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How to Pronounce: English Pronunciation for Arabic Speakers - Part One

Video vocabulary

vowel

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US / ˈvaʊəl /

UK / ˈvaʊəl /

B1
  • noun
  • A speech sound; a, e , it, o, u and sometimes y

increase

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US / ɪn'kri:s /

UK / ɪnˈkris /

A1
  • noun
  • Fact of increasing; amount something grows by
  • verb
  • To make or become larger in size or amount

with

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US / wɪð /

UK / wɪð, wɪθ /

A1
  • preposition
  • As an employee of a certain company
  • Against something or someone
  • By using something as a means
  • Due to; because of
  • Including
  • Possessing as a feature
  • Related to
  • (Of the manner/attitude by which you do something)
  • Used to express that people or things are together

have

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US / həv /

UK / hæv /

A1
  • verb
  • To drink, smoke, eat or use something
  • To experience the effects of something
  • To organize an event, or join in an activity
  • To own, possess, or hold something
  • To cause to happen or produce a particular effect

could

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US / kəd /

UK / kʊd /

A1
  • other
  • Past form of 'can' to mean have ability
  • Used to ask for something politely, or to offer

repeat

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US / rɪˈpi:t /

UK / rɪˈpit /

A2
  • noun
  • Action that is done again
  • Musical passage that is to be played again
  • Radio or television program that was shown before
  • verb
  • To do something over again
  • To say something you have learned and memorized
  • To relate something you have been told by another
  • To say something again

group

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US / ɡru:p /

UK / ɡrup /

A1
  • noun
  • Two or more musicians who play music together
  • Number of people or things gathered together
  • verb
  • To combine or collect objects or people together

world

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US / wɜ:ld /

UK / wɜrld /

A1
  • noun
  • All the humans, events, activities on the earth
  • Political division due to some kind of similarity

end

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US / end /

UK / ɛnd /

A1
  • noun
  • The point where a process or activity stops
  • A point that marks the limit of something; finish
  • Goal or desired result
  • The tip, edge or limit of something
  • verb
  • To be the last part of something

explore

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US / ɪk'splɔ:(r) /

UK / ɪkˈsplɔr /

A2
  • verb
  • To examine something in detail to learn about it
  • To travel to a place to discover more about it

let

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US / let /

UK / lɛt /

A1
  • verb
  • To allow someone to do something
  • Introducing a suggestion to do something together
  • To rent a house, etc. to others

the

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US / ðə /

UK / ðə /

A1
  • article
  • Used to refer to something already mentioned
  • Used to show there is only one of something
  • determiner
  • Used to describe all of a family

kind

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US / kaɪnd /

UK / kaɪnd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • In a caring and helpful manner
  • friendly and considerate
  • noun
  • One type of thing

you

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US / jʊ /

UK / ju /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Person someone is speaking or writing to
  • Person or people in general

dialect

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US / ˈdaɪəlekt /

UK / ˈdaɪəˌlɛkt /

B2
  • noun
  • Way of speaking used by a group or in a region

this

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US / ðɪs /

UK / ðɪs /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Used to indicate something already been discussed
  • Used to indicate something happening around now
  • adverb
  • An indication by a physical motion or gesture
  • A specific amount of
  • determiner
  • Person, thing, or idea near you
  • pronoun
  • Person, thing that has already been discussed

word

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US / wɜ:d /

UK / wɚd /

A1
  • noun
  • Unit of language that has a meaning
  • Promise
  • Short remark or piece of information
  • verb
  • To express something by choosing particular words

john

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US / dʒɔn /

UK / dʒɑn /

A1
  • noun
  • A toilet.
  • A prostitute's client.
  • proper noun
  • (1165–1216), son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine; king of England 1199–1216; known as John Lack
  • The name of six kings of Portugal.

one

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US / wʌn /

UK / wʌn /

A1
  • pronoun
  • You; we; people in general; someone
  • The thing or person previously referred to
  • adjecitve
  • Used to refer to people generally
  • Being a strong example of (something mentioned)
  • number
  • Number 1

than

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US / ðən /

UK / ðən /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used to compare two things that are not equal

three

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US / θri: /

UK / θri /

A1
  • number
  • Number 3

speed

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US / spi:d /

UK / spid /

A2
  • noun
  • How fast or slow something is or is done
  • verb
  • To move quickly when completing an action
  • To drive a vehicle faster than laws allow

all

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US / ɔ:l /

UK / ɔl /

A1
  • adverb
  • Completely; totally
  • determiner
  • Being every one of something
  • pronoun
  • 100% of something; the complete amount

common

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US / 'kɒmən /

UK / ˈkɑmən /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Shared; Belonging to or used by everyone
  • Typical, normal; not unusual
  • noun
  • Area in a city or town that is open to everyone
  • Field near a village owned by the local community

