Master English Pronunciation (RP or 'BBC English') from Udemy

This course delves into the details of the UK accent known as Received Pronunciation, BBC English, or The Queen's English. The accent is actually one of many in the UK, but it has long been considered 'a gold standard', so it is this form of pronunciation that we find in Oxford and Cambridge dictionaries. As you progress through the course, you will learn all the consonant and vowel sounds, examining how they are pronounced and spelt. Spelling irregularities, a notorious difficulty of the English language, are one of the many topics that are repeated to ensure that you memorize the sounds and corresponding spelling. You will swiftly learn the phonetic IPA symbols while watching the lectures and doing the quizzes. And by the end of the course, you will be able to speak clearly, concisely, and coherently, just as the presenters on the BBC do.

The following materials are included:

Downloadable lectures (via the Udemy App), so you may watch them on any device at any time (UK native teacher with 20 years' experience)
Lectures cover the consonant sounds (fricatives, plosives, approximants), vowel sounds (short, long, and diphthong), silent letters, homophones, stress, tongue twisters, poems, and typical mistakes.
After each lecture, a quiz follows which tests your understanding of the topic. These quizzes enable you to memorize the IPA symbols, the spelling irregularities, and the subtle nuances between slightly different sounds.
PDFs are included in each section that have numerous tongue twisters to help you get your mouth around the weird and wonderful sounds of the mighty English language. Video lectures are included so that you can practice these difficult sounds.
Some of my favourite poems are included in this course; I feel that poetry and songs are enjoyable and effective ways to improve your pronunciation. One must pronounce with passion.
Typical pronunciation mistakes examined
Ask me questions on those topics which cause the most confusion, and I answer all your questions within 24 hours on the Q and A section. I will be with you at every step of this course
Lifetime membership (more lessons and resources added every month)

What's inside

Learning objectives

Confidently identify and correctly pronounce voiced and unvoiced fricatives (θ, ð , f, v, s, z, ʃ, ʒ, ʈʃ, dʒ )
Confidently identify and correctly pronounce voiced and unvoiced plosives (p, b, t, d, g, k)
Memorize the sounds contained in regular spelling patterns
Memorize a large number of homophones and stress patterns

Memorize a large number of spelling irregularities and silent letters
Confidently identify and correctly pronounce approximants and nasals
Confidently identify and correctly pronounce short vowels, long vowels, and diphthongs
Master the pronunciation of poems, songs, and tongue twisters

Confidently identify and correctly pronounce voiced and unvoiced fricatives (θ, ð , f, v, s, z, ʃ, ʒ, ʈʃ, dʒ )
Confidently identify and correctly pronounce voiced and unvoiced plosives (p, b, t, d, g, k)
Memorize the sounds contained in regular spelling patterns
Memorize a large number of homophones and stress patterns
Memorize a large number of spelling irregularities and silent letters
Confidently identify and correctly pronounce approximants and nasals
Confidently identify and correctly pronounce short vowels, long vowels, and diphthongs
Master the pronunciation of poems, songs, and tongue twisters

Syllabus

Introduction

How to sharpen your pronunciation skills

Indicative Fricatives

Voiced and Voiceless TH

Tongue Twisters - Voiced and Voiceless TH

Fricatives

____TION and ______SION

Tongue Twisters - Fricatives

Tongue Twisters - TION / SION

Minimal Pairs - FRICATIVES

Minimal Pairs FRICATIVES

Master all the plosive sounds

Plosives - Part 1

Plosives 1 - Tongue Twisters

Plosives - Part 2

Plosives 2 - Tongue Twisters

Plosives

Past Tense _____ed Sounds

Past Tense +_____ed Sounds

Minimal Pairs - PLOSIVES

Master the pronunciation of approximants and nasals

R / W

How to pronounce plural nouns and singular verbs

L / R / W / Y

N / M / NG

Minimal Pairs - APPROXIMANTS and NASALS

The Chaos (Gerard Nolst Trenité)

Approximants and Nasals - Tongue Twisters

Short Vowels

Avoid the typical pronunciation mistakes that English learners make

Short Vowel Tongue Twisters

Silent Letters A - H

Silent Letters (A-H) - Tongue Twisters

Stress

Common Mistakes with Pronunciation

Stress - Tongue Twisters

The Unstressed Schwa Sound

Minimal Pairs - SHORT VOWELS

Common Mistakes with Pronunciation 2

Long Vowels

Short V Long

Short V Long 2

Short V Long Vowels

Homophones - Part 1

Walk, Work, Wok

Revision Quiz

Silent Letters I - Z

ole V all

Silent Letters (I-Z) Tongue Twisters

Minimal Pairs - LONG VOWELS

Common Mistakes with Pronunciation 3

Short, Long and Diphthong

Common Mistakes with Pronunciation 4

Homophones - Part 2

Homophones

EA sounds

EA Sounds - Tongue Twisters

OUGH sounds

Common Mistakes with Pronunciation 5

OUGH Sounds - Tongue Twisters

IE sounds

IE Sounds - Tongue Twisters

OUR sounds

Common Mistakes with Pronunciation 6

OUR Sounds - Tongue Twisters

Minimal Pairs - Short, Long, and Diphthong

Master a variety of different sounds with the use of poetry and song

The Raven (Poe)

The Fly (Blake)

The Tyger (Blake)

Alone (Poe)

Fire and Ice (Frost)

Elegy (Chidiock Tichborne)

Master the subtle nuances of pronunciation

The Glottal Stop

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 Master English Pronunciation (RP or 'BBC English') with these activities:

Review IPA Symbols

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Reviewing the IPA symbols will provide a solid foundation for understanding the course material and improve your ability to accurately pronounce words.

