Author: christina
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Sing-and-Learn “The Short Vowel Blues”: Complete song with lyrics and definitions
Click here to listen and download. I’ve recently created a fun, original song for your English pronunciation practice called The Short Vowel Blues. Yep, it’s me singing the lead, and I also wrote the lyrics.… Keep reading
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A New Year, a New Song!
This is a special note to all of my wonderful clients from 2024 – In case I haven’t seen you in the classroom yet this year, let me take this opportunity to wish you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR.… Keep reading
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Understanding Short and Long Vowels in English
The English vowels can be tricky! Sometimes they say the name of their letter, and other times they don’t. When your English teacher talks about short and long vowels, you might naturally think Short and Long mean that you should say the sounds for a longer or shorter time.… Keep reading
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Useful Words for Applying to University in the United States
Applying to a university in the United States can be an exciting but complex process. From choosing your major to managing applications and financial aid there are many steps involved. Understanding the vocabulary for each part of the process is essential, so let’s dive into the key terms.… Keep reading
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Is Weird an Insult? 30 Words for Different Kinds of Weird
During the summer of 2024, the word “weird” found a prominent place in U.S. politics and media. The Kamala Harris campaign branded the Republicans and their policies as “weird.” It can be argued that this single word helped change the whole power dynamic of the race.… Keep reading
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Phonetic Symbols for 50 English Sounds with Example Words
Introduction: Understanding the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is extremely useful for ESL learners who want to master English pronunciation. This comprehensive guide provides a detailed list of IPA symbols for 50 English sounds, complete with example words to help you improve your pronunciation skills.… Keep reading
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How Does Your Family Teach Cultural Values?
I’d like to share a story about an old and controversial practice for teaching cultural values within the family. My Ugandan friend Betty helped me understand it in ways that surprised me.… Keep reading
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How to know when an -s ending says /s/ or /z/ in English
A common question I get from pronunciation clients is how we know when to say /s/ or /z/ when there’s an -s ending on words in English. Here are rules to help. It’s important to note that the rules for pronouncing the -s ending are different than the rules for pronouncing the -ed ending.… Keep…
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3 Clear Rules for Pronouncing the “-ed” Ending in English
One of the most common errors non-native speakers make is pronouncing the “-ed” ending wrongly. Sometimes -ed adds another syllable onto a word, sometimes it sounds like a /d/ and sometimes it sounds like a /t/.… Keep reading
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Words You Need for Talking About Harassment in the Workplace
Harassment in the workplace is traumatic and hard to measure, so talking about harassment in the workplace is a challenge for anyone, in any language. Whether you are an HR professional handling complaints, you’ve had a complaint filed against you, or you’ve been a victim of physical, sexual or psychological workplace harassment, this post will…
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