fast

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US / fɑ:st /

UK / fæst /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • In a way that is difficult to move or change
  • Moving or able to move quickly
  • Showing time that is later than the actual time
  • adverb
  • With a great deal of speed
  • noun
  • Period of time when a person chooses not to eat
  • verb
  • To refuse food for a long time

remove

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US / rɪˈmu:v /

UK / rɪˈmuv /

A1
  • verb
  • To get rid of something completely
  • To make someone leave his or her job or position
  • To move, erase or take away from a place
  • To take something off (e.g. clothing)

string

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US / strɪŋ /

UK / strɪŋ /

A2
  • noun
  • A line of connected objects
  • Thick thread; thin rope
  • verb
  • To tie or connect things together with a thread

work

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US / wɜ:k /

UK / wɚk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Activity completed in order to make money
  • noun
  • The product of some artistic or literary endeavor
  • Everything created by an author, artist, musician
  • Activity you do in order to make money
  • Place of employment
  • Final product or result of a some labor or effort
  • verb
  • To bring into a specific state of success
  • To be functioning properly, e.g. a car
  • To do your job in your company or workplace
  • To make an effort to do something
  • To operate a machine or device

between

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US / bɪˈtwi:n /

UK / bɪˈtwin /

A1
  • preposition
  • From one person, thing, or place, to another
  • In the space that separates two objects
  • Among two or more people who share something

general

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US / 'dʒenrəl /

UK / ˈdʒɛnərəl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Widespread, normal or usual
  • noun
  • Top ranked officer in the army

speaker

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US / 'spi:kə(r) /

UK / ˈspikɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Electronic device for making or broadcasting sound
  • Person who makes a speech before a group

take

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US / teɪk /

UK / tek /

A1
  • noun
  • Filming of a single scene for TV or the movies
  • verb
  • To accept something that is offered
  • To use a method of traveling, e.g. a bus or train
  • To use a camera to make (a photo)
  • To pick up something and go away with it
  • To study a subject in school
  • To attempt to pass (an exam)
  • To require a certain amount of time, money, space

russell

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US / ˈrʌsəl /

UK / ˈrʌsəl /

A1
  • noun
  • English film director (born in )

first

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US / fɜ:st /

UK / fɚst /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • 1st; Coming before all others in time or place
  • noun
  • Something that has not happened before
  • Position of the winner of a competition

practice

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US / 'præktɪs /

UK / ˈpræktɪs /

A2
  • noun
  • The office and place for legal or medical work
  • Doing something many times to become better at it
  • verb
  • To work as a doctor or lawyer
  • To live according to the teachings of a religion
  • To do something many times to improve a skill

slowly

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US / ˈsləʊli /

UK / ˈsloʊli /

A1
  • adverb
  • In an unhurried or not speedy manner

then

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US / ðen /

UK / ðɛn /

A1
  • adverb
  • A time that is not now
  • Following another thing in time or arrangement
  • Following on reasonably from what was just stated
  • At that time, not now

even

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US / 'i:vn /

UK / ˈivən /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being equal in influence, power, possibility etc.
  • Being divided equally or fairly
  • (Of teams/contest) with similar chances of success
  • Smooth, level, or regular
  • Can be divided by 2; ending in 2, 4, 6, 8, or 0
  • At a regular, equally steady manner
  • Remaining steady and unchanging
  • adverb
  • (When this is surprising) as well; too
  • (Used to compare two things/stress the difference)
  • verb
  • To make something level; to flatten
  • To make something equal

different

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US / ˈdɪfrənt /

UK / ˈdɪfrənt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Not of the same kind; unlike other things

like

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US / laɪk /

UK / laɪk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being equal in status or kind to something else
  • Similar; the same
  • adverb
  • For example
  • preposition
  • Used as a filler; used to ad emphasis
  • In a way similar to the way something is done
  • Such as; for example
  • verb
  • To want to
  • To find something pleasing; to prefer something

what

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US / wɒt /

UK / hwɑt, hwʌt, wɔt, wʌt,hwət, wət /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Thing or things that; the same kind as
  • Used to emphasize something you are about to say
  • adjecitve
  • Used to refer to a particular amount, or number
  • Used to place emphasis on a particular quality
  • adverb
  • To a certain degree
  • determiner
  • Question words used for asking for information
  • exclamation
  • Used to express excitement, shock, or surprise
  • Used to ask people to repeat something they said

that

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US / ðæt /

UK / ðæt, ðət /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • The person or thing being talked about
  • Used to identify something both the speakers know
  • adverb
  • Used to reinforce adjectives and adverbs
  • To such a degree
  • conjunction
  • Used to connect a noun clause
  • Used to introduce an adverbial clause
  • Used to introduce a noun clause
  • determiner
  • Used as a noun to refer to something
  • pronoun
  • Referring an object far away
  • Used to refer to the relative pronoun ‘which’

least

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US / li:st /

UK / list /

A1
  • adverb
  • In the smallest or lowest way
  • noun
  • Something that is of the lowest or smallest degree

