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How Accents Influence Us

How do foreign accents shape the way we connect with others? Even when someone speaks a language fluently, their accent can trigger unconscious bias—changing how we see their abilities and how we communicate with them.… Read more
The 3 Sounds of the Letter C: Pronunciation Practice

The letter C in English has three key pronunciations: soft C as /s/ (e.g., city), soft C as /ʃ/ (e.g., social), and hard C as /k/ (e.g., cat). Recognizing patterns based on the following letters… Read more
Soft G vs. Hard G 😀💬 – English Pronunciation

English pronunciation can be challenging, particularly with the letter G, which has soft (/dʒ/) and hard (/g/) sounds. The soft G occurs before E, I, or Y, while the hard G appears before A, O,… Read more

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Connected Speech

How to use YouGlish to improve your English Pronunciation

The video introduces YouGlish, a tool designed to enhance English pronunciation and vocabulary. It allows users to search words or phrases and view native speakers using them in context. The guide covers features like accent… Read more
What is Assimilation in English Pronunciation?

The video focuses on assimilation in English phonology, where sounds change to become more similar to the following sound. It’s important for learners to recognize and use assimilation to understand and speak faster. The video… Read more
Linking Sounds Part 1 – Consonant to Vowel

This part 1 video demonstrates linking sounds in speech for improved fluency. It emphasizes connecting words by blending their sounds, especially when a word ending in a consonant is followed by one starting with a… Read more

Vowels: Monophthongs

The Magic E: English Pronunciation Trick!

The Magic E, or Silent E rule, alters vowel pronunciation in English by turning short sounds into long ones. For instance, ‘not’ becomes ‘note’. This rule typically follows a vowel + consonant + silent E… Read more
Master the Schwa Sound in English

In this video lesson, we will learn all about one of the most important vowel sound in English: the schwa. Represented by /ə/ and sounding like a relaxed “uh,” the schwa is key to mastering… Read more
The Vowel Chart – The 12 Monophthongs in British English

The video provides an in-depth explanation of the British English vowel chart, detailing the 12 monophthongs and their production in the mouth. It covers the positioning of sounds along the horizontal and vertical axes, showcasing… Read more

Vowels: Diphthongs

The Magic E: English Pronunciation Trick!

The Magic E, or Silent E rule, alters vowel pronunciation in English by turning short sounds into long ones. For instance, ‘not’ becomes ‘note’. This rule typically follows a vowel + consonant + silent E… Read more
Diphthongs in English – An Introduction

This lesson introduces the 8 diphthong sounds in English, such as /eɪ/ and /aɪ/, which are a combination of two vowel sounds. Unlike single vowel sounds (monophthongs), diphthongs involve movement in the speaking apparatus. The… Read more
Diphthong Exercise – Better Pronunciation

This lesson focuses on practicing seven of the eight English diphthongs, which are double vowel sounds found in words like “house,” “phone,” “boy,” and “nice.” The video includes a quick revision using the “Diphthong Boy”… Read more

Consonants

Soft G vs. Hard G 😀💬 – English Pronunciation

English pronunciation can be challenging, particularly with the letter G, which has soft (/dʒ/) and hard (/g/) sounds. The soft G occurs before E, I, or Y, while the hard G appears before A, O,… Read more
Words with a Silent L in English

The video teaches about silent L in English words. Although written, the L is not pronounced in common words like “walk,” “talk,” “calm,” “could,” and more. The video provides practice with these silent L sounds… Read more
Mastering the Silent ‘U’ in English

Learning to pronounce English words correctly can be challenging due to silent letters, like the “U.” After “G,” “U” is silent in words like “guest” and “guitar.” After “Q,” it’s silent in “queue” or part… Read more

Phonology Topics

Understanding the Articulation of English Nasal Consonants

The video discusses the place of articulation of three nasal sounds in English, known as nasal occlusives or nasal stops. Nasals release air through the nose, not the mouth. The three voiced nasals are: /m/… Read more
Place of Articulation for Fricatives in English

This video explores the place of articulation of fricatives in English, categorizing them into 4 groups: labiodental, interdental, alveolar, and postalveolar, as well as the glottal fricative. Each group is described in terms of its… Read more
Place of Articulation for Plosives in English

In this lesson, we’ll focus on the place of articulation of plosives in English. Plosives are also called stops. Whilst all plosives share the same manner of articulation, they have different places of articulation. In… Read more

Intonation & Sentence Stress

Intonation Patterns in English Pronunciation

The video discusses English intonation patterns, emphasizing its role in expressing meaning and attitude through pitch, stress, and rhythm. It explores different intonation patterns in statements, questions, and lists, aiming to enhance natural-sounding speech. Understanding… Read more
Intonation in English: What is pitch?

The video explores the concept of pitch, which refers to the highness and lowness of our voice. It is determined by the frequency of vocal cord vibrations, measured in Hertz (Hz). Pitch is distinct from… Read more
Exceptions to the Last Lexical Item Rule (LLI)

The Last Lexical Item Rule (LLI Rule) in English states that the main stress falls on the last lexical item in a sentence, unless the speaker wants to change the neutral meaning. Lexical items include… Read more

Word Stress

The 3 Types of Word Stress in English

The video explores 3 types of word stress: primary & secondary stress, and unstressed syllables. It discusses when secondary stress occurs, differentiating it from primary stress. Additionally, it delves into unstressed syllables, sometimes termed tertiary… Read more
The Great Word Stress Test

Can you stress these 12 words correctly? – Try the Great Word Stress Test! Read more
Word & Sentence Stress in English

The video explores word and sentence stress using the song ‘My Favourite Things’ from ‘The Sound of Music’. The song’s triple time waltz-like structure emphasizes strong syllables on the ‘one’ beat and weak syllables on… Read more

Billie English on YouTube

With a library of over 290 videos as of 2024, ‘Billie English’ has amassed over 110k subscribers and 6 million views on YouTube, solidifying its status as a trusted resource for English learners and phonology enthusiasts worldwide.

In addition to its significant social media presence, Billie English offers a variety of online English classes and learning materials.

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