presentation pronunciation in american accent

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English pronunciation of presentation

Presentation.

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(English pronunciations of presentation from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus and from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary , both sources © Cambridge University Press)

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Perfect Your American Accent! 14 Tips to Sound Like a Native Speaker

You don’t need a coach to learn the American accent.

What you need is knowledge of the different American sounds, an understanding of how to make them and resources to help you practice.

So, if you want to talk like an American , we’ll show you fourteen effective ways to learn the American English accent and sound like a native speaker.

1. Learn the Unique Features of American English

2. learn to pronounce the letter r, 3. learn to pronounce your ts and ds right, 4. don’t forget the schwa sound /ə/, 5. be careful of the sound /j/, 6. practice connected speech, 7. learn which words to use to sound natural, 8. use american accent training videos, 9. watch american tv shows, 10. watch american news programs, 11. get help from an accent tutor, 12. be aware of differences between american and british english, 13. understand the history of the american accent, 14. be aware of regional differences in accents across america, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

The main feature that separates the American accent from a lot of other accents in English is rhotic speech . This means that most Americans pronounce the r in words such as “ hard ” (har-d).

Non-rhotic speakers don’t pronounce the r, and would pronounce the word “hard” like hah-d:  hard

There are some exceptions, of course. Some Americans in the New England area of the US use non-rhotic speech.

Other features (properties) of the American accent include:

• The short a  sound is used in words such as “man” and “cat.”
• The use of an unrounded (relaxed) vowel in words such as “lot” (pronounced laht).

What’s interesting about American English is the relationship between spelling and pronunciation isn’t always direct.

The same letter can have different pronunciations based on where it is in a word, and words can sometimes have very unexpected pronunciations. Here are some examples of words with surprising pronunciation in American English: 

As we saw before, the General American accent is rhotic , meaning the letter  r is always pronounced.

To understand the American R, try listening to these words: 

The r sound in American English doesn’t use a “trill” like some other languages such as Spanish. Here’s an example:

rural (Spanish) / rural (US)

If that seems tricky to pronounce, don’t worry! All you have to do is learn where to put your tongue.

When making the American English r sound, open your lips slightly and place your tongue right in the middle of your mouth, with the sides of your tongue touching your back teeth. Then, curl the tip of your tongue up toward the top of your mouth.

The trick is to make sure the tip of your tongue doesn’t touch anything, especially not the back of your teeth!

To practice this, try saying the word “ear.” Start with the e sound, then curl up the tip of your tongue. The sound should change from an e to an r like magic!

The Letter  T

The letter  t  is another example of a letter that’ll tell you if a person is from the States right away.

The first thing you have to remember about the letter t  is that, in the American accent, it sounds like something between a d and an r when it’s between vowel sounds. Or, between a vowel and the letter l. (This is called t-flapping , and the IPA symbol is [ɾ] ).

This is what happens in the following words:

In the last example, notice how this still happens between words if the t  is between vowel sounds!

Another rule you need to remember about the American t  is that if the  t  is the last letter of a word and it’s not followed by a vowel as we just saw, then the sound gets “cut” or “stopped.” 

In other words, you get ready to pronounce it but stop the sound. Listen to some examples:

Finally, when you get a  t  sound before an  n sound, you stop or cut the sound as before and change it into a hard n :

soda fountain 

This rule can be more difficult to see because  t  and  n  won’t normally be together (for example, in the word  fount ai n , you have  ai between them). If you want to know more about this, listen to this podcast episode from the Seattle Learning Academy (the lesson starts at 1:30).

I suggest practicing with the words above until you sound exactly like the person in the audio. Then, you can search for more words with the letter t and practice those, too. 

The Letter  D

The letter  d  can also be flapped , like  t . The rules are the same, but we call this d-flapping  instead.

Although d-flapping is less common than t-flapping, we can still find a lot of examples of this happening in American English:

ladder (pronounced like letter )

pudding (pronounced like putting )

wedding (pronounced like wetting )

If I had to pinpoint one sound that will massively help you develop an American accent, it would have to be the schwa sound . It’s found in nearly every word!

When you listen to advanced learners who speak American English fluently but who don’t exactly sound like native speakers, it’s usually because they’re not pronouncing the schwa sometimes.

The schwa sound is called a lazy sound because you pronounce it in a really relaxed way: try saying “uh” while just keeping your mouth open a little . All of the vowels in English can be read as a schwa instead of their normal sound, usually if they’re in a syllable that’s not stressed or emphasized.

Let’s take a common word: “problem.” Just by reading it, you’d expect the pronunciation to be “pro-blem” because that’s how you pronounce e , right? In reality, the pronunciation is actually “pro-bl uh m.” The  e becomes a schwa sound!

Here are some other English words with the schwa sound:

away (pronounced like uh -way)

enemy (pronounced like e-n uh -my)

animal (pronounced like a-n uh -m uh l) 

doctor (pronounced like doc-t uh r)

lemon (pronounced like le-m uh n) 

Even in “ America ,” you have two schwa sounds: Uh -mer-i- kuh .

Since it’s tricky to guess when to use the schwa just by looking at an English word, you can check the pronunciation guide in dictionaries and look out for /ə/.

The sound /j/ can also give you information about a person’s accent. This is the j, ge or dge  sound that you can hear in American English words like “ jump ,” “ gentle ” and “ judge .” (You can hear it twice in “judge”!)

Many American speakers don’t pronounce this sound after the letters d, n  and  t .

This is formally called yod-dropping, and it can easily be seen in everyday words such as:

You can watch the following short video to learn about the pronunciation of the word “new:”

With the American accent, native speakers don’t pause between every word much because they use a lot of connected speech.  

These are the two most common ways it can happen:

When a word ends in a consonant and the next word starts with a vowel, they’re pronounced without a gap between them.

To hear this in action, listen to the sentences below and focus on the bolded words. You’ll notice that they flow together, almost as if they’re one word.

I usually get up at 6 AM. (pronounced like getup ) 

She’s eating an egg . (pronounced like anegg ) 

Don’t  take it personally. (pronounced like takeit)

When a word ends in a vowel and the next one starts with another vowel, there’s usually a “bridging” sound between them so the transition doesn’t sound too abrupt.

