English Pronunciation and Language Lessons by ElementalEnglish.com

Pronouncing numbers correctly is essential to avoid misunderstandings when discussing prices, trading phone numbers and so much more. This lesson uses both American and British English pronunciation.

Even native English speakers sometimes need clarification when they talk to one another, especially happen when one says "can" or "can't". Use this lesson to distinguish "can" versus "can't".

Often times, when you learn a new pronunciation rule, you practice that rule in isolation. But real life requires that we put all of the rules together! This lesson provides analysis and pronunciation practice with the phrase "stick out your tongue."

The English you learn in the classroom often doesn't prepare you for what you hear out on the street in everyday life. This is usually because when Americans speak, we transform our verbs by deleting and connecting sounds, so that we can speak more efficiently.

Use this lesson to learn and practice the way native English speakers change sounds in words to speak with more rhythm and musicality in their speech.

This lesson will introduce you to the reasons why the past tense of verbs in English ending in "-ed" are pronounced in three different ways: [t], [d] or [Id].

In writing the lesson on fruit in English, I realized there is a such a wide variety of berries, that they deserved their own separate post!

Knowing how to say numbers correctly is essential to avoid misunderstandings over prices, amounts and sizes. In this lesson, practice saying the basic numbers of English: zero through ten (0 - 10).

There are four seasons of the year in America, though the temperature and the weather across the country varies widely from coast to coast!

Connected speech is a pronunciation technique that native English speakers unconsciously use to speak faster and with more flow. One way in which English speakers connect their speech is by deleting the [h] sound in the beginning of words. By deleting [h], we can connect two words and go directly into the vowel sound.

Many students think that learning English is about learning grammar, consonants, vowels, and vocabulary. These form the basic foundation of a language, however, if you want to be understood when speaking American English, and if you want to understand native speakers, it is essential that you improve your stress and rhythm.

One of the most important aspects of pronunciation and listening is to understand that Americans don't just speak fast--as many students believe--but that they connect their words and change the sounds of words.

Today is a very special day on the calendar--it's Leap Day! Today is February 29th, a day that comes around only once every four years, to make sure our calendars remain accurate. Knowing how to say the calendar dates in English is not only practical, but a great way to practice pronunciation of the "th" consonant sound.

Here is a list of fruit said in American English. Notice the vowel sounds, such as [ae] vs. [ɛ] and [iy] vs. [I] with each word, and also notice the stress and de-stressing on the syllables. The words of fruit are said in the singular (1 piece of fruit) and the plural (2 or more piece of fruit). Notices how some plural endings are pronounced as an [s] and some as a [z].

There's been so much interest in my first lesson on how to order at Starbucks, that it's time for How to Order at Starbucks Part 2 with more pronunciation practice! This lesson will focus on How to Order Hot and Cold Espresso Beverages and Chocolate Beverages.