Resources for English Pronunciation
We’ve all been there - scrolling on our phone ‘saving’ and ‘liking’ educational posts on social media. Now the real question is: Do you actually go back to those posts and try to put what you learned into practice? Most of us are guilty of going down the rabbit hole in search of knowledge but never actually USING what we’ve learned.
Sound familiar? *no judgment *
I want to change that narrative for you. I want you to become an English speaker who USES GREAT resources to improve your pronunciation and gets change.
Practice what you’ve learned. The best way is obviously a live class. Schedule your accent evaluation here. But if you aren’t ready for that, I’ve compiled a list of resources for you to start your pronunciation journey today.
These are tools that I use in my accent-training courses and hundred of English learners have benefited from them. Check them out and let me know in the comments which one is the most helpful. Happy learning!
Pronunciation Tools:
Youglish: Find how people pronounce and use words in context (YouTube videos).
How to use YouGlish:
Think of 5 words that you use regularly. Type them into the search box and choose the US accent. Use the subtitles below each video and try to shadow the way the speaker is pronouncing the word. This helps you to practice sounds in context.
Forvo: Pronunciation dictionary. Recordings of different people pronouncing words in English. This is best if you want a quick-fix tool for the pronunciation of single words.
Dictionary: A dictionary with the best phonetic spelling representation. This will help you to “visualize” the sounds and know which syllable to put the stress on. This is especially useful for learners whose native language is phonetic, like Spanish for example.
To Phonetics: Online converter of English text to IPA phonetic transcription. You type in the sentence that you want to say and it will show how to pronounce each word using the IPA. If you learned the IPA in school, this will be a GREAT tool. If you don’t even know what the IPA is, you should. Read about it here.
Practice Speeches and Monologues:
To truly improve your pronunciation you can’t just practice sounds and words. You need to go the extra step. Use these resources below to learn how to feel better when you have to speak in public, practice shadowing English speakers in different settings, and have fun learning in the meantime.
A TED speaker coach shares 11 tips for right before you go on stage: public speaking tips
American Rhetoric: Movie speeches and famous speeches. Includes text, video, and audio
Best Movie Monologues: Online converter of English text to IPA phonetic transcription
Mindset Tools:
If you don’t believe in your own words then all of the pronunciation skills in the world won’t suddenly make you speak. You need to first value your own voice and work on developing confidence. Then you’ll actually WANT to talk. That’s why my live group course, Pronunciation Power, teaches these skills. Get on the waiting list here. You can also use the following resources below to work on mindset.
Yax Accent: Click on the resource that you want. Practice Makes Progress magazine post. Affirmations for English Learners magazine post. Overcome Common Challenges with this 18-min audio lesson.
You can watch her videos on Youtube, listen to her podcast, or buy her book to work through perfectionism, get over your fears, and learn to follow your dreams. I’ve personally benefitted from this podcast. I especially love that she says that FAIL just means- faithful-attempt-in-learning.
Beyond words Podcast: This is a show created by a Chinese woman living in California. She talks about immigration, pronunciation, language, and how to accept your voice. Through storytelling you’ll hear inspiring first-hand accounts that will push you forward and think “beyond words. “
Atomic Habits: This book was written by James Clear and it radically changed me. I use it in my course to help my students create habits that will help them practice pronunciation and make English part of their lovely lifestyle. You should definitely read it.
Now what?
Enjoy those resources. Try one at a time and actually USE it. I’m so happy that I could share this list with you. Be sure to let me know which one you especially like in the comments below. And you can get another free resource emailed to you as a gift. You’ll learn about common pronunciation challenges and how to overcome them with yours truly, accent coach, Ms. Morgan.