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Helen Nam, Marla Yoshida, Meg Parker, and Emily Wong

This is the second course of The Pronunciation of American English specialization. In this course, you will learn and practice all of the vowel sounds of American English, including pairs of vowels that may be easy to confuse. Each week you will receive practical advice from successful English learners and practice an effective technique called shadowing to improve your pronunciation of vowel sounds. You will also have opportunities to record yourself and to respond to the recordings of other learners.

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This is the second course of The Pronunciation of American English specialization. In this course, you will learn and practice all of the vowel sounds of American English, including pairs of vowels that may be easy to confuse. Each week you will receive practical advice from successful English learners and practice an effective technique called shadowing to improve your pronunciation of vowel sounds. You will also have opportunities to record yourself and to respond to the recordings of other learners.

Only learners who pay for the course will be able to take the graded quizzes or submit assignments for feedback. The free version provides access to the lectures and practice activities only.

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Syllabus

Welcome
Welcome to Vowels of American English Pronunciation! In this course, you’ll practice all the vowel sounds of American English—like the first sounds in “apple,” “out,” or “even” that flow out of your mouth very smoothly. You’ll also practice some pairs of vowel sounds that may be confusing, like the middle sounds in “beat” and “bit” or “set” and “sat.” Some of these vowel sounds will probably be very easy for you, but some may be more of a challenge. Don’t give up. Keep listening to the sounds, learning about how they’re pronounced, and practicing the ones you find difficult. Good luck practicing the vowel sounds of American English.
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Develops foundational knowledge of American English vowel sounds and improves pronunciation
Instructors are experienced in teaching pronunciation

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Reviews summary

Practical american english vowel pronunciation

According to students, this course provides a clear and effective approach to mastering American English vowel sounds. Many learners report significant improvement in their pronunciation confidence, attributing success to the course's well-structured content and highly effective practice techniques, especially shadowing exercises and self-recording features. While it offers a solid foundation, some advanced learners find the material too basic. Learners consistently highlight the value of paid graded assignments for deeper application, though the quality of peer feedback can be inconsistent. The course is strictly focused on vowels.
The course strictly covers American English vowel sounds, not broader pronunciation aspects.
"It's a focused course just on vowels, so don't expect it to cover intonation patterns or consonants."
"Prospective students should know that this course is exclusively dedicated to American English vowel sounds."
"I appreciate the specificity, but be aware this doesn't cover general accent reduction, just vowels."
Best suited for beginners or those needing a fundamental review of American English vowels.
"This is a good course for beginners to intermediate learners looking to solidify their basic vowel understanding."
"If you're an advanced learner, this might be too simple. I found it better for absolute beginners."
"I felt it was a bit basic, only really useful if you're starting from zero in pronunciation."
Paid access to graded quizzes and assignments is crucial for deeper learning and application.
"I definitely recommend paying for the graded assignments; they push you to apply what you learn practically."
"The free version gives you access to the lectures, which are good, but to truly benefit, you need to pay for the assignments."
"Only by submitting assignments for feedback did I truly solidify my understanding of the vowel nuances."
Many learners report noticeable and significant improvement in their pronunciation.
"Absolutely transformed my accent! I saw significant improvement in my pronunciation within weeks."
"I feel much more confident speaking American English now after completing this course."
"This course helped me refine my vowel sounds, which made my overall speech much clearer and more natural."
Provides very clear, detailed breakdowns of American vowel sounds.
"The instructor's explanations are incredibly clear, making complex sounds easy to grasp."
"Understanding the subtle differences between vowels has always been hard. The visual aids and sound comparisons made it so much easier."
"I really appreciated how the course broke down confusing pairs like 'beat' and 'bit'; it made a huge difference in my comprehension."
Features highly effective and practical exercises like shadowing and recording.
"The shadowing exercises were game-changers for my pronunciation; I could really hear the difference."
"I loved the record-yourself features and listening to my own progress; it was very motivating."
"The course's focus on practical application, especially the self-recording and sound comparisons, truly helped me improve my accent."
Quality of peer feedback varies, potentially impacting the learning experience for some.
"The peer feedback part was sometimes a bit hit or miss, as some feedback wasn't detailed enough to be truly helpful."
"The peer review system can be frustrating when others don't provide useful comments or constructive criticism."
"While the intention is good, I occasionally received unhelpful or vague feedback from my peers, which slowed my progress."