I’m ready if you are (pronounced like you w are ) 

I am driving a car (pronounced like I y am )

Can you free up some time for me? (pronounced like free y up )

If you haven’t been practicing connected speech yet, try it out now with one of the sentences and compare how they sound when you apply connected speech and when you don’t. Connected speech might not be talked about as much in lessons, but it’s a major part of the American accent!

When speaking English (or any other language), you want to use the right words not to be misunderstood or to say anything rude or embarrassing.

Even though we’re not talking about pronunciation here, using the wrong word when you’re speaking can make you sound less “American.” On top of this, some words are also usually said with a specific intonation or body language.  

The best way to pick this up would be to observe American English speakers closely. For example, there’s a lot that you can learn from how Will Smith (a popular American actor) talks: 

If you want to sound natural when you speak American English, knowing the right words to use is just as important as saying them correctly.

Below are some more specific examples of which words to use if you’re trying to speak American English.

American Slang

A lot of English learners have a problem understanding very informal conversations among young people because they’re full of slang words and expressions.

We can’t include all the slang words that exist in the US, but you can start your own list with these words:

to bail / to ditch — to cancel plans with someone

to slay — to do very well

tea — gossip

wack — boring

juiced — very excited (to do something)

swag — coolness

zonked — very tired

hyped — very excited

hit someone up — contact someone

vanilla — ordinary/boring

“Have” and “Get”

American speakers often use “have” when they’re talking about possessions. Here’s how it works with negative sentences and questions:

I don’t have a car. 

Do you have a car? 

In addition, the past participle (third form of the verb, used in perfect tenses) of the verb “get” is “gotten” in American English. Here are a few examples:

He’s gotten himself a new car. 

He’s gotten taller. 

American English also uses “have got” for emphasis:

You’ve got to see this!

You’ve just got to read this book, it’s so good. 

American Informal Contractions

These informal contractions have become very popular lately thanks to music, movies and TV programs.

There are a lot of teachers who will tell you not to use these types of words during class or when you’re writing in general. But you’d use them when you’re speaking to friends, texting, writing on social media or in other informal interactions.

Here are some common examples:

gonna — going to

I’m gonna go now. — I’m going to go now.

wanna — want to

We don’t wanna go. — We don’t want to go.

gotta — got to/have to

I gotta go. — I have to go.

kinda — kind of

That’s kinda funny. — That’s kind of (a little) funny.

sorta — sort of

I sorta like it here. — I sort of like it here. (I like it here but not too much)

American accent training is available from many different sources on the internet to help you learn the American English accent.

Below, I’ve listed some sources where you can start.

Speaking Your Best, Inc.

Recommended for: Improving your American English accent based on your native language  

Speaking Your Best is a free online course run by a licensed speech pathologist .

There are specific accent guides for native speakers of different languages, including French, Spanish, Chinese, Indian, Japanese and Russian.

You’ll learn general advice, like why it’s important for American English learners to speak slowly, as well as how to say very specific sounds like an American.

Learn English with Let’s Talk

Recommended for: Daily videos about speaking English to keep you on track 

This YouTube channel uploads new videos every other day.

They focus on helping English learners speak with a neutral accent. Their videos include helpful tips and fun facts to make accent mastery (control of a skill) fun.

Along with accent help, you’ll also get vocabulary and grammar English tips.

Amy Walker’s “How to Do an American Accent” Series

Recommended for: Fun pronunciation and speaking lessons that are based on acting 

While Amy Walker isn’t an English language teacher, her series is fun and useful for English learners.

Amy Walker is an actress, so the methods she teaches are the same that actors use to create the convincing (easy to believe) accents you see on TV and in movies.

You can hear different American accents in American shows, though you’ll typically hear something close to the Midwestern or General American accent.

The suggestions listed below are useful for English learners because they’re popular and use everyday language. You can find these shows on DVD or online. You may even be able to access some episodes on YouTube.

You can find even more suggestions here .

“Friends”

Summary: A classic show from the ’90s, “Friends” features the funny, everyday lives of six close friends.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime | HBO Max  

“Friends” was (and still is) one of the most popular sitcoms (situational comedies) in the US. It takes place in New York City, and many of the themes in the program are  relatable , from trying to find a job to going through all of the stages of a relationship and starting a family. 

Because there’s a lot of slang and fast speech, there might be times when you don’t understand a scene completely, or you’re pausing a lot to look up words. Use subtitles to help you along,

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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“Full House”

Summary: A widowed dad gets his comedian best friend and rock musician brother-in-law to help him take care of his three daughters. 

Where to watch: Amazon Prime | Apple TV

“Full House” is another sitcom that’s seen all over the world.

The characters range from children to adults, so many of the stories are interesting to the entire family. “Full House” is so popular that some have learned English by watching it !

Sitcoms like “Friends” and “Full House” are good for English learners because they’re short and incorporate everyday problems into storylines. They also use a lot of physical humor that’ll help you understand what’s going on even if you can’t follow the dialogue at first.

“The Simpsons”

Summary: “The Simpsons” portrays typical American life from a funny perspective, through a family with all sorts of misadventures. 

Where to watch: Amazon Prime | Disney Plus

Episodes are shown all over the world and the characters are so popular that they’ve introduced new expressions into American culture.

Any American you meet will be familiar with “The Simpsons.” Some English learning programs even incorporate “The Simpsons” into their lessons .

Note that “The Simpsons” generally uses a lot of topical (related to current events) and cultural references, so it may be better for advanced learners.

News programs from the US are a great source of American accent audio. For the best experience, try national news programs such as the ones listed below. National news anchors (presenters, reporters) tend to have the General American accent.

If you know you’ll be traveling to a region with a strong local accent, such as the South or West, look for videos from local news stations in those areas. You may hear some localized accents.

Tutors are always the best resource because they can help you with your own specific pronunciation needs. The following tutors or language services specialize in helping people learn the American English accent.

American Accent Course

Recommended for: Structured learning 

This American accent audio course is an online program that you can access whenever it’s best for you.

You’ll receive listening exercises and lessons in rhythm and pronunciation. You’ll also get quizzes on your progress. Live tutors are also there to help you with difficulties and to offer more help.

Recommended for: Feedback from tutors  

Cambly is a course you can use online or on your mobile device. It offers a free trial option to see if it’s the right course for you.

Cambly allows you to practice English conversation with a tutor so you can get immediate feedback on your accent.

Rachel’s English

Recommended for: Detailed video lessons 

Rachel is an English teacher who specializes in helping learners improve their American accent. While she provides a lot of paid material, her website also features over 400 free videos to get you started.

