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Dennis Anderson Kinote de Araujo

Learn the phonetic alphabet symbols and the sounds used in British and American English.  Read the sounds the symbols describe and reduce the influence of Portuguese in your accent. A course focused on the typical pronunciation problems Brazilian speakers of English have. Classes in English.

Conheça os símbolos do alfabeto fonético e os sons usados no inglês americano e britânico.  Aprenda a ler os sons transcritos pelos símbolos e reduza a influência do português em seu sotaque. Curso focado nos problemas típicos de pronúncia que o falante brasileiro de inglês apresenta. Aulas 100% em inglês.

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What's inside

Learning objective

Pronúncia do inglês, redução de sotaque, alfabeto fonético; english pronunciation, accent reduction, phonetic alphabet

Syllabus

Conheça os órgãos do aparelho fonador; entenda como os sons são distribuídos nas Phonemic Charts do inglês britânico e americano. O que são voiced e voiceless sounds?
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Conheça os órgãos do aparelho fonador; entenda como os sons são distribuídos nas Phonemic Charts do inglês britânico e americano. O que são voiced e voiceless sounds?

Conheça os sons bilabiais /p/ e /b/, alveolares /t/ e /d/, velares /k/ e /g/, e aspirados

Conheça os sons labio-dentais /f/ e /v/, dentais /θ/ e /ð/, pós-alveolares /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /tʃ/ e /dʒ/, e o som glotal /h/

Conheça os sons nasais /m/, /n/ e /ŋ/, além do som lateral /l/

Aprenda a pronúncia do /r/ inicial do inglês e das semivogais /w/ e /j/

Conheça as diferenças no inglês britânico e americano entre as vogais tônicas, com foco nos sons /ɜː/ e /uː/

Entenda os três sons diferentes que o "i" tem em inglês, as vogais posteriores e as curtas

Conheça os sons átonos: o schwa /ə/ e outros como o /ɪ/, /ʊ/, /i/ e /u/

Conheça os ditongos usados no inglês americano e os usados no inglês britânico, com uma atividade prática de leitura de transcrição fonética no final do vídeo

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Focuses on pronunciation challenges commonly faced by Brazilian English speakers, offering targeted practice and insights
Aims to reduce the influence of Portuguese on learners' English accent, which can improve clarity and comprehensibility
Explores the International Phonetic Alphabet, which is a foundational tool for understanding and producing accurate pronunciation
Examines the sounds used in both British and American English, which helps learners develop a broader understanding of English pronunciation
Requires learners to understand English, which may exclude learners who are not already proficient in the language
Includes a practical activity for reading phonetic transcriptions, which reinforces learning and builds practical skills

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Reviews summary

Ipa and sounds for brazilian speakers

According to learners, this course offers a clear and helpful introduction specifically designed for Brazilian Portuguese speakers looking to improve their English pronunciation. Students found the instructor's explanations easy to follow and appreciated the course's focus on tackling typical pronunciation challenges faced by Brazilians. While many felt it provided a solid foundation in the IPA and English sounds, some reviewers noted it serves primarily as a beginner-friendly resource and might not offer sufficient depth for those seeking more advanced practice or comprehensive coverage beyond the core sounds introduced. Overall, it's considered highly effective for its target audience.
Well-suited for those new to phonetics/IPA.
"If you are new to phonetics and the IPA, this course is perfect for getting started."
"It assumes no prior knowledge, which was great for me as a total beginner."
"I felt this course was designed with beginners in mind, making it very accessible."
"Excellent course for someone starting their journey with English sounds and IPA."
Includes helpful practice and examples.
"The practical examples provided after introducing each sound were very helpful."
"I liked the activities at the end of videos that helped me practice what I learned."
"The course includes useful exercises for applying the IPA and sounds."
"Being able to hear and practice the sounds with examples made a big difference."
Provides a strong introduction to the IPA symbols.
"This course is a great starting point for learning the International Phonetic Alphabet."
"It gave me a good base for understanding and reading phonetic transcriptions."
"A very clear introduction to the IPA symbols and their corresponding English sounds."
"I finally understand how the phonetic alphabet works thanks to this course."
Instructor explains concepts clearly and effectively.
"The teacher is excellent, very clear and easy to understand when explaining complex sounds."
"I appreciated how well the instructor articulated the sounds and demonstrated the mouth positions."
"Great explanations from the instructor that made learning the IPA much less intimidating."
"The instructor's ability to break down sounds was a major plus for me."
Excellent focus for Brazilian Portuguese speakers.
"This course was specifically tailored for speakers of Brazilian Portuguese, which was incredibly helpful for targeting my specific accent issues."
"As a Brazilian native speaker, I found the emphasis on the typical difficulties we face in English pronunciation extremely valuable."
"It really addressed the specific pronunciation problems I have because of my native language background."
"O curso foca nos problemas de pronúncia de falantes brasileiros, o que foi muito útil para mim."
May be too basic for advanced learners.
"I was hoping for more advanced techniques or deeper dives into specific sound nuances, but it felt a bit basic."
"If you already have some familiarity with IPA or phonetics, this might feel like mostly review."
"Could be expanded for intermediate/advanced students looking for more challenging practice."
"Felt a little basic after the initial modules; could use more complex examples."

