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5 Ways to Improve your Fluency in English

Improving fluency in English can enhance workplace communication, presentations, and confidence. Techniques include shadowing native speakers, repeating phrases, conversing with fluent speakers, using language apps, and thinking in English. Practice and patience are key to… Read more
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

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Connected Speech

Linking Sounds Part 2 – Consonant to Consonant & Vowel to Vowel

The video teaches how to speak fluently by linking sounds, allowing words to flow together for faster, more natural speech. It illustrates how consonant sounds join between words and demonstrates linking between consonants and near… Read more
Dropped Consonants in English Pronunciation

In English, speaking quickly can lead to the loss of sounds, particularly at the end of words such as /t/ and /d/. This phenomenon, known as elision or dropped consonants, is common in connected speech.… Read more
Connected Speech: Vowel reduction, weak forms & the schwa sound /ə/

In this informative video, we explore how vowels change, uncover the schwa sound, and grasp weak forms in English. Understanding how sounds shift in unstressed parts of words is crucial for natural pronunciation. The guide… Read more

Vowels: Monophthongs

Vowel Sounds – Short ɒ & Long ɔ: in English pronunciation

A lesson on the short ɒ & long ɔ: monophthongs in English. Explore the world of short ɒ and long ɔ: sounds in our easy-to-follow video made just for English learners. This video breaks down… Read more
Vowel Sounds – The long ɜ: in English Pronunciation

A video about the long vowel sound /ɜ:/ – monophthong in English pronunciation. In our latest lesson for English learners, we shine a light on the often misunderstood ɜ: sound. This video is designed to… Read more
Vowel Sounds – Short ʌ & Long a: in English Pronunciation

A video about the short /ʌ/ and long /a:/ monophthong sounds in English. Join our easy-to-follow tutorial designed for English learners. In this lesson, we’ll focus on the short /ʌ/ and long /a:/ vowel sounds… Read more

Vowels: Diphthongs

The Diphthong /eɪ/ in English Pronunciation

This video teaches you how to form and produce the diphthong /eɪ/. Diphthongs are also called double vowel sounds because they are a combination of two monophthongs (= two single vowel sounds). In the diphthong… Read more
The Diphthong /əʊ/ in English Pronunciation

This video explains how the English diphthong /əʊ/ is formed by combining the central vowel sound /ə/ (= the schwa) with the near-close near-back rounded vowel /ʊ/ (funnily, this is also sometimes called the horseshoe… Read more
Triphthongs in English – diphthong & /ə/ combination in one syllable

This video explains what triphthongs are: a combination of three vowel sounds in one syllable. The usual pattern is: a diphthong + the central vowel sound /ə/ (= the schwa) all together forming one syllable,… Read more

Consonants

Dropped /t/ and Silent T: Linking in Pronunciation

In this video, the mystery of dropped /t/ and silent ‘T’ in English is unraveled, explaining why native speakers skip certain ‘T’ sounds. Viewers will learn tricks to make English speech sound natural, improving pronunciation… Read more
Glottal Stop /ʔ/ vs. the /h/ sound

In the video, we explore the differences between the glottal stop /ʔ/ and the sound /h/ in English. Both are voiceless glottal sounds formed at the space between the vocal cords. They share characteristics but… Read more
The Glottal Stop

The video discusses the glottal stop, a special sound in English, often found in regional accents like Cockney amongst others. It’s formed in the glottis, the space between the vocal cords in the throat. The… Read more

Phonology Topics

IPA Diacritics & Suprasegmentals in Phonemic Transcription

The video explores additional IPA symbols used in transcription, which are commonly seen in phonemic transcriptions. These symbols, apart from sound symbols, fall into two categories: suprasegmentals and diacritics. The video focuses on the most… Read more
What are Syllabic Consonants?

The video discusses syllabic consonants, a phenomenon where consonants take on the role of vowels in unstressed syllables to maintain the syllable status. In English, only the nasals /m/, /n/, /ŋ/ and the liquids /l/,… Read more
Syllable structure: What are onset, nucleus & coda?

The video explores syllable structure, comprising three components: onset (one or more consonant sounds at the beginning), nucleus (one vowel sound forming the core), and coda (one or more consonants at the end). A syllable… Read more

Intonation & Sentence Stress

The 4 Types of Sentence Stress

In this introductory video lesson, you will learn about the four types of sentence stress in English and how to use stress to emphasize important information. Understanding sentence stress is crucial as it conveys our… Read more
What are High Rise Terminals (HRT), Uptalk & Australian Questioning Intonation (AQI)

The video discusses a specific pattern of intonation known by various names such as high rising terminal, uptalk, and Valley Girl talk. This pattern is characterized by a rising intonation in statements, making them sound… Read more
Introduction to Intonation in English

The video provides an overview of intonation in English, focusing on pitch variations in speech. Intonation plays a crucial role in expressing meaning and attitude, shaping the message conveyed. Even simple words like ‘Hello’ can… Read more

Word Stress

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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