With British and American English, the differences between accents can be seen in specific letters being pronounced differently, like  sh becoming  sk or a change in the syllable that gets stressed. But there are also words that are just pronounced differently.

Of all the words that are pronounced differently in British and American English, the following 10 are especially interesting:

schedule (UK) / schedule (US)

either (UK) / either (US)

leisure (UK) / leisure (US)

missile (UK) / missile (US)

privacy (UK) / privacy (US)

garage (UK) / garage (US)

mobile (UK) / mobile (US)

vitamins (UK) / vitamins (US)

clerk (UK) / clerk ( US)

tomato (UK) / tomato (US)

British and American English can also sometimes use different words to talk about the same thing. It’d be impossible to include a complete list of Britishisms and Americanisms in this post, but the following words are a perfect example of how different they can be:

queue (UK) / line (US)

lift (UK) / elevator (US)

chips (UK) / French fries (US)

crisps (UK) / potato chips (US)

trousers (UK) / pants (US)

pants (UK) / underwear (US)

trainers (UK) / sneakers (US)

fit (UK) / attractive (US)

bobby ( UK) / policeman (US)

toilet (UK) / bathroom (US)

underground (UK) / subway (US)

There are a lot of fascinating differences between British and American English, so if you want a more detailed list, you can check out this guide . 

Let’s talk a bit about the history of the American Accent.

While around 1.5 billion people speak English, most English speakers aren’t native speakers . The American accent is what English learners (non-native) commonly want to learn . 

The American accent is actually older than the UK accent. The American accent as we know it today was the accent spoken by the settlers (colonists, immigrants) who first landed in what’s now the US. 

But around the 19th century in the UK, the upper classes wanted a way to distinguish themselves (be different) from the poor. With time, the accent they developed spread all over the region. The result is the UK accent, which is different from the American accent , due to its unique sounds.

American English sounds different in different regions of the country. If you visit Southern US, New York City or California, they’ll all be speaking American English, but they’ll all sound pretty different!

That’s because different areas of America have their own accents—there isn’t just one simple accent that everyone across America shares.

Below are some features of regional differences you can find there.

The Southern Accent

Also known as a “Southern drawl” or “country accent,” the Southern American English accent is usually slower, with elongated words and vowels.

Southern pronunciations of words include git (get) and lemme (let me).

For a good example of American accent differences, consider this:

Some school children hear a rhyme from their teachers when they don’t get what they want.

In the Northern part of the US, teachers might say, “You get what you get and you don’t be upset .” In the South, children may hear “You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit .” (“Fit” being another word for tantrum or anger). Both rhyme!

You’ve probably heard the Southern accent in movies and shows where a character is meant to clearly be from the South. Just know that there are variations even in the Southern accent! Southern American people will sound different depending on what part of the South they’re from.

Where to hear a Southern accent:

• TV shows set in the south like “True Blood”
• American country-western music artists such as Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes and Tim McGraw

The Midwestern Accent

The Midwestern accent, sometimes known as the neutral, or General American accent, is the accent often heard in American entertainment. It’s spoken across many of the central states of the country.

The Midwestern accent makes use of the rhotic speech I mentioned earlier. It also uses something called the caught-cot merger , which is just a fancy way of saying that words such as caught, with the au sound, and cot, with the short o sound, are pronounced the same.

If you’re trying to learn an American accent, this is probably the best option. You’ll hear it in many shows and movies (so it’s easy to find content to study with) and you’ll be understood everywhere in the US.

Where to hear a Midwestern or General American accent:

• For an exaggerated, strong version of the accent, watch the movie “Fargo”
• For a more neutral version, watch national news programs such as CNN

The New England Accent

The New England accent is also known as the “Boston accent.”

This regional accent uses non-rhotic pronunciations (the r isn’t pronounced after vowels). A famous phrase that demonstrates this accent is Pahk yuh cah in hah-vud yahd (Park your car in Harvard Yard).

Where to hear the New England Accent:

• TV shows or movies set in this region such as “Family Guy”
• Movies set in Boston like “Spotlight” and “Good Will Hunting”

The New York City Accent

The stereotypical “New York” accent may be disappearing, but you can still hear some natives use it from time to time.

The New York accent also has non-rhotic elements. They may also use round, short vowels like a. For instance, “father” becomes faw-thuh and “dog” becomes daw-ug.

Where to hear the New York City accent:

• Gang movies set in New York City like “Gangs of New York” and “Goodfellas”
• The character Joey in the TV show “Friends”  

And that’s everything for today, my friends!

Speak with your American friends, tutors or teachers, and use the American accent training resources and tips above. You’ll be talking like you’re from the States in no time.

Stay curious and happy American accent learning!

If you like learning English through movies and online media, you should also check out FluentU. FluentU lets you learn English from popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials , as you can see here:

If you want to watch it, the FluentU app has probably got it.

The FluentU app and website makes it really easy to watch English videos. There are captions that are interactive. That means you can tap on any word to see an image, definition, and useful examples.

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how to pronounce presentation

/ˌpɹɛzənˈtɛɪʃən/.

audio example by a male speaker

audio example by a female speaker

the above transcription of presentation is a detailed (narrow) transcription according to the rules of the International Phonetic Association; you can find a description of each symbol by clicking the phoneme buttons in the secction below.

presentation is pronounced in four syllables

press buttons with phonetic symbols to learn how to precisely pronounce each sound of presentation

example pitch curve for pronunciation of presentation

Test your pronunciation of presentation.

press the "test" button to check how closely you can replicate the pitch of a native speaker in your pronunciation of presentation

video examples of presentation pronunciation

An example use of presentation in a speech by a native speaker of american english:

“… member said during the presentation we …”

meaning of presentation

Presentation is the act of formally sharing information about something to someone.

presentation frequency in english - B2 level of CEFR

the word presentation occurs in english on average 24.1 times per one million words; this frequency warrants it to be in the study list for B2 level of language mastery according to CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference.

topics presentation can be related to

it is hard to perfectly classify words into specific topics since each word can have many context of its use, but our machine-learning models believe that presentation can be often used in the following areas:

1) communication, information, and media;

2) people, society, and culture;

words with pronunciation similar to presentation

Words that rhyme with presentation, did this page help you.

Exploring American Accents, Tone and Pronunciation

Learn about american accents and get some practical tips to apply to your english language learning., i want to learn....

