Blog
Tips, insights, and updates about English learning
Just Touch Your Throat: Understand Voiced vs. Voiceless (B/P, D/T, F/V, S/Z, K/G) Once and For All
Many English consonants actually come in "pairs"—the mouth shape is exactly the same, and the only difference is whether the vocal cords vibrate. By learning a simple trick of touching your throat, you will be able to distinguish between bat and pat, fan and van, and even your word-ending pronunciation will sound much more natural.
V is Not W: Distinguish V, W, and B in One Second by Biting Your Lower Lip with Your Upper Teeth
Pronouncing very as berry, or does vine sound like wine? The problem lies in these three sounds: V, W, and B. This article teaches you how to tell them apart in a second using mouth shapes and airflow: V has friction from upper teeth biting the lower lip, W is rounded lips without touching the teeth, and B is a short plosive with tightly closed lips. Practice exercises with the most easily confused word pairs are included.
Always Confusing L and R? Tell Them Apart in One Second by 'Whether the Tip of Your Tongue Touches'
L and R are the most headache-inducing pair of sounds for Asian learners, who often pronounce rice as lice and grass as glass. Actually, there is only one secret: look in the mirror to see if the tip of your tongue touches your upper gums. If it touches, it's L; if it doesn't, it's R. This article will guide you to practice tongue positioning, minimal pairs, and the dark L at the end of words.
Don't Swallow Your Endings: How to Clearly Pronounce English Final Sounds and Consonant Clusters
Since Chinese words rarely end in consonants, it is very easy for us to swallow English final sounds—best becomes bes, and asked becomes ask. By learning to retain final consonants, you can clearly pronounce even words like texts that pack three or four consonants together, making your English instantly much easier to understand.