Overview

In this six-week series of classes, students will learn the five components of accurate English pronunciation: vowels, consonants, rhythm, stress, and intonation.  The course starts with a linguistic evaluation based on a verbal diagnosis of free speaking, reading text, and reading a dialogue. Based on the evaluation, key areas of focus are determined (both segmental and suprasegmental) to include: pronunciation of individual vowels and consonants, word stress patterns, and intonation patterns, as well as rhythm, linking and articulation. Attendees will receive individual feedback and opportunities for guided practice.

This course particularly benefits non-native English speakers and native English speakers with a regional accent and teaches them how to speak the Queen's English (RP).

The areas of focus include:

• Pronunciation of individual vowels and consonants:
• Learn the International Phonetic Alphabet
• Practice articulating both long and short vowels
• Learn how to pronounce consonants in all environments: initial, medial, and final
• Tongue twisters & articulation exercises
• Breath exercises
• Word stress patterns:
• Rules of both English and foreign-derived words
• Dividing words into syllables
• Syllable length
• Stressed and unstressed syllables
• Word form stress shift patterns
• Nouns, adjectives & adverbs vs. verbs
• Compound nouns
• Intonation, rhythm, and linking:
• Neutral or "unmarked" patterns for statements and questions
• Contrastive stress and usage
• Content vs. function words
• Rhythm and linking
• Word clustering/grouping and Powerful Pauses

Objectives

• Improve your confidence when speaking English
• Learn the importance of rhythm, stress and intonation within the English language
• Soften your foreign accent
• Learn the correct pronunciation of English vowel and consonant sounds
• Enhance your clarity of communication, articulation and diction