In the USA, people come from all over the world so it’s no surprise that there are tons of regional accents. You’ve all heard the General American accent — it’s the main accent used in the mainstream media. But what about the interesting local accents in the USA?

In this article, you’ll learn all about the General American accent, and some unique regional accents. You’ll also get some tips to help you improve your English pronunciation .

The evolution of the American accent

American English started when the British introduced the English language in North America in the 1600s. At first, American and British accents were the same (they were the same people). But when the industrial revolution happened, American accents started to develop. People started dropping r-sounds, which they still do today.

Ready to improve your English-speaking skills?

Get everything you need to improve your English pronunciation with Busuu’s Video Bites, Conversation Exercises, and a huge community of native speakers!

Regional American accents

The USA is full of interesting accents and dialects, each with unique characteristics reflecting the history, culture, and people of its region. The standard accent in the USA is the General American accent. When you turn the news on, most likely you’ll hear this because it’s common in the media and broadcasting. It’s a neutral accent which means that although it’s clearly an American accent, it’s impossible to pinpoint a particular location. Check out this video and listen to the General American accent .

Here are some of the most notable regional accents in the USA (with video clips so you can hear the real thing):

1. New York accent

In the bustling streets of the Big Apple, you'll find the New York accent. The locals often drop their r-sounds , and the city's famous “coffee” sounds more like " caw-fee " — o-sounds becoming or-sounds is a common feature of New York accents. Check out this video and listen to the classic New York accent.

2. Southern accent

Further down south, the Southern accent has a characteristic drawl and longer vowel sounds. For example, the ai-sound in “like” sounds closer to a long a-sound like in “father” . These slower and longer sounds give the Southern accent a laid-back feeling. Listen to the Southern accent in this video .

3. Boston accent

Bostonians have their unique way of speaking, too, where they drop r-sounds (like most British accents). Thanks to the city's unique vowel and consonant sounds and r-sound dropping, the Boston pronunciation of “park” is a famous example of their accent. Listen to the Boston accent in this video .

4. Texas accent

The Texas accent shares many similarities with the Southern accent. There’s a similar drawl and long vowel sounds. In Texas, ai-sounds also sound like the vowel in “father” . The e-sound in words like “pen” changes so the word sounds more like “pin” too. Check out this video and listen to the Texan accent.

5. Chicago accent

The Chicago accent is another distinctive big-city accent. People there also drop r-sounds . But there are some unique features. Th-sounds become d-sounds . So, “this” sounds more like "dis" . And short o-sounds become short a-sound . For example, “hot dog” sounds like "hat dag" . To get to know more about the Chicago accent, check out this video .

Now you know the story behind most American English accents!

Continue learning more English accents and pronunciation via Busuu’s free online courses and learning resources!

6. Philadelphia accent

Philadelphia is another northeastern city with an interesting accent. But unlike New York and Boston, people in Philadelphia say r-sounds . Philadelphians have a unique way of pronouncing their vowels and consonants.

T-sounds are more like d-sounds , for example. Philadelphians are famous for how they say “water” . Because of their pronunciation of t-sounds , and their unique way of saying the vowel sound in “water” , it sounds more like "wooder" . Listen to the Philadelphia accent in this video .

7. Appalachian accent

Nestled in the mountains, the Appalachian region has a unique accent influenced by the Scots-Irish immigrants. It shares many similarities with Southern and Texan accents. It has a drawl and ai-sounds are the same.

There are other interesting characteristics: ei-sounds like in “bait” can sound more like ai-sounds . And e-sounds — like in the word “bed” — are long and drawn out sounding like "bay-ud . Listen to the Appalachian accent in this video .

8. Cajun accent

Down in Louisiana, the Cajun accent is a blend of French and Southern English. You might hear phrases like "laissez les bon temps rouler" which means "let the good times roll" down there.

There are unique pronunciations too. In Cajun English, people often follow French stress patterns . So words that have stress on the first syllable in English, might have stress on the second syllable in the Cajun accent

Another common feature is switching th-sounds for d-sounds . So “father” sounds more like "fadher" . Finally, unlike most accents in the south, the Cajun accent drops r-sounds . Listen to the Cajun accent in this video .

Boost your pronunciation with these tips

Let’s take a look at some tips to help you perfect your English pronunciation:

Focus and being clear and easy to understand

Let’s get straight to the point: You don’t need native-like pronunciation to be a good communicator. You need to be clear and easy to understand — that’s it.

Who cares if you speak English with a Russian accent? Not your listeners. They only care about being able to understand you. Your accent is a huge part of you so don’t hide it. And don’t feel pressured to sound like a native English speaker.

Listen and imitate

Listen attentively to native speakers, paying close attention to the rhythm, intonation, and stress patterns of their speech. Spend time copying what you hear. For example, take a short scene from an American TV show. Try to say the same thing the characters say, in the same way. Record yourself. Listen back. And see how similar you are to the original.

Keep practicing until you get it right. But also start introducing the American accent into your own speech.

Bonus tip: You can use Busuu’s Video Bites to hear native speakers speak about a variety of topics. Listen to them and try to copy the speakers’ pronunciation.

Practice consistently

Regular and consistent practice will help you master pronunciation, Speak, read aloud , and sing songs . The more you do this, the more you’ll understand the rhythm. Repetition will train your mouth muscles and you’ll get better at producing the natural sounds.

Get feedback

Interact with native speakers and ask them for feedback about your pronunciation. Busuu has a community of millions of language learners and native speakers (many of them with American accents) who will be happy to help.

You can improve your English pronunciation

There are tons of regional American accents, each with its own unique characteristics. They’re interesting to learn about, but you don’t need to speak in these accents. As a language learner, you should focus on being as clear and easy-to-understand as possible. There’s no need for you to have native pronunciation.

To improve your pronunciation, add listening and speaking practice to your language learning. Practice consistently and follow the tips in this article to take your pronunciation to the next level.

Master English pronunciation today!

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Mastering the Melody of the American Accent: A Comprehensive Guide

Ever wondered how you can sound like you’ve just walked off a Hollywood movie set? Well, learning the American accent can be your ticket to that! From the distinctive drawl of a Southern accent to the fast-paced twang of a New York dialect, mastering the melody of American English can help you seamlessly blend in with native speakers.

This guide will provide an overview of the American accent, including its different styles and critical features. Also, it will offer practical tips that can help you improve your pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. So let’s discover the secrets of speaking like a true American!