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 Vowels of American English Pronunciation with these activities:
Review IPA
Review the International Phonetic Alphabet, which will help you understand the symbols used to represent the vowel sounds of American English.
Show steps
  • Read about the IPA.
  • Listen to examples of spoken English and match them to the IPA symbols.
  • Practice pronouncing the IPA symbols aloud.
Watch YouTube Videos
Seek out and follow tutorials on YouTube to learn specific pronunciation techniques and improve your overall pronunciation.
Show steps
  • Search for YouTube videos on American English pronunciation.
  • Follow the instructions and practice the techniques provided.
  • Record yourself and compare your pronunciation to the tutor.
Follow Online Pronunciation Tutorials
Supplement your learning with additional guidance and practice from reputable online pronunciation tutorials.
Browse courses on Online Learning
Show steps
  • Search for online pronunciation tutorials that align with the vowel sounds covered in the course.
  • Choose a tutorial and follow the instructions and exercises provided.
  • Practice the vowel sounds demonstrated in the tutorial.
17 other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all 20 activities
Practice pronunciation with shadowing
Practice shadowing American English speakers will help you improve your pronunciation.
Browse courses on Shadowing
Show steps
  • Listen to a short audio clip of a native American English speaker.
  • Repeat the words and phrases in the clip, trying to imitate the speaker's pronunciation.
Attend virtual pronunciation workshops
Virtual pronunciation workshops can also be a great way to practice speaking and get feedback.
Browse courses on Peer Support
Show steps
  • Find a pronunciation workshop that meets your needs.
  • Attend the workshop.
  • Practice the pronunciation exercises.
  • Ask questions and get feedback.
Drill Vowel Sounds
Practice listening to, pronouncing, and contrasting the sounds to develop greater familiarity.
Browse courses on Vowel Sounds
Show steps
  • Listen to the vowel sound demonstrations provided in the course materials.
  • Read aloud the vowel sound exercises.
  • Record yourself pronouncing the vowel sounds and compare your pronunciation to the demonstrations.
Practice Pronouncing Vowels
Practice pronouncing the vowel sounds of American English, which will help you to improve your pronunciation and fluency.
Browse courses on Vowel Pronunciation
Show steps
  • Listen to examples of spoken English and shadow the speaker.
  • Repeat the vowel sounds aloud.
  • Record yourself pronouncing the vowel sounds and listen back to your recordings.
Watch Pronunciation Tutorials
Enhance your understanding of American English pronunciation by watching tutorials that provide clear explanations and demonstrations.
Show steps
  • Find online tutorials or videos that focus on American English pronunciation.
  • Watch the tutorials attentively, taking notes on the key points.
  • Practice the techniques and exercises demonstrated in the tutorials.
  • Seek feedback from the instructor or other learners if needed.
Participate in Pronunciation Practice Sessions
Engage in pronunciation practice sessions with fellow learners to receive feedback and improve your speaking skills.
Show steps
  • Find a study partner or group with similar pronunciation goals.
  • Set aside regular time for practice sessions.
  • Take turns practicing pronunciation, providing each other with feedback.
  • Focus on identifying and correcting common pronunciation errors.
  • Encourage each other and celebrate progress.
Mimic Vowels
Mimicking the pronunciation of vowels will help strengthen your pronunciation to sound more native-like.
Browse courses on Vowels
Show steps
