Speaking English - Pronunciation and Conversation Skills
English pronunciation and speaking help including exercises, IPA help, lesson plans, conversation tips and strategies for ESL EFL classes and teachers.
Voiced and Voiceless Consonants
Guide to the basic differences between voiced and voiceless consonants in English pronunciation.
Guide to the basic differences between voiced and voiceless consonants in English pronunciation.
How to Improve your English via the Internet
Poll about and discussion of how to use the internet to improve your English.
Poll about and discussion of how to use the internet to improve your English.
First Name, Last Name or Title?
Discussion of the correct use of informal and formal forms when speaking about and to people including when to use last names, titles and first name only.
Discussion of the correct use of informal and formal forms when speaking about and to people including when to use last names, titles and first name only.
Pronunciation - Silent Letters
A guide to when not to pronounce silent letters in English for English language students and ESL EFL classes.
A guide to when not to pronounce silent letters in English for English language students and ESL EFL classes.
Word Stress Patterns in English
This page introduces the eight most common word stress patterns in English with listening examples.
This page introduces the eight most common word stress patterns in English with listening examples.
Speaking Strategies for English Learners
These speaking strategies will help English learners improve their conversational skills.
These speaking strategies will help English learners improve their conversational skills.
Intonation and Stress: Key to Understanding
This feature takes a look at how intonation and stress influence the way English is spoken. By your About.com ESL guide.
This feature takes a look at how intonation and stress influence the way English is spoken. By your About.com ESL guide.
How to Improve Your Pronunciation
This "how to" focuses on improving your pronunciation through the recognition of the "time-stressed" character of English.
This "how to" focuses on improving your pronunciation through the recognition of the "time-stressed" character of English.
Accent Neutralization - Accent Reduction
A look at accent neutralization / reduction which strives to help proficient English speakers speak with a more North American or British accent.
A look at accent neutralization / reduction which strives to help proficient English speakers speak with a more North American or British accent.
English, baby! - Find Friends
Find friends from around the world to practice your English. You can check out their profiles, read their blogs, and look at their photos, as well as get in touch and exchange ideas.
Find friends from around the world to practice your English. You can check out their profiles, read their blogs, and look at their photos, as well as get in touch and exchange ideas.
SoZiety
SoZiety keeps a database of users with their native language, interests and the language they would like to learn. It's easy to find others to practice English, or native speakers to help you in exchange for help with your native language. If you'd like to work on your spoken English, this is an easy and free way to do so.
SoZiety keeps a database of users with their native language, interests and the language they would like to learn. It's easy to find others to practice English, or native speakers to help you in exchange for help with your native language. If you'd like to work on your spoken English, this is an easy and free way to do so.
English Pronunciation Exercises - E Diphthongs
The following series of pronunciation exercises combines words beginning with the same diphthong sound followed by similar vowel sounds. Voiced and voiceless consonants are paired by sounds.
The following series of pronunciation exercises combines words beginning with the same diphthong sound followed by similar vowel sounds. Voiced and voiceless consonants are paired by sounds.
KanTalk
KanTalk connects English learners worldwide through free Internet telephony tool like Skype. KanTalk provides its users a fun space to practice spoken English, or any language. The practice is done over the user-generated, live conversations online, on a wide arrange of topics and in several proficiency levels.
KanTalk connects English learners worldwide through free Internet telephony tool like Skype. KanTalk provides its users a fun space to practice spoken English, or any language. The practice is done over the user-generated, live conversations online, on a wide arrange of topics and in several proficiency levels.
English Pronunciation Exercises - O Diphthongs
The following series of pronunciation exercises combines words beginning with the same diphthong sound followed by similar vowel sounds. Voiced and voiceless consonants are paired by sounds.
The following series of pronunciation exercises combines words beginning with the same diphthong sound followed by similar vowel sounds. Voiced and voiceless consonants are paired by sounds.
English Pronunciation Exercises - A Diphthongs
The following series of pronunciation exercises combines words beginning with the same diphthong sound followed by similar di sounds. Voiced and voiceless consonants are paired by sounds.