Understanding the American Accent: A Spectrum of Sounds

Let’s start by acknowledging that the ‘American accent’ doesn’t denote a monolithic sound. Much like the nation itself, it is a vast, alluring melting pot, combining a multitude of dialects, each radiating its unique rhythm, pronunciation, and character. For instance, the clipped, hurried pace of a New Yorker’s speech starkly contrasts with a Texan accent’s languid, mellifluous drawl.

As we journey further into the heart of America, we’ll witness how regional dialects vary widely within states. The Midwestern accent embodies a definite nasal quality, with elongated vowels distinguishing it from its coastal counterparts’ more flattened tones.

The Southern lilt stands out independently, known for slow and relaxed speech patterns characterized by diphthongs and a charming drawl. Also, the Pacific Northwest dialect is marked by a rhythmic pattern similar to Canadian English. It frequently features an American accent word pronunciation with a rising inflection at the end, which gives it an almost questioning tone.

However, some key features define the American accent and distinguish it from other varieties of English. For instance, it tends to be rhotic. It means speakers pronounce the ‘r’ sound in words like ‘hard’ and ‘car,’ unlike many other English dialects. It isn’t as strong in some dialects, like Southern accents, but it generally still exists.

Another critical aspect of the American accent is its unique syllable stress patterns. Some syllables within words are pronounced with more force, length, or pitch change. For example, in American English, the word ‘advertisement’ is stressed on the second syllable (‘ad-VER-tise-ment’), in contrast to British English, where the stress falls on the third syllable.

These features are just a few examples of the characteristics that define American English. However, it’s worth noting that these aspects can vary considerably across different regions and even within cities or neighborhoods.

American Accent Pronunciation: Vowels, Consonants, and Intonation

Now that we understand the American accent’s spectrum, let’s dive deeper into its crucial components – vowels, consonants, and intonation. These aspects are vital to master if you want to learn an American accent and sound more like a native speaker.

Pronunciation of Vowels

While the English language consists of just five written vowels, the sounds they produce are far from limited. The pronunciation of vowels holds the power to shape the way you speak and are perceived significantly. Therefore, a solid grasp of American vowels can make all the difference when sounding like a native. Here is the breakdown of the vowel sounds in American English:

• Long vowels . These often sound like the pronunciation of the letter itself. The vowels get the time to stretch out and breathe, creating the classic ‘long’ sounds we know and love. For instance, the long ‘e’ can be heard in words like ‘beet’ and ‘sheep,’ while the long ‘a’ sound is present in terms like ‘hay.’
• Short Vowels . On the flip side, short vowels are quick and to the point, like the ‘a’ in ‘apple’ or the ‘i’ in ‘sit.’ These sounds are crisp and often take new learners a bit of practice to master. They’re unlike the corresponding vowel letter’s name, adding a twist to your learning journey.
• Diphthongs . These dynamic duos bring two vowels together to create an entirely new sound. The ‘ou’ in ‘house’ or the ‘oy’ in ‘boy’ are prime examples. These sounds start as one vowel and glide into another, adding a layer of complexity and richness to the American accent.
• Schwa sound . Let’s not forget the schwa, the most common sound in English, represented by an upside-down ‘e’ in phonetics. The schwa sound is an unstressed, neutral vowel sound like the ‘a’ in ‘about’ or the ‘u’ in ‘supply.’ That soft, almost unnoticed sound is incredibly common, so mastering it is essential to sound more like a native.

By understanding these varied vowel sounds and their rules, you’ll be well on your way to learning American pronunciation. Vowels are some of the most critical building blocks to creating an accurate American accent, so don’t underestimate their significance.

Pronunciation of Consonants

Now that we’ve tackled vowel sounds, it’s time to shift our attention to consonants. In the American accent, these can be as tricky as vowels, but with practice and a keen ear, you’ll start picking up the nuances in no time. Here are some peculiarities:

• ‘R’ sound. As mentioned earlier, the American ‘r’ stands out in the English-speaking world due to its rhoticity. Unlike the British accent, which often softens or drops the ‘R’ at the end of words, the American ‘r’ rolls off the tongue quite vividly. Americans typically pronounce it with a strong, rounded sound, whether at a word’s beginning, middle, or end.
• ‘T’ sound. The American ‘t’ is quite a chameleon, changing its sound based on its location in a word and the letters around it. It can take on a hard, crisp sound as in ‘top,’ transform into a D-like sound as in ‘butter’ (known as flapping), or even disappear entirely as in ‘international.’
• ‘V’ and ‘w’ sounds. In the American accent, ‘v’ and ‘w’ are two distinct sounds. The ‘v’ is voiced, meaning your vocal cords vibrate when you pronounce it, as in ‘vase.’ Conversely, the ‘w’ sound is unvoiced, with the vocal cords not vibrating, as in ‘west.’ Mixing these two can lead to confusion, so getting these right is essential.
• Aspirated ‘p,’ ‘t,’ and ‘k.’ The American accent often aspirates the sounds ‘p,’ ‘t,’ and ‘k’ when they appear at the start of a word or syllable. Aspiration means releasing a puff of air as you pronounce the sound. For example, in saying ‘pin,’ ‘top,’ or ‘keep,’ an American speaker typically exhales a little extra breath. It isn’t the case in many other accents, where these sounds might be less forcefully pronounced.

As you can see, consonants in the American accent are full of surprises. Mastering them requires paying close attention to how they sound and where they position themselves within words. By practicing pronunciation exercises focusing on specific sounds, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle any word or sentence thrown your way!

Stress and Intonation

The rhythm of American English is significantly influenced by how stress and intonation are applied. These two elements are paramount for sounding natural and being well-understood. Some rules to keep in mind are:

• Word stress. In multi-syllable words, one syllable usually gets more emphasis than the others. This ‘stressed’ syllable is pronounced slightly louder, longer, and often at a higher pitch. The position of stress can change the word’s meaning (as in ‘protest’ ( noun ) vs. ‘protest’ ( verb )).
• Sentence stress. Sentence stress is about which words in a sentence are pronounced with more emphasis. Generally, content words (nouns, main verbs, adjectives, adverbs) are stressed, while function words (prepositions, pronouns, auxiliary verbs, conjunctions , determiners) are usually less stressed.
• Intonation. This term refers to the ‘melody’ or ‘tune’ of speech – the rise and fall of the voice when speaking. In American English, there are usually three patterns of intonation – falling (for statements, commands, and direct questions), rising (for yes/no questions), and rising-falling (for special emphasis).