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Download an IPA chart.
Study the symbols and their corresponding sounds.
Practice transcribing words using IPA.

Read 'English Pronunciation in Use' (Cambridge)

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Reading 'English Pronunciation in Use' will provide a comprehensive overview of English pronunciation and supplement the course material.

View Authentic Listening Resource Pack: Bridging the... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'English Pronunciation in Use'.
Work through the units focusing on RP.
Complete the exercises and listen to the audio materials.

Practice Minimal Pairs

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Practicing minimal pairs will help you distinguish between similar sounds and improve your pronunciation accuracy.

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Find a list of minimal pairs for RP.
Listen to the correct pronunciation of each word.
Record yourself saying the words and compare.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Explore 'Accents of English' by John Esling

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Exploring 'Accents of English' will broaden your understanding of different accents and provide context for RP.

View Voice Quality on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Accents of English'.
Read the chapter on Received Pronunciation.
Compare RP to other accents described in the book.

Record Yourself Reading Aloud

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Recording yourself reading aloud and comparing it to native speakers will help you identify areas for improvement and refine your pronunciation.

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Select a passage in RP English.
Record yourself reading the passage.
Compare your recording to a native speaker's recording.
Identify areas where your pronunciation differs.

Follow BBC Pronunciation Guides

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Following BBC pronunciation guides will provide practical examples and exercises to improve your RP pronunciation.

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Search for BBC pronunciation guides online.
Watch the videos and listen to the audio examples.
Practice the exercises and repeat the phrases.

Help Others with Pronunciation

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Helping others with pronunciation reinforces your own understanding and identifies areas where you may need further practice.

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Find a language exchange partner.
Listen to their pronunciation and provide feedback.
Explain the rules of RP pronunciation.

Career center

Learners who complete Master English Pronunciation (RP or 'BBC English') will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Accent Coach

Accent coaches work with clients to modify or adopt specific accents. This course, focusing on Received Pronunciation, provides an in-depth understanding of a prominent English accent. The comprehensive coverage of consonant and vowel sounds, spelling irregularities, and stress patterns will help one accurately teach this accent to others. An accent coach can use the course’s tongue twisters, poems, and songs to provide effective practice material for their clients. The master of subtleties in pronunciation is helpful for precision in teaching.

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English Teacher

An English teacher must have an excellent command of spoken English for instruction. This course, which delves into the details of Received Pronunciation, also known as BBC English, helps build a strong foundation in the nuances of English pronunciation. This is particularly suited to non native English teachers who are looking to demonstrate a solid grasp of Received Pronunciation. It can help with mastering the subtleties of pronunciation, including voiced and unvoiced fricatives and plosives. The included tongue twisters, poems, and songs could be used as part of a lesson, helping the English teacher better demonstrate pronunciation.

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ESL Instructor

ESL Instructors need to be able to clearly demonstrate the correct pronunciation of English words. This course concentrates on Received Pronunciation, BBC English, or The Queen's English. ESL instructors can learn the consonant and vowel sounds, how they are pronounced, and how they are spelt. With the knowledge gained from this course, an ESL instructor will be able to quickly teach phonetic IPA symbols, spelling irregularities, and the nuances between slightly different sounds.

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Radio Presenter

The role of radio presenter requires clear, articulate, and engaging speech. This course, which specializes in Received Pronunciation (RP or 'BBC English'), is particularly suited. The course covers the consonant and vowel sounds, examines how they are pronounced, and explains how they are spelt. Also useful are the sections on silent letters, homophones, stress, tongue twisters, poems, and typical mistakes This also provides the radio presenter with the ability to speak clearly, concisely, and coherently, just as the presenters do on the BBC.

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Broadcast Journalist

Broadcast journalists often need to have clear and articulate speech. This course, with its focus on Received Pronunciation (also known as BBC English), provides a pathway to mastering a standard form of English pronunciation. The thorough coverage of consonant and vowel sounds helps achieve a polished and professional delivery. A broadcast journalist may find the sections on stress patterns and common pronunciation mistakes particularly beneficial. The ability to speak clearly and concisely is paramount for broadcast journalists.