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 The Sounds of English & The International Phonetic Alphabet with these activities:
Review English Vowel Sounds
Strengthen your understanding of English vowel sounds before diving into the IPA symbols. This will make it easier to connect the symbols to the actual sounds.
Show steps
  • Find online resources that explain English vowel sounds.
  • Listen to audio examples of each vowel sound.
  • Practice pronouncing words with different vowel sounds.
Read 'English Pronunciation in Use' (Elementary)
Supplement your learning with a structured approach to English pronunciation. This book offers clear explanations and practical exercises.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'English Pronunciation in Use' (Elementary).
  • Work through the units focusing on individual sounds.
  • Complete the exercises and listen to the audio examples.
IPA Transcription Practice
Reinforce your understanding of IPA symbols by transcribing English words. This will improve your ability to read and write phonetic transcriptions.
Show steps
  • Find a list of English words.
  • Transcribe each word using IPA symbols.
  • Check your transcriptions against a reliable source.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Record Yourself Speaking
Identify areas for improvement in your pronunciation by recording yourself speaking English. This allows for self-assessment and targeted practice.
Show steps
  • Choose a short passage of English text.
  • Record yourself reading the passage.
  • Listen to the recording and identify any pronunciation errors.
  • Focus on correcting those errors in future practice.
Explore 'The Handbook of English Pronunciation'
Deepen your understanding of English phonetics with a comprehensive handbook. This book provides detailed explanations and advanced insights.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'The Handbook of English Pronunciation'.
  • Browse the chapters relevant to your areas of interest.
  • Use the book as a reference for specific pronunciation questions.
Pronunciation Exchange with Native Speakers
Refine your pronunciation by practicing with native English speakers. This provides valuable feedback and exposure to authentic speech patterns.
Show steps
  • Find a language exchange partner who is a native English speaker.
  • Prepare a list of words or phrases you want to practice.
  • Take turns listening to and correcting each other's pronunciation.

