Watch the Latest Lessons
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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
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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
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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
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Connected Speech
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What is Aspiration in English Pronunciation?
The video teaches about the three aspirated sounds in English: /p/, /t/, and /k/, which are always aspirated in the onset of a stressed syllable. Despite a bit of nasal pronunciation due to a cold,… Read more
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What is Linking R & Intrusive R in Connected Speech
Linking R is something that often occurs when non-rhotic speakers speak naturally. But wait! Didn’t we just learn last week that non-rhotic speakers do not pronounce their Rs? Yes, that’s right, only that they do… Read more
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What are weak forms?
In this video we are going to look at weak forms. You learn what weak forms are compared to full forms and why they occur in English. You might have asked yourself why it is… Read more
Vowels: Monophthongs
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The Schwa Sound /ə/ – the central vowel sound in English
A video about the central vowel sound schwa /ə/, the most common vowel sound in English. This subtle yet crucial sound often goes unnoticed. Represented by the IPA sound symbol “ə,” this unstressed vowel plays… Read more
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Vowel Sounds – Short e & Short æ in English pronunciation
A lesson on the short e & short æ vowel sounds in English. Embark on a journey into vowel sounds with our beginner-friendly tutorial. This video introduces the short e and short æ, guiding you… Read more
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Vowel Sounds – Short ʊ & Long u: in English pronunciation
A video about the short ʊ & long u: vowel sounds in English. Read more
Vowels: Diphthongs
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The Diphthong /ɪə/ in English Pronunciation
This video teaches you all about the diphthong /ɪə/. A diphthong is a double vowel sound, a combination of two individual vowel sounds that merge to become one new long vowel sound in its own… Read more
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The Diphthong /ɔɪ/ in English Pronunciation
This video teaches you the diphthong /ɔɪ/ – a double vowel sound that is a combination of the monophthongs /ɔ/ and /ɪ/. /ɔ/ Is an open-mid back rounded vowel sound, and /ɪ/ is a near-close… Read more
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The Diphthong /aɪ/ in English Pronunciation
We continue our journey through all the sounds of English. This video teaches you how the diphthong /aɪ/ is formed and produced. A diphthong is a double vowel sound, a combination of two individual vowel… Read more
Consonants
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When & How to pronounce the English R
This video lesson teaches the pronunciation of the letter R in English. It covers the general ‘R’, differences between British and American English, producing the /r/ sound, linking ‘R’ between words, and intrusive ‘R’ between… Read more
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The 4 Pronunciations of the letter X
In this video we will go over the four different ways the letter X could be pronounced in English. Firstly, in words like “extra,” “six,” and “maximum,” “X” is pronounced as /ks/, spread across two… Read more
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The 24 Consonant Sounds in English
The video provides a brief overview of the 24 English consonant sounds, categorized into 6 plosives, 9 fricatives, 2 affricates, 3 nasals, and 4 approximants. It explains their arrangement on the phonemic chart and the… Read more
Phonology Topics
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British vs. American Phonemic Chart
The video compares the British and American English sound charts developed by Adrian Underhill. Both charts share 24 consonant sounds but differ in the vowel sections. The American chart has fewer monophthongs and diphthongs. The… Read more
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Phonemic Charts – Differences Explained
The video explores the phonemic charts for British English, focusing on Adrian Underhill’s chart, widely used in English language study materials. It compares this chart with those from the British Council and English File by… Read more
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Sonorants & Obstruents in English Phonology
The video discusses two groups of sounds: sonorants (or resonants) and obstruents. Sonorants are produced with continuous airflow, without restrictions causing air friction, and are always voiced in English. Obstruents, on the other hand, are… Read more
Intonation & Sentence Stress
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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
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What is Emphatic Stress in English Pronunciation?
The video discusses emphatic stress, one of the 4 types of sentence stress in English. Emphatic stress involves placing stress on a word, often an intensifier, to emphasize how special or extraordinary something is. This… Read more
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What is Contrastive Stress?
This video explores the concept of contrastive stress in English sentences, showcasing how emphasis on different words can alter the meaning without changing the grammar or order. The example “She doesn’t think this is a… Read more
Word Stress
Billie English on YouTube
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In addition to its significant social media presence, Billie English offers a variety of online English classes and learning materials.
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