The following series of pronunciation exercises combines words beginning with the same diphthong sound followed by similar di sounds. Voiced and voiceless consonants are paired by sounds.
iTalki
italki is dedicated to helping those who want to improve their language skills by conversing with a native speaker. Those who wish to learn English can find native-English speakers and practice with them while sharing their own culture and language in return.
italki is dedicated to helping those who want to improve their language skills by conversing with a native speaker. Those who wish to learn English can find native-English speakers and practice with them while sharing their own culture and language in return.
English Pronunciation Exercises - U Sounding Vowels
The following series of pronunciation exercises combines words beginning with the same consonant sound followed by similar vowel sounds. Voiced and voiceless consonants are paired by sounds.
The following series of pronunciation exercises combines words beginning with the same consonant sound followed by similar vowel sounds. Voiced and voiceless consonants are paired by sounds.
English Pronunciation Exercises - Long Vowels and Consonants
The following series of pronunciation exercises combines words beginning with the same consonant sound followed by similar vowel sounds. Voiced and voiceless consonants are paired by sounds.
The following series of pronunciation exercises combines words beginning with the same consonant sound followed by similar vowel sounds. Voiced and voiceless consonants are paired by sounds.
English Pronunciation Exercises - Short Vowels and Consonants
The following series of pronunciation exercises combines words beginning with the same consonant sound followed by similar vowel sounds. Voiced and voiceless consonants are paired by sounds.
The following series of pronunciation exercises combines words beginning with the same consonant sound followed by similar vowel sounds. Voiced and voiceless consonants are paired by sounds.
Making Small Talk for English Learners
Many English students are more interested in making effective small talk than knowing correct grammar strucutres - and rightly so! Here are some tips to improve small talk skills.
Many English students are more interested in making effective small talk than knowing correct grammar strucutres - and rightly so! Here are some tips to improve small talk skills.
North American English Pronunciation Help Books and Cassettes
Guide overview to buying American English pronunciation books and cassettes to help students develop a standard North American accent.
Guide overview to buying American English pronunciation books and cassettes to help students develop a standard North American accent.
Pronunciation: Word Stress - Changes in Meaning
When you are speaking English the words you stress can change the underlying meaning a sentence. Even simple sentences can have many levels of meaning based on the word you stress. This feature provides examples and an exercise to help you improve your pronunciation through correct word stress.
When you are speaking English the words you stress can change the underlying meaning a sentence. Even simple sentences can have many levels of meaning based on the word you stress. This feature provides examples and an exercise to help you improve your pronunciation through correct word stress.
Phonetics: Introduction
An introduction and reference guide to the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet). By your About.com ESL guide.
An introduction and reference guide to the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet). By your About.com ESL guide.
Consonant Pronunciation Guide
This listening guide gives examples of IPA symbol sounds by using representative words.
This listening guide gives examples of IPA symbol sounds by using representative words.
Vowel Pronunciation Guide
This listening guide gives examples of IPA symbol sounds by using representative words.
This listening guide gives examples of IPA symbol sounds by using representative words.
Differences Between American and British English
A discussion of the principal differences between American and British English. By your About.com ESL Guide.
A discussion of the principal differences between American and British English. By your About.com ESL Guide.
Pronunciation Help (?)
"Once you've learned to correctly pronounce every word in the following poem, you will be speaking English better than 90% of the native English speakers in the world..."
"Once you've learned to correctly pronounce every word in the following poem, you will be speaking English better than 90% of the native English speakers in the world..."
Reference Glossary to Pronunciation Terms and Terminology
There are a host of terms and jargon used when speaking about pronunciation. Many teacher training courses require a thorough knowledge of these concepts and terms. Here is a glossary giving descriptions and explanations of the most common terminology used in this field of study.
There are a host of terms and jargon used when speaking about pronunciation. Many teacher training courses require a thorough knowledge of these concepts and terms. Here is a glossary giving descriptions and explanations of the most common terminology used in this field of study.
Reference Guide to Phonetic Symbols / Applied Pronunciation
This guide provides the terminology used for describing the various English phonemes. For an explanation of the terminology used.
This guide provides the terminology used for describing the various English phonemes. For an explanation of the terminology used.