Career center

Learners who complete The Sounds of English & The International Phonetic Alphabet will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
English Teacher
An English Teacher shares their knowledge of the English language to students. This course helps those wishing to become English teachers by focusing on pronunciation and accent reduction. By learning the phonetic alphabet symbols along with the sounds used in British and American English, future English teachers can improve the clarity of their speech. As this course focuses on typical pronunciation problems, any aspiring English Teacher with a Portuguese background may find this especially useful. Understanding the sounds distributed in phonemic charts helps build a foundation for teaching students how to pronounce words correctly. The course's lessons on voiced and voiceless sounds, bilabial sounds, and differences in British and American English will improve an English teacher's instruction.
Voice Coach
A Voice Coach works with individuals to improve their vocal delivery. Aspiring voice coaches may find this course especially helpful. The curriculum covers the phonetic alphabet symbols and the sounds used in British and American English. A Voice Coach can leverage this information to help clients refine their pronunciation. Understanding the three different sounds that ‘i’ has in English and the differences in British and American English vowels helps a voice coach better understand their clients' needs. Lessons on the organs of the phonatory system provide a Voice Coach with additional background knowledge on how speech is formed. This course also teaches how to read the sounds transcribed by the symbols and reduce the influence of Portuguese in a speaker's accent.
Accent Coach
An Accent Coach helps people modify or adopt new accents. This course may be helpful for aspiring accent coaches, especially those working with clients who want to refine their British or American English pronunciation. The course focuses on the sounds used in British and American English, as well as the phonetic alphabet symbols. This prepares the Accent Coach to provide targeted instruction. The class addresses typical pronunciation problems with /r/ sounds and semivowels. This course’s lessons on the differences in tonic vowels in British and American English and the practical activities involving reading phonetic transcriptions may be useful for an Accent Coach.
Speech-Language Pathologist
A Speech Language Pathologist assesses, diagnoses, and treats speech and language disorders, which often requires a master's degree. This course may be helpful to those interested in this career path. The course delves into the sounds used in American and British English and the phonetic alphabet. A Speech Language Pathologist can use this knowledge to better understand and address articulation issues. By understanding how sounds are distributed in English and American phonemic charts, a Speech Language Pathologist builds a foundation for diagnosing and treating speech impediments. Lessons on the organs of the phonatory system may be particularly relevant.
ESL Instructor
An English as a Second Language Instructor guides non-native speakers in learning the English language. This course helps ESL Instructors working with Brazilian students by addressing the typical pronunciation problems those speakers encounter. Understanding the phonetic alphabet symbols and the sounds used in British and American English enables the ESL Instructor to create targeted lessons. The course's focus on voiced and voiceless sounds, bilabial sounds, and post-alveolar sounds can provide ESL Instructors with specific techniques for improving their students’ speech. The course may be valuable to an ESL Instructor.
Language Consultant
A Language Consultant works with individuals or organizations to improve communication skills. This course may be helpful to aspiring language consultants by focusing on pronunciation and accent reduction. Understanding the phonetic alphabet symbols and the sounds used in British and American English may improve a language consultant's ability to assess and address communication challenges. The lessons on nasal sounds and lateral sounds can help a language consultant provide targeted feedback. Also, a language consultant may use the knowledge of schwa sounds when trying to improve a client's speech.
Foreign Language Teacher
A Foreign Language Teacher instructs students in a language other than their native tongue. This course may be useful to teachers who want to enhance their understanding of phonetics and pronunciation. Although this course focuses on English, understanding the phonetic alphabet symbols and the sounds used in British and American English helps build a foundation for teaching any language. This is because the International Phonetic Alphabet encompasses a wide range of sounds used across many languages. The course's lessons on how sounds are distributed in phonemic charts may be helpful for a Foreign Language Teacher.
Linguist
A Linguist studies language and its structure, often requiring a graduate degree. This course may be useful because it provides a practical introduction to phonetics. The course covers the phonetic alphabet symbols and the sounds used in British and American English. It may help linguists who specialize in phonology or phonetics, as it provides a concrete understanding of how sounds are produced and transcribed. Lessons on voiced and voiceless sounds, bilabial sounds, and the differences in British and American English vowels may be particularly relevant.
Technical Writer
A Technical Writer creates documentation for technical products and services. This course may be useful to a Technical Writer who works in the field of language learning or speech recognition software. Understanding the phonetic alphabet symbols and the sounds used in British and American English may improve a Technical Writer's ability to accurately document the features and functionalities of these products. The lessons on the organs of the phonatory system may assist a Technical Writer in explaining how speech recognition software processes sound. In particular, this course may be helpful for technical writers who are Brazilian speakers of English.
Translator
A Translator converts written text from one language to another. This course may be helpful for a Translator who works with English, particularly if they are translating between English and Portuguese. Understanding the phonetic alphabet symbols and the sounds used in British and American English may improve a translator's ability to accurately convey the meaning of the original text. The course's focus on reducing the influence of Portuguese in a speaker's accent may be especially valuable, as it allows the translator to better understand the nuances of both languages. Moreover, the translator benefits from the course lessons on diphthongs.
Copywriter
A Copywriter writes persuasive marketing and advertising copy. Given that copywriting is primarily a written medium, this course may be helpful for a Copywriter who wants to improve their understanding of how sounds are perceived and articulated. Understanding the phonetic alphabet symbols and the sounds used in British and American English helps build a foundation for crafting copy that resonates with target audiences. The course’s focus on reducing the influence of Portuguese in a speaker's accent may be useful for copywriters who work with international clients. The knowledge of schwa sounds provided by this course also may be used by a copywriter.
Journalist
A Journalist investigates and reports on current events. This course may be helpful to a Journalist who covers topics related to language, speech, or communication. Understanding the phonetic alphabet symbols and the sounds used in British and American English helps a Journalist conduct informed interviews and accurately report on related issues. The course's focus on reducing the influence of Portuguese in a speaker's accent may be valuable to journalists who work with diverse communities. Also, the Journalist may use the course’s lessons on phonemic charts.
Public Relations Specialist
A Public Relations Specialist manages a company’s or individual’s public image. While public relations primarily deals with communication strategies, this course may be useful for a Public Relations Specialist who works with clients who need to improve their speaking skills. Understanding the phonetic alphabet symbols and the sounds used in British and American English helps a Public Relations Specialist guide their clients in effective communication. The course's focus on accent reduction may be particularly valuable for clients who need to address accent-related communication barriers. This course’s training on voiced and voiceless sounds may be especially useful to a Public Relations Specialist.
Interpreter
An Interpreter facilitates oral communication between two or more parties who speak different languages. Although the course focuses on English pronunciation, this course may be useful for an Interpreter who translates between English and Portuguese. By learning phonetic alphabet symbols and understanding sounds in British and American English, an interpreter may better understand the nuances of speech and pronunciation. The course's focus on reducing the influence of Portuguese on one's accent may be valuable for interpreters working with Brazilian speakers. One’s understanding of diphthongs may be helpful in this communication.
Librarian
A Librarian assists people with finding information and resources. This course may be helpful to a Librarian who works with language learning materials or assists patrons who are learning English. Understanding the phonetic alphabet symbols and the sounds used in British and American English helps improve a Librarian's ability to guide patrons in their language learning journey. The course’s focus on pronunciation problems may be useful for librarians who offer support to English language learners. The course on the organs of the phonatory system might be useful for librarians.

Reading list

We've selected two 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 The Sounds of English & The International Phonetic Alphabet.
Provides a comprehensive introduction to English pronunciation, covering individual sounds, stress, and intonation. It is particularly useful for beginners and those who want to improve their basic pronunciation skills. The book includes audio materials and exercises to help learners practice and internalize the concepts. It serves as a great reference text throughout the course.
This handbook offers a detailed and comprehensive overview of English pronunciation, suitable for advanced learners and teachers. It covers a wide range of topics, including phonetics, phonology, and variations in pronunciation. While not a beginner's book, it provides valuable insights and a deeper understanding of the complexities of English pronunciation. It is best used as additional reading to expand on the course material.

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