Consonants of American English Pronunciation

Consonants of American English Pronunciation

This course is part of The Pronunciation of American English Specialization

Instructors: Helen Nam

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Assessments

16 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the The Pronunciation of American English Specialization

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There are 5 modules in this course

In this first course of The Pronunciation of American English specialization, you will learn and practice all of the consonant sounds of American English, including some pairs of consonants that are especially tricky. Each week you will receive practical advice from successful English learners and practice an effective technique called shadowing to improve your pronunciation of consonant sounds. You will also have opportunities to record yourself and to respond to the recordings of other learners.

Welcome to Consonants of American English Pronunciation! In this course, you’ll practice all the consonant sounds of American English—like the first sounds in “town,” “zoo,” or “night.” You’ll also practice some pairs of consonant sounds that may be confusing, like the first sounds in “thick” and “sick” or “boat” and “vote.” Some of these consonant sounds will probably be very easy for you, but some may be more of a challenge. Don’t give up. Keep listening to the sounds, learning about how they’re pronounced, and practicing the ones you find difficult. Good luck practicing the pronunciation of the consonant sounds of American English.

What's included

1 video1 reading

What's included

8 videos9 readings4 assignments1 peer review

8 videosTotal 28 minutes

Introduction to Week 11 minutePreview module
Consonants Pretest Review3 minutes
Consonant Overview5 minutes
Consonant Overview Practice Activity3 minutes
Voiced and Voiceless Sounds3 minutes
Voiced and Voiceless Sounds Practice Activity2 minutes
Pronunciation Tips3 minutes
Shadowing a Conversation4 minutes

9 readingsTotal 69 minutes

Consonants Pretest Directions2 minutes
Consonants Supplemental Materials1 minute
Consonant Overview Directions1 minute
Consonant Overview Practice Activity Directions1 minute
Voiced and Voiceless Sounds Directions1 minute
Voiced and Voiceless Sounds Practice Activity Directions1 minute
Pronunciation Tips1 minute
Shadowing a Conversation Directions1 minute
Shadowing a Conversation Assignment60 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 120 minutes

Consonants Pretest30 minutes
Consonants Overview Practice Quiz30 minutes
Voiced and Voiceless Sounds Practice Quiz30 minutes
Week 1 Graded Quiz30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

Week 1 Speaking Assignment60 minutes

What's included

11 videos9 readings4 assignments1 peer review

11 videosTotal 57 minutes

Introduction to Week 21 minutePreview module
Consonant Sounds that Pop Part 15 minutes
Consonant Sounds that Pop Part 25 minutes
Consonant Sounds that Pop Practice Activity5 minutes
Consonant Sounds that Hiss Part 15 minutes
Consonant Sounds that Hiss Part 26 minutes
Consonant Sounds that Hiss Practice Activity5 minutes
Confusing Consonant Pairs 110 minutes
Confusing Consonant Pairs 1 Practice Activity4 minutes
Pronunciation Tips5 minutes
Shadowing a Conversation2 minutes

9 readingsTotal 68 minutes

Consonant Sounds that Pop Directions1 minute
Consonant Sounds that Pop Practice Activity Directions1 minute
Consonant Sounds that Hiss Directions1 minute
Consonant Sounds that Hiss Practice Activity Directions1 minute
Confusing Consonant Pairs 1 Directions1 minute
Confusing Consonant Pairs 1 Practice Activity Directions1 minute
Pronunciation Tips1 minute
Shadowing a Conversation Directions1 minute
Shadowing a Conversation Assignment60 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 120 minutes

Consonants that Pop Practice Quiz30 minutes
Consonant Sounds that Hiss Practice Quiz30 minutes
Confusing Consonant Pairs 1 Practice Quiz30 minutes
Week 2 Graded Quiz30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Week 2 Speaking Assignment120 minutes

What's included

9 videos9 readings4 assignments1 peer review

9 videosTotal 44 minutes

Introduction to Week 30 minutesPreview module
Consonant Sounds that Hum3 minutes
Consonant Sounds that Hum Practice Activity5 minutes
Consonant Sounds that Flow5 minutes
Consonant Sounds that Flow Practice Activity5 minutes
Confusing Consonant Pairs 210 minutes
Confusing Consonant Pairs 2 Practice Activity5 minutes
Pronunciation Tips4 minutes
Shadowing a Conversation2 minutes

9 readingsTotal 68 minutes

Consonant Sounds that Hum Directions1 minute
Consonant Sounds that Hum Practice Activity Directions1 minute
Consonant Sounds that Flow Directions1 minute
Consonant Sounds that Flow Practice Activity Directions1 minute
Confusing Consonant Pairs 2 Directions1 minute
Confusing Consonant Pairs 2 Practice Activity Directions1 minute
Pronunciation Tips1 minute
Shadowing a Conversation Directions1 minute
Shadowing a Conversation Assignment60 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 120 minutes

Consonant Sounds that Hum Practice Quiz30 minutes
Consonant Sounds that Flow Practice Quiz30 minutes
Confusing Consonant Pairs 2 Practice Quiz20 minutes
Week 3 Graded Quiz40 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Week 3 Speaking Assignment120 minutes

What's included

9 videos9 readings4 assignments1 peer review

9 videosTotal 50 minutes

Introduction to Week 41 minutePreview module
Final Consonants and Consonant Clusters7 minutes
Final Consonants and Consonant Clusters Practice Activity6 minutes
Pronunciation of -s and -ed Endings7 minutes
Pronunciation of -s and -ed Endings Practice Activity5 minutes
Variations of Some Consonant Sounds6 minutes
Variations of Some Consonant Sounds Practice Activity7 minutes
Pronunciation Tips4 minutes
Shadowing a Conversation3 minutes

9 readingsTotal 68 minutes

Final Consonants and Consonant Clusters Directions1 minute
Final Consonants and Consonant Clusters Practice Activity Directions1 minute
Pronunciation of -s and -ed Endings Directions1 minute
Pronunciation of -s and -ed Endings Practice Activity Directions1 minute
Variations of Some Consonant Sounds Directions1 minute
Variations of Some Consonant Sounds Practice Activity Directions1 minute
Pronunciation Tips1 minute
Shadowing a Conversation Directions1 minute
Shadowing a Conversation Assignment60 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 110 minutes

Final Consonants and Consonant Clusters Practice Quiz30 minutes
Pronunciation of -s and -ed Endings Practice Quiz30 minutes
Variations of Some Consonant Sounds Practice Quiz20 minutes
Week 4 Graded Quiz30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Week 4 Speaking Assignment120 minutes

Instructors

Instructor ratings

4.9 (357 ratings)

Helen Nam

University of California, Irvine

15 Courses1,205,948 learners

Marla Yoshida

University of California, Irvine

11 Courses352,301 learners

Offered by

University of California, Irvine

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Reviewed on Sep 5, 2021

Excellent! I have learned a lot and my pronunciation have improved so much that I sound almost like another person now haha Thank you so much.

Reviewed on Jan 28, 2021

The first few weeks were very good, I got it right now, the last two were a little more complicated. I did not understand the symbols that the sounds represent.

Reviewed on Jun 28, 2023

This course was taught me how to pronounce correctly American English. I, an ESL student, learn more about phonetics and pronunciation. Thank you to all lecturers.

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