in isolation, in words and in sentences. Keep the mouth really open wide for this sound!
The short 'u' sound in a few words and sentences.
Here we'll look at plosive and fricative consonants in detail, as they are the most important for RP. We will use them in isolation, in words, sentences and tongue twisters.
In this lecture we'll examine two different sorts of sentence - questions and statements. Using the incorrect intonation can detract from RP, so let's get them right!
Here you will find links to places where you can hear good examples of RP to emulate.
An article written by Pauline about the future of RP. Is it going to remain relevant?
Here Pauline draws together everything we've learned and points you in the right direction from here onwards.
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