American English Usage Tips
Speaking English is not only about using proper grammar. To use English effectively, you need to understand the culture in which it is spoken. Here are a number of important tips to remember when speaking English in the United States.
Speaking English is not only about using proper grammar. To use English effectively, you need to understand the culture in which it is spoken. Here are a number of important tips to remember when speaking English in the United States.
Pronunciation: Word Stress - Changes in Meaning
When you are speaking English the words you stress can change the underlying meaning a sentence. Even simple sentences can have many levels of meaning based on the word you stress. This feature provides examples and an exercise to help you improve your pronunciation through correct word stress.
When you are speaking English the words you stress can change the underlying meaning a sentence. Even simple sentences can have many levels of meaning based on the word you stress. This feature provides examples and an exercise to help you improve your pronunciation through correct word stress.
English: Stress - Timed Language I
Pre-intermediate to upper intermediate level lesson focusing on improving pronunciation by awareness raising and practice of stress-timing in spoken English.
Pre-intermediate to upper intermediate level lesson focusing on improving pronunciation by awareness raising and practice of stress-timing in spoken English.
IPA Transcription Lesson
Advanced level lesson focusing on developing skills of IPA transcription which can lead to a better understanding of how English pronunciation changes in connected speech.
Advanced level lesson focusing on developing skills of IPA transcription which can lead to a better understanding of how English pronunciation changes in connected speech.
Pronunciation Lesson: IPA Symbol Card Game
Knowing the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) can be a great way of improving pronunciation skills. Help your class learn by using these IPA symbol cards.
Knowing the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) can be a great way of improving pronunciation skills. Help your class learn by using these IPA symbol cards.
Debate 1: Multinationals - Help or Hindrance?
Try this debate with your class having students take viewpoints opposing what they really believe. Focus on developing conversational skills for presenting points of view.
Try this debate with your class having students take viewpoints opposing what they really believe. Focus on developing conversational skills for presenting points of view.
ESL Tic-Tac-Toe
Tic-Tac-Toe games are a fun way for students to practise their English while enjoying some competition and reviewing. Three versions are included: Conditional Forms, Question Forms, Time Expressions.
Tic-Tac-Toe games are a fun way for students to practise their English while enjoying some competition and reviewing. Three versions are included: Conditional Forms, Question Forms, Time Expressions.
PHoNeMeNoN
PHoNeMeNoN trains foreigners to articulate accurate English phonemes and fluidly incorporate them into free speech using North American professional style English pronunciation.
PHoNeMeNoN trains foreigners to articulate accurate English phonemes and fluidly incorporate them into free speech using North American professional style English pronunciation.
Lesson: Teen Advice
Students read about various teen problems and then use modal verbs of deduction to understand the problem in groups. Students follow-up by offering advice on what should be done to resolve the various problems.
Students read about various teen problems and then use modal verbs of deduction to understand the problem in groups. Students follow-up by offering advice on what should be done to resolve the various problems.
Life Then - Life Now
Getting students to talk about the differences between the past and present is a great way to get students using a variety of tenses and cementing their understanding of the differences and time relationships between the past simple, present perfect (continuous) and present simple tenses.
Getting students to talk about the differences between the past and present is a great way to get students using a variety of tenses and cementing their understanding of the differences and time relationships between the past simple, present perfect (continuous) and present simple tenses.
Telephone English: Getting Practice
Teaching telephone English can be frustrating as students really need to practice their skill as often as possible in order to improve their comprehension skills. This lesson focuses on making telephoning practice as "authentic" as possible.
Teaching telephone English can be frustrating as students really need to practice their skill as often as possible in order to improve their comprehension skills. This lesson focuses on making telephoning practice as "authentic" as possible.
Vertical Register Usage
Introduction to register use for ESL learners and teachers including examples of a hierarchy of vertical register.
Introduction to register use for ESL learners and teachers including examples of a hierarchy of vertical register.
Tongue Twisters
Tongue twisters with recordings for pronunciation practice for English students in ESL and EFL classes.
Tongue twisters with recordings for pronunciation practice for English students in ESL and EFL classes.