These aspects might seem minor, but they play a substantial role in delivering a clear, intelligible, and natural-sounding speech. Therefore, pay close attention to these elements when practicing your American accent. Remember – it’s not just what you say but how you say it!

How to Learn the American Accent: 5 Tips

Now that we’ve unpacked the nuances, let’s discuss some effective techniques to help you master your pronunciation and  speak English without an accent . Here are some of the most useful tips:

• Learn the phonetic alphabet . The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) tool can help you understand how words are pronounced. It provides a visual aid for pronunciation, which can be especially helpful for sounds that do not exist in your native language.
• Listen and imitate . Listening is critical to mastering any accent. Immerse yourself in American culture by watching movies and listening to podcasts, music, and radio stations from different parts of the US. Imitate what you hear and pay close attention to the pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation of native speakers, and try to mimic them.
• Work on problematic sounds . Identify the sounds that are most difficult for you and practice them regularly. For instance, if the American ‘r’ or ‘l’ is tricky, spend a few minutes every day working on these sounds until they become natural.
• Practice tongue twisters . They are a fun and challenging way to practice specific sounds. Start slow and gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable.
• Record and review your speech . Use your phone or computer to record yourself speaking English. When you play it back, you can spot your mistakes and areas for improvement. In addition, this method allows you to track your progress over time.

You can learn the American English accent by using these strategies and maintaining a positive and persistent attitude. Remember, the journey is just as important as the destination. Enjoy the process of learning and discovering new aspects of language and culture along the way.

Promova – The Ultimate Destination for Your Language Learning Journey

Are you ready to embark on a language-learning journey and want the best resources at your fingertips? Choose Promova, a language-learning platform offering a vast range of tools and resources to help you achieve fluency in English.

Our  American English tutors will guide you in mastering the language’s nuances and subtleties, from its distinctive vowel sounds to unique regional accents. With Promova, you can access personalized one-on-one or group sessions with qualified teachers catering to your needs and learning style.

But that’s not all – our  language learning app also offers numerous quizzes, word lists, and interactive exercises at your convenience, making it easy to practice and polish your language skills on the go. So whether you want to learn English for business, academics, or personal growth, Promova has you covered. And with our Conversation Club community events and blog that includes informative articles – there’s no better place than Promova!

The American accent is a rich and diverse tapestry, blending many dialects into one unique sound. To master it, it’s crucial to understand its components – vowels, consonants, stress patterns, and intonation, as well as the nuances that differentiate regional variations. Remember that mastering an accent takes time, patience, and dedication. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – they are a natural part of learning!

Can a non-native speaker fully adopt the American accent?

While a non-native speaker can learn the American accent, complete mastery can be challenging. It involves pronunciation, rhythm, intonation, and cultural nuances. However, with a sufficient dedication to practice and immersion, non-native speakers can significantly improve their American accent and sound more like a native.

What are some common mistakes learners make when adopting the American accent?

Some common mistakes learners make include:

• Mispronouncing vowel and consonant sounds.
• Stressing the wrong syllables.
• Failing to use correct intonation patterns.

Additionally, relying only on textbook materials instead of exposing themselves to authentic American English can hinder their mastery of an accurate accent.

Can I learn the American accent independently, or should I consider professional help?

While you can practice the American accent on your own, seeking professional help can be beneficial. An American English tutor can provide structured lessons and feedback tailored to your individual needs, pinpointing the areas that need improvement.

Are there any resources to assist me with learning the American accent?

Yes, there are many resources available online. Some popular websites and apps include  YouGlish for practicing specific sounds in context and the  TfCS program that offers comprehensive training in the American accent, including pronunciation and fluency practice.

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Pronunciation Guide (American English Dictionary)

All pronunciations in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary are American pronunciations.

In the written pronunciations, the following symbols are used:

If more than one written pronunciation is given for a word, they are all acceptable, but the first form given is the most common. Not all possible American pronunciations are shown in this dictionary. For example, some speakers only use the sound / ɔ / when it is followed by / r / (as in horse / hɔrs /) and use / ɑ / in all other words that are shown with / ɔ / in this dictionary, so that they pronounce both caught and cot as / kɑt /.

/ ˈ / shows the strong stress in a word or group of words. It is in front of the part (or syllable ) that you say most strongly. For example, any / ˈɛni / has a stress on the first syllable; depend / dɪˈpɛnd / has a stress on the second syllable.

/ ˌ / shows a weaker (or secondary ) stress. Many longer words have a syllable that is pronounced with a secondary stress as well as a syllable with strong (or main ) stress. So in the word pronunciation / prəˌnʌn siˈeɪʃ n /, the main stress is on the syllable / ˈeɪ /, and the secondary stress is on the syllable / ˌnʌn /.

American speakers use the sound / t̮ /, which is like a quick / d /, in many words spelled with -t- or -tt- . It is used in words after a vowel or / r /, and before an unstressed vowel or syllablic / l /: city / ˈsɪ t̮ ɪ /; parting / ˈ p ɑr t̮ ɪŋ /; little / ˈ lɪ t̮ l /.

The sounds / l / and / n / can often be “syllabic” – that is, they can form a syllable by themselves with an extremely reduced vowel. This is shown by the symbols / l̩ / and / n̩ /, for example in the words botany / ˈbɑtn̩i / and finalist / ˈfainl̩ɪst /.

Strong and Weak Forms

Some very common words, for example an , for , of , and that , have two or more pronunciations: a strong form and one or more weak forms. For example, for is pronounced / fər / in the sentence It’s for you . The strong form occurs when the word comes at the end of a sentence or when it is given special emphasis. For example, for is pronounced / fɔr / in Who’s it for? and The present isn’t from Anna, it’s for her .

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Voice Training. Presentation Tips – make an impact.

BE MORE EXPRESSIVE AND ADD ‘COLOUR’ TO YOUR SPEECH

Remember, your message may be very interesting, but a major part of getting it across is how you present it.

Think of a time when something exciting or exasperating happened. Or maybe you went on a good holiday, or participated in an activity that really made you want to tell your friends and family about it.

Remember how you described the event/s? You probably used all the elements of colour and expressiveness when you spoke and you ‘knew your material’- that is you knew your topic well because you had just had the experience.

