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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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Introduction to Vowels
Vowels Part 1
Vowels Part 2
Vowel Challenges

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Develops foundational knowledge of American English vowel sounds and improves pronunciation
Instructors are experienced in teaching pronunciation

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Reviews summary

Excellent pronunciation guide

Students largely agree that this well-received course on American English pronunciation is excellent and has helped them improve. They praise the engaging videos, clear explanations, and helpful examples. Feedback on assignments and more peer review, however, could be improved.
Many useful examples given.
"I really liked this course. It was quite intense, but very interesting! Thank you!!"
"This course was very important for my English learning. The methods used were quite useful."
"Nice Examples! I hope examples are written in the PDF file. Thanks! This lesson helped me a lot."
Engaging and clear video lessons.
"Videos de muy buena comprensión y también tienen lecturas faciles de comprender y aplicar."
"I really enjoyed this course. It helped me to improve my pronunciation.Now I feel more confident!!!"
"Excellent team of experts and perfect teaching. I'm so glad that I took this course. I will never forget it. They helped me understand the vowels and look at them from another perspective."
Helps students improve their pronunciation.
"I love this course so much . made me have more confident and learn more with Vowels of American English "
"This course for it has been very helpful because I learnt a loto about how to pronounce and i feel more confident when i have to speek in English without doubts it's amazing this course and the specialization."
"This course has helped me to improve my pronunciation.Now I feel more confident!!!"
Peer review could be improved.
"Good course for me!! But some review peer from classmate not mind :<"
"B​uen curso, pero me hubiese gustado que se muestre los movimientos de la lengua y su posición en la boca, a lo mejor con la maqueta que tiene la profesora."
"Peer review is not valuable, the rubrics are not clear what exactly to evaluate.."
Needs more feedback on assignments.
"4 because it's really hard when you have to wait more than a week for an assignment review, on the other hand the material and classes were fantastic."
"This course is a good start for setting your pronunciation. I have got an idea how to use my mouth correctly while saying certain sounds."
"I wish I could get some valuable feedback on my pronunciation."

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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