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Voice-Over Artist

Voice over artists rely on clear and articulate speech and can benefit from mastering Received Pronunciation. This course focuses on Received Pronunciation, often considered a 'gold standard' in English accents, providing a comprehensive exploration of consonant and vowel sounds. The focus on spelling irregularities, homophones, and stress patterns makes it particularly useful. A voice over artist looking to enhance their clarity and precision can benefit by memorizing IPA symbols and mastering a variety of sounds through poetry and song, which are components of the course.

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Public Speaker

Public speakers must possess the ability to articulate clearly and confidently. This course, by focusing on Received Pronunciation, helps public speakers refine their pronunciation for greater impact. The examination of consonant and vowel sounds builds a solid foundation for clear speech. The sections on stress patterns and common pronunciation mistakes may be especially advantageous for public speakers aiming to enhance their delivery. Confidently identifying and correctly pronouncing sounds allows for the focus to be on the content, not the delivery.

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Speech Pathologist

Speech pathologists require a deep understanding of phonetics and articulation to diagnose and treat speech disorders. This course, with its detailed examination of Received Pronunciation, provides a solid foundation in English phonetics. The detailed analysis of consonant and vowel sounds, combined with the practice of identifying and correcting pronunciation mistakes, helps one gain valuable insights. The section on voiced and unvoiced fricatives and approximants may be particularly helpful, as may the included materials to assist with mastering subtleties of correct English pronunciation.

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Communications Trainer

Communications trainers need to be able to teach others effective communication skills, including clear pronunciation. This course, with its emphasis on Received Pronunciation, provides a structured approach to understanding and improving English pronunciation. The detailed analysis of consonant and vowel sounds can provide trainers with the knowledge to guide their clients. The sections on common pronunciation mistakes and stress patterns help trainers address specific challenges. Mastering subtle nuances of pronunciation will give credibility to a communications trainer when instructing others.

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Drama Teacher

Drama teachers often work with students on voice projection and articulation. This course, focusing on Received Pronunciation, helps drama teachers provide a model for clear and precise speech. The detailed exploration of consonant and vowel sounds builds a solid foundation for vocal training. The course's materials, including tongue twisters and poems, can be used as exercises for students to improve their pronunciation. Students can master a variety of different sounds.

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Linguist

Linguists study language and its structure, including phonetics and phonology. This course, focusing on Received Pronunciation, may offer valuable insights into the specifics of this English accent. The detailed exploration of consonant and vowel sounds, spelling irregularities, and stress patterns provides a practical understanding of phonetics. Linguists can benefit from the course's emphasis on identifying and pronouncing various sounds, as this will enhance their understanding of English phonology.

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Interpreter

Interpreters need a strong command of English and an understanding of various accents. This course, concentrating on Received Pronunciation, helps refine a good English accent. The detailed lessons on consonant and vowel sounds may be particularly helpful when trying to interpret from or to someone using Received Pronunciation. The coverage of spelling irregularities and homophones will help you understand nuances when spelling may be difficult to ascertain in conversation. This course may be useful for developing a strong, neutral base accent.

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YouTuber

To succeed as a Youtuber, especially one that is educational or instructional, clear and effective communication is required. Clarity of speech is important for listener comprehension and understanding. This course provides training to speak clearly, concisely, and coherently, just as the presenters do on the BBC. The focus on Received Pronunciation, also known as BBC English, demonstrates a gold standard of English pronunciation. The lectures cover the consonant sounds, vowel sounds, silent letters, homophones, stress, tongue twisters, and poems. The course is useful for those whose first language is not English.

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Customer Service Representative

A Customer service representative must be able to communicate clearly with the customer, to understand the issue, and to offer a clear solution. This course, with its focus on Received Pronunciation, helps build effective English pronunciation leading to better communication. There are lectures which cover the consonant sounds, vowel sounds, silent letters, homophones, stress, tongue twisters, poems, and typical mistakes. Better communication leads to better customer service and customer satisfaction. The ability to confidently identify and correctly pronounce sounds makes this course useful.

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Recruiter

The role of recruiter requires that job candidates and hiring managers can be easily understood. Recruiters may interview many English as a second language speakers, and it is useful for them to understand a wide range of accents. This course covers the consonant and vowel sounds, examines how they are pronounced, and explains how they are spelt. Also useful are the sections on silent letters, homophones, stress, tongue twisters, poems, and typical mistakes This may be useful for the recruiter to understand job candidates and hiring managers.

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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 Master English Pronunciation (RP or 'BBC English').

Authentic Listening Resource Pack

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Widely used resource for learners of English pronunciation. It provides clear explanations, practical exercises, and audio materials to help you improve your pronunciation skills. It is particularly useful for understanding the nuances of RP and other British accents. This book is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions.

Authentic Listening Resource Pack: Bridging the gap...

Paperback

$$$

Voice Quality

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Provides a detailed overview of various English accents, including RP. It delves into the phonetic and phonological features of each accent, offering a deeper understanding of pronunciation variations. This book is more valuable as additional reading than it is as a current reference. It is helpful in providing background knowledge on accents.

Master English Pronunciation (RP or 'BBC English')

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Save this course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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