You didn’t focus on nervousness or whether they would listen, you focused on wanting to share something with the people or person you were speaking to.

Bring these expressive elements to your presentations also.

Voice Training -INFLECTION – you used pitch changes as you spoke. Sometimes you would have been excited and gone up in pitch, and come down in pitch to match the emotion with what you were saying.

Voice Training-VOLUME – you would have emphasised certain things by changing volume and become louder or more quiet at times.

Voice Training- LENGTH – you may have made some sounds longer or shorter for emphasis. For example ‘yes’ with the ‘e’ elongated has a different colour and meaning to a short, sharply said ‘yes’.

Voice Training-PAUSING – You may have paused a little longer before or after saying something, to make sure your listener was paying attention, and to emphasise the point. Pauses can be very effective in building expectation and attention.

GESTURE – You would have used hand gestures, head gestures and body movement to accompany your content. This keeps flow and movement and helps keep people’s attention. Don’t overdo the movement though so that it ditracts from what you are saying.

Don’t forget that when you move while presenting to a group of people it not only relaxes you, but also allows your audience to relax and listen better. You may walk from one side to the other of the ‘stage’ or room. You may only move a little from where you originally stood, and this coupled with gesture keeps your listeners more engaged.

Tip : be careful not to flop or drop your arms down by the sides of your body at the end of a sentence as this will cause your words to lose energy. You can place them consciously by your sides, but don’t drop or flop them carelessly.

If you have a lectern or desk in front of you, you can rest your hands on it and then move your hands from there to gesture. Keeping your hand up also keeps the energy of your presentation up.

FACIAL EXPRESSION – you would have used appropriate facial expressions to help convey your message.

Don’t forget that 80% of what we communicate is communicated through our non-verbal language – body, hands and face. So it’s good to be expressive with your face where appropriate.

EYE CONTACT – you looked at your listener fairly frequently to see what reaction your words were having on them, to see if they were still listening and most importantly, to stay connected with them.

KNOW YOUR MATERIAL – the fact that you knew your topic well, allowed you to be free to expressive yourself easily and not be nervous about what you were going to say. It also gave you confidence and this came across to your listener.

You could practise these elements while saying your speech in front of a mirror so you can give yourself feedback.

Don’t forget that English listeners listen for the emphasised or stressed words in sentences, so emphasise the words that convey the main meaning you want to get across.

Make sure you have fun also!

For more information on voice training click here.

Best wishes, Esther

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Accent American

Speak clearly. communicate effectively., main content, american accent coaching.

Tel: 401-954-5148

Learn American English Pronunciation

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Learn the specifics of american english pronunciation and meet your career goals, some client testimonials…, i would definitely recommend accent-american to anyone….

“In addition to working with my accent, Dr. Ojakangas helped me with presentations I had to do for high management (several CEOs), reviewing the contents, making it clearer, correcting and helping me to stand and say my speech! I would definitely recommend Accent-American to anyone needing help with American English!”

I give her teaching a 10 out of 10…

“I took the 13-week individual course from Dr. O. and I LOVED it! I am more confident now when speaking, and when I make a mistake I know the scientific basis and can correct myself. The program, materials, and most of all Dr. O.’s expertise were all great. I give her teaching a 10 out of 10, and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to improve their American English pronunciation!”

Boosting my confidence in speaking English…

“I was frustrated because it seemed to me that only a few of my MBA classmates fully understood what I said… therefore I worried that I would fail courses due to such issues… Thanks very much Dr. Ojakangas, for helping my speech becomes less-accented and boosting my confidence in speaking English.”

FIVE STARS COURSE!

I worked with Dr.Catherine Ojakangas over a 16-week period. I felt that Dr. Ojakangas was very committed to helping me reach my goals to improve my English pronunciation. Her methodology is very effective. She helped me realize various pronunciation mistakes that I was completely unaware of. Most importantly, she taught me the correct pronunciation and gave me exercises to help with the learning process. I definitely recommend Dr. Ojakangas for those who want to reduce their accent and speak more confidently!

I’d highly recommend her…

“In a warm, inviting, and relaxed atmosphere, Cathy identified what specific aspects of my speech pattern could hamper my audience from receiving and understanding the main points of my presentations. Cathy then gave me techniques and methods to slow down my speech rate during public presentations, as well as suggestions as how to become a more dramatic and effective speaker. I’d highly recommend her to others seeking to improve their presentation and communication skills.”

Her encouragement throughout the sessions was remarkable…

“Knowing what my mistakes are was huge for me. Knowing my areas of weaknesses and working through them gave me a weekly dose of confidence. There is no session that I did not have an AHA! moment. The AHA! moments made me look forward to the sessions. I believed that the more AHA!moments that I got to, gets me close to completely eradicating my accent. What I enjoyed about Dr. Ojakangas is how she was able to inject humor into her sessions. The humor made it fun and exciting even though I saw her late evenings after work when I was almost tired. Her encouragement throughout the sessions was remarkable. Even when you think you are disappointing her, she finds a way to support and cheer you on. This was a valuable and rewarding experience. Certainly, it’s a milestone toward a complete eradication of my accent.”

I wish I had known about Accent-American’s coaching earlier!

“I took the 16-week accent coaching program with Dr. Ojakangas.  Overall, it was an amazing course.  I learned how to pronounce words and sentences in the American way.  The assessment at the beginning helped me identify what issues my English had and what I should focus on.  Lessons were tailored to what I needed.”

I don’t think anyone can find a better teacher…

“During conversations I would always get the question: ‘Where are you originally from?’… This prompted me to take an accent reduction cohort class at a public university, which helped, but not to my satisfaction. Then I found Cathy… I don’t think anyone can find a better teacher than Cathy!”

Very satisfied with the progress I made…

“Catherine at Accent-American gave me the tools I needed to considerably improve my accent. The first-week evaluation was instrumental in identifying my weaknesses, communicating my goals, and establishing a plan of action tailored to my needs.

During my 17-week program, Catherine designed coursework content in accordance with our plan of action and provided personalized advice (both during our coaching meetings and through emails) and tools (e.g. audiotapes, personal recordings, workbooks, guides, homework assignments) to help me achieve my goals by the end of the program. I am very satisfied with the progress I made during the program and I would not have improved that quickly without Catherine’s guidance.

Accent-American’s program provided me with effective communicative skills and helped me feel more confident when speaking English.”

