American Accent - Why be TENSE when you can be reLAXed?

[Robberlin100]

Hi Rebecca, Love your videos. I am an English teacher in Germany. I am starting a new conversation class with actors and actresses who want to speak more American and als with a southern accent. Southern accent isn t a problem. the problem there is getting mine back with this epetition. high levvel students C1 level. any suggestions?

Vielen Dank im voraus!

[josefranw]

Thank you for your videos! They've been a great help to me!

[jimxx19]

She is very good

[PLPs2GamesPL]

That's what helped me the most! Relaxed speech was the key. I'm just sometimes quite upset about one thing. The way I pronounce and accent sounds in American English pretty much depend on the day. I mean. Once, I can clearly hear those typically American "Rs" in my speech, without really any bigger contribution, and the other day, I barely can catch this sound. Sometimes, I just feel like I'm gonna blow up. Nonetheless - Thank You so much for those videos, ma'am.

[frankgslook]

Oh my God, i can't wait to tell you this Rebecca, you have just told me the SECRET to American accent in this Video - the jaw dropping, instantly i noticed a huge change right after repeating the word "NOT" while dropping the jaw, I repeated also progress, product, process" while dropping the jaw and it came out exactly like an American, I am so happy i have been asking my self;.. how do Americans speak like that? You're an outstanding Lady, May the Lord God give your more insights. Thanks

[soccerockman]

Thanks Rebecca....I am from India & I find your lessons very functional .I really want to master the US accent,But I am 28 now and suffering from serious Mother Tongue Influence too.Do you think at this age can I really change the way I speak?.Please do guide me.  Thanking you in advance.

[rebeccalinquist]

@soccerockman 28 is actually pretty young ... many of my clients are in their 50's ... the older you are, the more repetition is needed to change resistant patterns at times, but anyone can modify his/her accent with focus and attention ... if you are interested in meeting with a Coach to discuss your speech issues on WebEx or would like to purchase a short course or self study, visit our website!

[lexj99]

I grew up speaking French and it is quite difficult to transition from tense to relaxed ..my English sounds so fancy.

[TheBacha12345]

I really like this > I didn't know these thing before. I really want to speak good English because i am in film n media major.Help me.....

[nourddinexfx]

thank you sweety you are very helping

[dgkolday]

RRRRRRRR-TTTTTTTTTT--CUULLL--8­88--XON

[MrDarksultan]

Can't do it! Too Irish!

[MrAlvinpham]

This is really amazing ! I should call you PROF!

[0598488]

oh great

[bongmanding]

Thanks Rebecca for uploading these free videos. It's helping me a lot. I mean I get lots of techniques on how to improve my accent. I feel like I sound so much better now, accent wise. I once answered my phone and my American friend from Minneapolis didn't recognize me and thought I am not me and said I sounded like an American already. It was such a great feeling.

[j3ff1nho]

i've been doing your exercices every day for 2 months, but i still feel a little unconfortable in my tongue, jow , and sometimes pain...

how long will it take me yet?

[rebeccalinquist]

@j3ff1nho Don't do anything "painful" ... if you work with a Coach, it shouldn't take more than a month or two ... come to our website if you want a consultation.

[SuperLifelover1]

excellent



[iamaproudafrican]

0.40sec-0.50sec---epic! were you imitating me? thats exactly what I used to do until today. It works like magic! I tried opening my mouth more and my co-worker was like, " your English is improving'. Thanks Rebecca

[Aseervatham7]

Rebecca... Its really great the way u diagtnose an counsel people. I had the complacency but now I realised and excercising the jaw controlling... Thanks a load. God Bless.

[hufmancode]

too much movement of the jaw while commentators or anchors on tv news doesn't look good either , not forget the way of extraction letters looks soooooo obscured

as foreigners we don't need speak in american way as long as we speak clear letters from its right exits

[mayazareh]

Honestly I dont understand British accent At All :-S

[inkey2]

I am kind of surprised.....where as our American media has pounded into our heads that we are the most hated people on the planet......yet apparantly there are people who actually want to sound American

[rebeccalinquist]

@inkey2 yep, it's all about people understanding what is said and getting to the next level in their careers ... ever heard a CEO with an accent no one could understand? Doesn't happen often ... it's usually a career blocker.

[inkey2]

@rebeccalinquist ill tell you the all time most serious verbal career blocker......saying "axe" instead of "ask"......it is the kiss of death at a job interview

[inkey2]

I am American and the only thing I use my jaw for is chewing tobacco and eating hamburgers

[Rotting102]

Are you American? You don't really sound like it...

And yeah I'm American but I don't talk with my jaw :o

[Mayokitty7]

@Rotting102 She's enunciating too much on purpose, for those who are learning. If she talks in full on slang or Ebonics or some shit nobody won't learn anything.

[Z19901000]

good

[ScottMcK9]

how on earth can any British person from Scotland, Wales & England speak without using their jaw? Say 'A'righ' big yin' in Glaswegian and see if you can say it like a Glaswegian without using the jaw, it's impossible. Interesting video none the less, but am not sure you're right about how we speak.

[rebeccalinquist]

@ScottMcK9 "controlling" with the jaw, not "using" the jaw

[ScottMcK9]

@rebeccalinquist Suppose you're right in that sense, you have to be able to in the right way to talk with an American accent.

[Mottahead]

I got punched on my jaw - my spoken English got better after that.

