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Staycation and glamping - two words I've been reading a lot in the news recently. Due to the current global crisis, people have been staying in their own countries for their holiday this year. So, these words are very relevant, although they are not new words, they are very media-friendly and fun. Watch the video to find out more.
English is a difficult language to speak and pronounce. Especially when it comes to the relationship between spelling and sound. The reason is that spelling has 'frozen' but the sounds have changed or been updated. So, a little fun test for you. My question is - how do you pronounce the word: ghoti? Check the answer in my video below:
FREE Phonemic Chart! The chart below is my version of the British English phonemic chart, adapted from Adrian Underhill's original chart for his course 'Sound Foundations'. This is my revised, 2-page version of the chart and the first page of the chart features just the sounds on the chart. Page 2 features the sounds and an example word with the sound featured in that word. Please print off, download or display as you wish. Please watch the following video to find out more:
If you would like to know your English level, then you can go to the Cambridge English website and do an English level test (it mainly tests English grammar, vocabulary and knowledge of phrases). It won't take you long and is free. Follow the link and remember or write down your result at https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/test-your-english/.
You will receive your result at the end of the test (such as - you could prepare for the First (B2), Advanced (C1) or Proficiency (C2) exam). CEFR LEVEL BREAKDOWN A1=Beginner A2=Pre-Intermediate B1=Intermediate B2=Upper-Intermediate B2+=First Certificate or First C1=Advanced C2=Proficiency In this video, I'll show you the tongue twister 'Baby Buggy Rubber Bumper'. You can say that I have played around with the words a bit - so this is my version. Now, you may have heard of the famous line in Last Action Hero where Arnold Schwarzenegger spouts out the line 'Rubber Baby Buggy Bumper', well this is my version. Although in this video, I've changed it to be 'Baby Buggy Rubber Bumper.' You can watch it and just to hear me say it, or speakalong with me. Remember that practising tongue twisters can improve your fluency and confidence, but don't worry if you can't say it. It's just for fun.Why is this a tricky tongue twister? Well, it is because you have to go from the /b/ and /r/ sounds, with a /g/, /m/ and /p/ in there as well. You also have to deal with the change in the vowel sounds. Why not have a go? Probably the world's most famous tongue twister, right? In this video I (try) and show you how to say it - but it doesn't go exactly according to plan. Anyway, let's look at it more closely. It's part 2 in the series 'tongue twisters'. We need to break down the sounds of this tongue twister to focus on the pronunciation. By learning how to say it, your pronunciation of individual sounds and fluency should improve. It's a clever one which features 'sh' and /s/ sounds that alternate (it's called alliteration when you have repetition of similar sounds). It goes something like sh,s,s,sh,s,sh. There is also a pattern in the rhythm of the tongue twister, if you can hear that too. Check the video to speak along with me.There are other sounds in the tongue twister, but the main focus is on the sounds above. This is what it looks like in phonemic script: /ʃi sɛlz siː ʃɛlz baɪ ðə siː ʃɔː/ Now, the point of a tongue twister is it say over and over, as fast as you can. Watch right to the end and try and repeat it after me if you like. I have a free online course available now! First, read the following to find out if it would be useful for you.
You know that everything is connected, right? Let me explain. Let's say that speaking is a series of connections, and each connection represents a sound. Fluent speakers connect these sounds to create a language. Once you understand connected speech, the doors become wide open for you. Most importantly you become a more confident, fluent and natural speaker. Here are the benefits:
Sign up here to enroll on the course: https://british-native-speaker.teachable.com/p/speak-and-pronounce-british-english/
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AuthorHey, it's Jon here. This is my blog that goes together with my YouTube Channel and online courses. 
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