Catherine tailored the course to meet my needs…

“I explained to Dr. Ojakangas that what I needed was not only to learn the pronunciation, but also how to present materials professionally and in an effective way. Catherine tailored the course to meet those needs, and I think that was very effective… I’d recommend it to anyone who has come to America from another country!”

A real professional accent coach…

“I took a small group, online course for 10 weeks with Dr. O. Three of our group were in Tokyo, and one was in Boston. I believe the course has three main advantages. First, the course’s quality is significantly high. Cathy’s comments in classes always come from her deep knowledge of the field. Second, the course covers comprehensive topics of American accent. Comprehensive learning has much more value than learning a part of a subject. Third, Cathy’s instruction is always easy to understand and she is very supportive to make students go further. I personally asked her to make sample readings of some short passages not in the course, and she was glad to do it for me. My accent improved significantly.

All of these advantages come from the fact that Dr. O. is a real professional accent coach and not an ESL teacher. If you seriously want to improve your accent, her classes should be considered as a first priority.”

“Dr. O. is a real professional accent coach and not an ESL teacher. If you seriously want to improve your accent, her classes should be considered as a first priority.”

Excellent accent coaching!

I worked with Dr. Ojakangas for 3 months. I want to thank her for her encouragement and positivity. She is a wonderful teacher and a warm and personable human! I would highly recommend her coaching.

I strongly recommend Dr. Ojakangas!

Catherine is a great accent/communication coach for American English. She teaches in a way that is very different from typical English classrooms. At the beginning of the course, Catherine did a detailed assessment and planned the course with a very specific focus on identified problems. During the 20-class period, I have improved immensely in the accuracy of pronunciation. Also, Catherine did post-course assessments to measure the improvements. I strongly recommend Catherine’s course to anyone who is not a native English speaker and wants to improve your conversational speaking significantly.

Very pleased with the services she provided…

“I visited Accent-American because I was having difficulties expressing myself clearly in English. I am from Japan and, although my English is good, I needed some assistance. Sometimes my boss had difficulty understanding my conversation. Dr. Ojakangas determined what sounds I needed to improve, and how to come to the main point of discussion directly. I am very pleased with the services she provided.”

I feel much more comfortable now in front of the class…

“I worked with Dr. Ojakangas for six months on pronunciation as well as public speaking skills. I don’t think any other course could have provided me with such detailed analysis of my accent and instructions on how to improve. I feel much more comfortable now in front of the class I teach. Her teaching of pronunciation and her suggestions to improve my presentation skills were tremendously helpful! Thank you, Dr. O.!”

She will help transform your deficiency into efficiency!

“I came from Cameroon knowing how to speak English, but not the standard American English. My intonation was crazy, I chewed some of the words, especially the last sounds of a word and my pronunciation to many words was funny. Many people could not understand more than 60% of what I was saying. Three weeks after enrolling with Accent-American I realized people didn’t have to ask me to repeat myself for them to understand what I was saying! I had conversations with people. My intonation got better and better. I could pronounce words clearly without swallowing my words and, above all, I could easily communicate with people without the fear of not being understood. Thank you, Accent-American (Dr. O.) for helping me!

Dr. O., who asks you to call her Cathy, is patient and has excellent teaching skills, the assignments and pace of the class are perfect. She will help transform your deficiency into efficiency! You can achieve your goal with personal effort and Cathy’s instruction.”

Loved the experience and the results!

I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Ojakangas for 13 weeks on modifying my accent. She is pleasant and highly knowledgeable. The workload is reasonable, and you see the results throughout the program. I love the fact that your journey doesn’t stop after the program ends. You will learn how to continue to learn and be given the tools and resources to keep improving forward.

I learned the system of American pronunciation…

“I went to an English language center for two weeks before working with Dr. Ojakangas, but they didn’t teach me how to pronounce English as Americans do. At Accent-American… I learned the system of American pronunciation, which I think is important to do business internationally…

I would absolutely recommend Accent-American’s courses to friends and colleagues!”

The best pronunciation class…

“Dr. Ojakangas’s training was the best pronunciation class I have ever had!”

The strength of this course is the specificity…

The strength of this course is the specificity. Dr. O. diagnosed and ranked prominent issues that I have and tailored the self-practice course to address my most prominent flaws. Excellent!

Identified my weaknesses and gave me the right tools…

“Just before I moved for the first time to the US, I wanted to strengthen my English, to feel comfortable with my pronunciation, and to improve my communication skills. Dr. Ojakangas (Catherine) did all that and more. She tailored a 3-month course, which answered all my needs. From the evaluation through each session, Catherine identified my weaknesses and gave me the right tools to improve those and to achieve my goals. I would highly recommend Dr. Ojakangas’s courses to any international professional who wants to improve their English communication.”

I learned so much!

“My work at Accent-American with Dr. Ojakangas can be described In one word, several syllables: A-MA-ZING! And also REWARDING! I learned so much! I was looking for something different and I found it! I’m now more confident because I learned a lot in regards to the vowels, the consonants, and the intonation of American English. I was always afraid to exaggerate too much when speaking the American language; Dr. Ojakangas reassured me. She gave me this confidence by her knowledge, her patience also and her availability when I had questions.

In addition to work with my accent, Dr. Ojakangas helped me with presentations I had to do for high management (several CEOs), reviewing the contents making it clearer, correct and helping me to stand and say my speech! The lessons are also oriented towards your needs. I would definitely recommend Accent-American to anyone needing help with American English!”

Dr. Ojakangas demystifies American accents and how to achieve one!

When Dr. Ojakangas and I started working togethe, my accent was already quite subtle and I wasn’t sure if she’d be able to help. During our first meeting, she won my trust when she found several areas I could work on. Two months later, she has completely transformed the way I speak! I love working with Catherine and only wish I had found her sooner. She demystifies the American accent and gives easy, step-by-step instructions appropriate for any level. I want to tell my immigrant parents, their friends, and my friends all about her: She’s the instructor we’ve been looking for!

It was a correct choice to take this course!

” This was the first time in my life to learn native English so systematically.  After learning essences such as the IPA, word intonation and word linking, I realized that my speaking skills in English, as well as the listening skills, improved steadily.  I am quite sure that this course was my concrete step to becoming a proficient English speaker.  I think this course is extremely recommended to Japanese people who are struggling to master the English spoken language.”

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