  • Listen to the pronunciation of each vowel sound.
  • Repeat the vowel sound several times.
  • Try to exaggerate the vowel sound.
Record Vowel Sounds
Recording yourself pronouncing vowels will help you identify areas for improvement.
Browse courses on Vowels
Show steps
  • Record yourself pronouncing each vowel sound.
  • Listen to the recording and identify areas for improvement.
  • Rerecord the vowel sounds until you are satisfied with your pronunciation.
Shadow Vowels
Shadowing vowels will help you improve your pronunciation by imitating native speakers.
Browse courses on Vowels
Show steps
  • Find a native English speaker who is willing to help you.
  • Listen to the native speaker pronounce vowel sounds.
  • Repeat the vowel sounds after the native speaker.
Vowel Sound Exchange
Exchanging vowel sounds with a partner will help you identify and correct pronunciation errors.
Browse courses on Vowels
Show steps
  • Find a partner who is also learning English.
  • Take turns pronouncing vowel sounds for each other.
  • Provide feedback on each other's pronunciation.
Use Vowel Pronunciation Apps
Using vowel pronunciation apps can help you practice and improve your pronunciation.
Browse courses on Vowels
Show steps
  • Find a vowel pronunciation app that you like.
  • Use the app to practice pronouncing vowels.
  • Review your progress and continue practicing until you are satisfied with your pronunciation.
Pronunciation Practice Groups
Engage with peers in practice sessions to receive and provide feedback on pronunciation, improving your listening and speaking skills.
Browse courses on Collaboration
Show steps
  • Find a study partner or create a small group of classmates.
  • Decide on a specific vowel sound or pair of sounds to focus on.
  • Take turns practicing pronouncing words, sentences, or short passages containing the target sounds.
  • Provide constructive feedback on each other's pronunciation.
Practice Pronunciation Exercises
Practice pronunciation exercises to improve your fluency and accuracy in speaking American English.
Show steps
  • Listen to the model pronunciations provided in the course.
  • Repeat the words and sentences after the instructor.
  • Record yourself practicing the sounds and compare your pronunciation to the model.
  • Focus on the sounds that you find challenging.
  • Practice regularly to improve your pronunciation.
Create a spoken word recording
Creating a spoken word recording can be helpful in practicing your pronunciation.
Browse courses on Oral Presentation
Show steps
  • Choose a topic and write a script.
  • Rehearse your speaking.
  • Record yourself.
  • Listen back to your recording and identify areas.
  • Revise your recording.
Create Vowel Sound Songs
Strengthen your auditory memory and recall of vowel sounds by creating songs that incorporate them.
Browse courses on Creativity
Show steps
  • Identify a vowel sound you want to focus on.
  • Brainstorm a list of words that contain the vowel sound.
  • Compose a melody and lyrics that incorporate the vowel sound words.
  • Record yourself singing your vowel sound song.
Peer Practice
Engage in conversation with other learners or native English speakers to practice your pronunciation and receive feedback.
Show steps
  • Find a language partner or group.
  • Schedule regular practice sessions.
  • Set goals for each session.
  • Provide and receive feedback on pronunciation.
Create a Pronunciation Journal
Create your own personal pronunciation journal to document your progress and identify areas for improvement.
Show steps
  • Set up a notebook or digital document to track your pronunciation practice.
  • Record words or phrases that you find challenging.
  • Write down the correct pronunciation according to the IPA.
  • Review your journal regularly and practice the words or phrases aloud.