I also notice that I sound much better after having some beers. It relaxes my tensed lips.

Well, sorry for my failed attempt at being funny - this video is great.

Yet I couldn't help but notice that when she talks moving her jaws in an exaggerated manner, she actually sounds like David Lee Roth being interviewed.

(Oops, relapsed again, sorry).

[KickSnareNichtsMehr]

0:23

Rebecca: "and that word 'lax', you can remember..."

Google audio transcription: "and there were no blacks you can remember..."

[bombb82]

isnt it an "AW" not "AH" for "not" for a more clean accent?

other than that small thing i noticed this was well done, u are an awsome speaker and would appear very comfortable with your pronunciation.

[rebeccalinquist]

@bombb82 /aw/ would be the word "naught" - /ah/ is "not"

[norton360diachez]

@rebeccalinquist why dose my jaw hurt when i try to do an american accent

[gabrieltsiry]

I am Kyou Ni ... you know ... Kyou Ni Linguist ...

[XxxwillowdaggerxxX]

i dont speak english i speak american, lol

[xxxheartstabberxxx]

i am full blooded american.Born in america rasied in america and never left america, bUt i have a question, WHY DO I HAVE AN ACCENT WHEN I NEVER EVEN TOOK A FOOT OUT OF TH CONTRY????!!!!??

[aradney]

the instructions are very good, but a subtitle would be very useful.

Submit some graphics in the video would be helpful for the understanding of it. thanks! las instrucciones son muy buenas, pero un subtitulo seria muy útil.

Presentar algunos gráficos en el vídeo seria de gran ayuda para la comprensión del mismo. gracias !!

[chambagi]

this so true,iam a kenyan " african" ,speak fluently but tense,always when using the jaw it requires some effort,its like a mouth exercise,it actually like learning a new exercise.Thank you for the tip, do you have dvds for advanced speakers.

[rebeccalinquist]

@chambagi Our materials work for all levels - they include pronunciation, word stress, intonation, and all of our signature techniques with audio and video for practice. Come to our website for more details! We offer both materials for self-study and live 1-1 coaching using WebEx so you can record the sessions.

[kidstepsalot]

YOUR GUIDES ARE SO VERY HELPFUL =)

[faramarzsafadeh]

Thank you Rebecca for your interessting and useful video.

[shiva11112]

I really enjoyed this video as i got to know the trick how to be relaxed while speaking, i am putting this into practice and hope to see improvement in my speech. i need some more tips on how to talk continuosly or spontaniously with good grammar and pronunciation. is there any best way to practice it ? i am not able speak continuosly bcoz i dont get in an environment where people speak english and its very difficult to keep on practicing, Pls help on this. Thank you.

[rebeccalinquist]

@shiva11112 Sign up for coaching on our website!

[16kikuchan]

@rebeccalinquist which website? is it free?

[jclod87]

You hit the nail right on the head with this one. I've never seen anyone (including the teachers that I've had) explaining the differences between the American pronunciation and all the others in such an understandable way. I really enjoyed it! Look forward to seeing more videos of this kind.

[superemposed]

your good looking

[sumangs007]

Thank you for the video

[ymhuadao]

I realize why I have been able to mimic the Indian and Chinese accents of spoken english, but I've not been able to learn the American "sounds" properly. So it's about the jaws instead of the lips! Thanks for the great tip!

[kb1kb1]

ur american accent is good, but i don't kno if it is just or everyone else doing an american accent but you sound kinda "slow".

[sofreshboyz]

ok, like i can speak english well. but its just my accent. my asian accent. well i try observing out our voice and i figure that we use more of our vocal(our inner voice).

my voice is kind of deep & at the same time soft.

[claire0rockz]

Good advice! I'm American, just curious to see how people learn

[TheSoccerifying]

Thank you so much!!

[GsarFlakita]

this is exactly what I've been looking for!!!!!! thanks a lot!!!!

btw, could you do some videos for hispanics speakers???, i'd like to know how we sound like and what we should change or what we should avoid.

I have some friends from Usa and I've asked them how we sound like and they don't want to hurt me and they don't say anything, but a good friend told me that our accent is harsh!!!! y don't want to sound harsh!!! please some help!!!

[rebeccalinquist]

@GsarFlakita That's a great idea! I'll have a first language Spanish speaking client do a video with me ... I was planning to start doing those soon anyway, and that's a great idea!

[yuandt]

nice dress

[karenlsu]

Thank you!

May I ask how do i say those words that start with "th" in the front ? I.E: "Through"

I either skip "th" or "r".

I always ask my American friends how they move their tongues when saying these words, but they seem puzzled by the question and just can't show me how.

[rebeccalinquist]

@karenlsu Visit my website and take some coaching! You'll love it!

englishbythehourDOTCOM

[MansoorY]

From now on, I'll put more emphasis on my jaw. Thanks a bunch Rebecca. Your lessons are appreciated.

[F4DiNhO]

very cool video

thank you maam

[smartnut007]

Thank you for the video.

I have a request.

I am from India. I cant get the difference between "wii" and we/v sounds.

Whenever I am talking about the console some Americans give me a very quizzical gralce and then it takes them a while to figure out from the context , what I am actually talking about.

[rebeccalinquist]

@smartnut007 I'll probably do a video on that next!

[rebeccalinquist]

@smartnut007 If you want to order the detailed version, just go to my website: englishbythehour and click on "self study"

[09pika09]

Thank you for this video! It is very helpful.