Accent Reduction Audio Courses

Do people tell you that you have a foreign accent when you speak English? Does your accent seem to make Americans uncomfortable when you speak English with them?

Most non-native English speakers have an accent when they speak English but they don't understand why and they don't know what steps they can take to reduce their accent.

According to the Linguistic Society of America, "a 'foreign' accent occurs when a person speaks a new language using the familiar sounds and patterns of their first language."

Childhood
We are all born with the capabilities to learn any language and as children we easily learn the native language we are surrounded by. As we learn and develop we recognize what speech sounds and patterns are important in our own language and we begin to disregard other sounds.

Adulthood
As we grow into adulthood we continue to ignore speech sounds that are not meaningful in our own language. This makes it very difficult to hear and pronounce the unfamiliar sounds and patterns of a new language such as English.

Language Transfer
Your native language is one factor that influences your foreign accent. This is because as you learn to speak English you unconsciously transfer the sound patterns of your native language to English. The sounds and patterns of your native language determine the characteristics of your foreign accent.

Do you know how your native language contributes to your accent when you speak English? Do you really want to improve the way you speak American English?

If you are serious about improving your American English please take a minute to check out this one-on-one accent reduction coaching. When you sign up for accent reduction coaching you will learn EXACTLY what you need to do in order to reduce your foreign accent.

Learn English 101 has a large variety of online lesson that you can use to learn English online.

They feature mp3 audio lessons, video lessons, downloadable PDF lessons and a community forum. It's a nice website so take a minute to check out all the resources they have for learning English online.

Here is something that may surprise you. In spoken English the letter S is frequently articulated with a /z/ sound.

When you make the /z/ sound, the tip of your tongue is behind your upper gum ridge. You tongue is pointed and slightly curved up. The /z/ is a voiced sound so you should hear your vocal chords vibrate when you say it.

Say these phrases. The S in each word has a /z/ sound.
1.    goes away
2.    close the door
3.    noisy neighborhood
4.    doesn't he?
5.    easy does it
6.    use this
7.    always late
8.    comes early

Listen carefully when American English speakers are talking. Try to see if you can hear the difference between the /s/ sound and the /z/. Using the /z/ sound correctly will help you REDUCE YOUR ACCENT and speak more like an American.

You will learn all about the pronunciation of the /s/ & /z/ soundz in the book, MASTERING the AMERICAN ACCENT below.