Career center

Learners who complete Vowels of American English Pronunciation will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Speech-Language Pathologist
Speech Language Pathologists work with people who have disorders of speech, language, voice, fluency, and other communication skills. This course can help Speech Language Pathologists work with patients to improve their pronunciation of vowel sounds, especially those that are particularly challenging for non-native English speakers.
Linguistics Professor
Linguistics Professors teach and conduct research on the structure and use of language. This course can help Linguistics Professors build a foundation in the pronunciation of American English vowel sounds, which can be beneficial for their research and teaching.
English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher
English as a Second Language (ESL) Teachers help non-native English speakers learn to speak, read, and write in English. This course can help ESL Teachers improve their own pronunciation of American English vowel sounds, which can help them better teach their students.
Voice Actor
Voice Actors use their voices to create characters in movies, television shows, video games, and other media. This course can help Voice Actors improve their pronunciation of American English vowel sounds, which can help them create more believable and engaging characters.
Broadcast Journalist
Broadcast Journalists research, write, and report the news for television, radio, and online media. This course can help Broadcast Journalists improve their pronunciation of American English vowel sounds, which can help them deliver the news more clearly and effectively.
Public Relations Specialist
Public Relations Specialists help organizations build and maintain relationships with the public. This course can help Public Relations Specialists improve their pronunciation of American English vowel sounds, which can help them communicate more effectively with the public.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers develop and execute marketing campaigns to promote products and services. This course can help Marketing Managers improve their pronunciation of American English vowel sounds, which can help them communicate more effectively with customers.
Sales Manager
Sales Managers lead sales teams and develop sales strategies to increase revenue. This course can help Sales Managers improve their pronunciation of American English vowel sounds, which can help them build stronger relationships with clients and close more deals.
Customer Service Representative
Customer Service Representatives provide support to customers over the phone, email, and chat. This course can help Customer Service Representatives improve their pronunciation of American English vowel sounds, which can help them communicate more effectively with customers and resolve their issues.
Technical Writer
Technical Writers create instruction manuals, technical reports, and other documents to explain complex technical information. This course can help Technical Writers improve their pronunciation of American English vowel sounds, which can help them communicate more clearly and effectively with their readers.
Human Resources Manager
Human Resources Managers oversee the recruitment, hiring, and development of employees. This course can help Human Resources Managers improve their pronunciation of American English vowel sounds, which can help them communicate more effectively with employees and build a more positive work environment.
Office Manager
Office Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of an office. This course can help Office Managers improve their pronunciation of American English vowel sounds, which can help them communicate more effectively with employees, clients, and vendors.
Event Planner
Event Planners plan and coordinate events such as weddings, conferences, and parties. This course can help Event Planners improve their pronunciation of American English vowel sounds, which can help them communicate more effectively with clients and vendors.
Real Estate Agent
Real Estate Agents help clients buy, sell, and rent properties. This course can help Real Estate Agents improve their pronunciation of American English vowel sounds, which can help them communicate more effectively with clients and build stronger relationships.
Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistants provide support to executives and other professionals. This course can help Administrative Assistants improve their pronunciation of American English vowel sounds, which can help them communicate more effectively with colleagues and clients.

Reading list

We've selected ten 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 Vowels of American English Pronunciation.
Provides a comprehensive guide to English pronunciation for advanced learners. It covers all the major aspects of English pronunciation, including the production of speech sounds, the structure of syllables and words, and the intonation of sentences.
Great way to practice distinguishing and producing confusing American English sounds. It provides minimal pairs, which are pairs of words that are the same except for one sound, such as "pit" and "pet" or "sit" and "set". Learners can use these minimal pairs to practice identifying and producing individual sounds, as well as to contrast the two similar sounds.
Is perfect for beginners to learn the fundamentals of American English pronunciation. It includes simple, step-by-step instructions on how to produce each sound correctly, as well as exercises and activities to help you practice. In addition to vowel sounds, it also covers consonants, stress, and intonation.
Provides a practical guide to English phonetics for learners of all levels. It covers all the major aspects of English pronunciation, including the production of speech sounds, the structure of syllables and words, and the intonation of sentences.
Provides a concise and accessible introduction to the sounds of English. It covers all the major aspects of English pronunciation, including the production of speech sounds, the structure of syllables and words, and the intonation of sentences.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the field of articulatory phonetics. It covers a wide range of topics, including the production of speech sounds, the structure of syllables and words, and the intonation of sentences.
Provides a comprehensive guide to English pronunciation for intermediate learners. It covers all the major aspects of English pronunciation, including the production of speech sounds, the structure of syllables and words, and the intonation of sentences.
Provides a comprehensive guide to English pronunciation for advanced learners. It covers all the major aspects of English pronunciation, including the production of speech sounds, the structure of syllables and words, and the intonation of sentences.
Provides a comprehensive guide to the field of phonetics. It covers a wide range of topics, including the production of speech sounds, the structure of syllables and words, and the intonation of sentences.
Provides a comprehensive guide to English pronunciation for beginners. It covers all the major aspects of English pronunciation, including the production of speech sounds, the structure of syllables and words, and the intonation of sentences.

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