Speak American English

Your accent is the result of the way you use syllable stress, sentence stress and intonation in addition to the way you pronounce individual sounds. In order to improve your American English pronunciation and reduce your accent you should follow a comprehensive study program that includes the following four areas:

1. Syllable Stress Patterns
You must learn to speak using the syllable stress patterns that Americans rely on for comprehension. This includes learning to stress the correct syllable in each word and how to use the schwa vowel sound in reduced syllables.

2. Vowel & Consonant Sounds
You must learn to pronounce unfamiliar vowel and consonant sounds-- this means moving your mouth, tongue, teeth and jaws in ways that may feel uncomfortable.

3. Word Stress Patterns in Sentences
You must learn to apply sentence stress correctly including content words, focus words and function words. You must also understand how American English speakers speak using thought groups and intonation.

4. Linking Words Together
You must learn to apply the three rules for linking that Americans use for smooth speech. This includes consonant + consonant linking, consonant + vowel linking and vowel + vowel linking.

If you study the four areas describes here, you will be able reduce your accent and improve your American English pronunciation. You will enjoy speaking with American English speakers and they will enjoy listening to YOU!

Make a checklist of the pronunciation features that you need to work on. A checklist will guide you and keep you focused.

Each day choose one of the pronunciation features on your list that you need to improve. Practice this feature for at least 10 minutes. Start with one item and then add other pronunciation features as you make progress.

Since most students need at least some work on syllable stress and sentence stress, I typically recommend that you start with these and then add the vowel and consonant sounds you are working on. Vowel and consonant sounds might include voiced consonants, word endings or the sounds of th.

In order to improve the way you speak English you must be organized and practice every day. Using a checklist will help you do this.

When you are speaking American English you need to use stress and intonation in sentences. That means that you need to stress the words that contain the most important or newest information. These are the content and focus words.

The focus word is the most important word of all.

The focus word receives the greatest amount of emphasis; both pitch & length.

Intonation initiates on the stressed syllable in the focus word.

Jump up and glide down on one syllable words or words that are stressed on the second syllable.

I'll see you SOon.
Will you be here SOon?

Will you send a rePLy?
I aGREe.

Jump up and step down on two syllable words.

I'll see you a little LAter.
When are you coming OVer?

An excellent American English audio course for learning about intonation is Charles Becker's Best Accent Training .

His excellent course contains 52 audio lessons for helping you learn clear and accurate American English pronunciation. His lessons on intonation are very helpful. They will show you how to speak English with a more American melody.

Best Accent Training is a complete English Pronunciation training course for anybody who wants to speak English clearly and correctly!

This program arrives on your computer in a flash with a fast and easy download. That means that you can start learning today. There is no need to wait for a book or pay for shipping.

With Best Accent Training mp3s, you can practice wherever you want to! Listen and learn on any mp3 player, mobile device, computer or even burn it to CD.You can buy each lesson separately or buy the entire course. Buy only the sounds and patterns that you need!

Click here to take a closer look at Best Accent Training . A course with 52 audio lessons for helping you learn clear and accurate American English pronunciation.

Many Chinese speakers tend to confuse the /n/ & /l/ sounds when they are speaking American English. Confusing these sounds causes communication problems and contributes to your accent.

The /n/ & /l/ sounds are articulated in almost the same manner as the tongue touches behind the tooth ridge. The tongue is a bit flatter when you make the /n/ sound.

The big difference is that the /n/ is a nasal sound so you need to force the air through your nose to make this sound correctly. The /l/ sound is a liquid so the air flows along side your tongue and out of your mouth. You will feel a vibration in your nose!

To make the /n/ sound touch the tip of your tongue behind your front teeth. The English /n/ is a nasal sound so the air air passes through your nose, not your mouth. This may feel very strange at first.

Here is a strategy that will help you make the /n/ more clearly.
When the /n/ sound comes at the end of a word you can link it to the next word, especially if the next word starts with a vowel.
Here are some examples:

can I?
fan it
chin up
won it

Link the /n/ sound to the following vowel sound when you say these short phrases. That will help you make the /n/ more easily.

If you are a Chinese speaker who is serious about improving your American English pronunciation please take a look at Mastering the American Accent with Audio CDs. This is an excellent book for self study!

Or, if you like to learn with software, check out Accent Master's English Pronunciation for Mandarin speakers below.

An idiom is an expression that has a meaning that doesn't reflect the literal definitions of the words. Every language has idioms, and the meanings can be difficult for non-native speakers to understand. Here are examples and explanations of two idioms that Americans use in everyday speech.

1. Like two peas in a pod

Americans use this idiom to describe two things that are nearly identical just as 2 peas from one peapod would be. For example: If my younger sister and her best friend always talk and dress the same way I could say:

"Those two girls are just like two peas in a pod."

2. To spill the beans

Americans use this idiom to describe a situation where someone told a secret or released some confidential information. Here is an example.

James: How did Cathy find our about the surprise party?
Laurie: When Susan was talking to her, she accidentally spilled the beans.

Many non-native English speakers do not articulate word final consonant sounds such as the past tense ed. Failing to pronounce the ed will definitely contribute to your accent!

Most of my students understand that American spoken English has 3 sounds for the past tense ed but they need to practice these sounds to make them more automatic.

Eva Easton has a nice page on her website that you can use to learn the rules andd practice the 3 sounds of ed. Don't forget to take the quiz at the end!

American English ed sounds