example

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US / ɪgˈzɑ:mpl /

UK / ɪɡˈzæmpəl /

A1
  • noun
  • Thing, person which represents a category

language

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US / ˈlæŋgwɪdʒ /

UK / ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ /

A1
  • noun
  • Words or signs used to communicate messages

video

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US / 'vɪdɪəʊ /

UK / ˈvɪdiˌo /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Of a moving film, with sound
  • noun
  • Recording capturing action with sound
  • verb
  • To make a moving film of, with sound

color

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US / 'kʌlə(r) /

UK / ˈkʌlɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Quality of things you can see, e.g. red, blue
  • Pink or red in your face, e.g. after being ill
  • The shade of someone's skin e.g. black, or yellow
  • verb
  • To change or affect someone's opinion
  • To make something colorful using colored pencils

not

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US / nɒt /

UK / nɑt /

A1
  • adverb
  • Word indicating the negative
  • (Used to form the negative of verbs)

can

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US / kæn /

UK / kən,kæn /

A1
  • noun
  • A metal container for storing food
  • other
  • Able to; have the skill to; have the time to
  • verb
  • To have permission to
  • To be possible to do
  • To preserve food by sealing it in a metal container

but

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US / bət /

UK / bʌt,bət /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used before you say something different, opposite

english

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US / ˈɪŋglɪʃ /

UK / ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the culture and people of England
  • noun
  • Language of the UK, USA, Nigeria and elsewhere
  • Person's name

good

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US / ɡʊd /

UK / ɡʊd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Proper, appropriate or right
  • (Of an amount) enough; plenty
  • Excellent; high quality
  • Acting well or properly; of moral character
  • In a positive or happy emotional state
  • noun
  • Advantage or benefit

cluster

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US / 'klʌstə(r) /

UK / ˈklʌstɚ /

B1
  • noun
  • A small group of things
  • verb
  • To come together in a group, flock etc.

green

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US / gri:n /

UK / ɡrin /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Color of young leaves
  • Covered with vegetation, e.g. grass
  • Concerned about protecting the environment
  • The color of young leaves
  • Lacking in experience/knowledge due to being young
  • Being not fully grown or ripe, as in fruit
  • noun
  • Large grassy area
  • used as a part of a name of a place (UK)

begin

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US / bɪ'ɡɪn /

UK / ˈbeɡɪn /

A1
  • verb
  • To do the first part of an action; to start

sound

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US / saʊnd /

UK / saʊnd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Sensible, dependable and reliable
  • Unbroken or undisturbed, as of sleep
  • Firm or solid in structure
  • Sane; not mentally ill
  • Clearly reasoned; involving sense, good judgment
  • noun
  • Unique quality that characterizes a style of music
  • Waves traveling in air or water that can be heard
  • verb
  • To seem or appear to be, from what was said
  • To say in a clear deliberate manner
  • To make a noise, e.g. to ring a bell

arabic

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US / ˈærəbɪk /

UK / ˈærəbɪk /

A1
  • noun
  • A spirited graceful and intelligent riding horse native to Arabia
  • The Semitic language of the Arabs; spoken in a variety of dialects

start

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US / stɑ:t /

UK / stɑrt /

A1
  • noun
  • First time or place that a thing exists; beginning
  • First opportunity to achieve something, e.g. a job
  • Sudden action or movement because you are scared
  • other
  • Beginning of something in place or time
  • verb
  • To do, be or happen for the first time; begin
  • To turn something on

hello

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US / hə'ləʊ /

UK / hɛˈlo, hə- /

A1
  • exclamation
  • What you say when you meet someone

for

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US / fə(r) /

UK / fɔr,fə /

A1
  • preposition
  • Used to show the purpose, or need of something

short

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US / ʃɔ:t /

UK / ʃɔrt /

A1
  • adverb
  • Less than what is needed
  • Suddenly stopping what you are saying or doing
  • verb
  • (Of electric circuit) to spark because faulty
  • adjecitve
  • Measuring a small distance
  • Happening for a small amount of time
  • Unfriendly or rude

consonant

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US / ˈkɒnsənənt /

UK / ˈkɑnsənənt /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Music (of a note) in harmony
  • noun
  • A speech sound or letter that is not a vowel
  • Spoken sound made by stopping the flow of air
  • Sound in a word that is not a vowel, e.g. t or n

face

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US / feɪs /

UK / fes /

A1
  • noun
  • Side or outer surface of something
  • An expression using mouth, nose, eyes etc.
  • Front part of the head where eyes, mouth etc. are
  • Characteristics you show in public
  • verb
  • To cover a surface with something like paint
  • To deal with a problem or responsibilities
  • To look toward; point in a certain direction

many

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US / 'menɪ /

UK / ˈmɛni /

A1
  • determiner
  • Used to refer a large number of things

relate

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US / rɪ'leɪt /

UK / rɪˈlet /

A2
  • verb
  • To demonstrate a logical relationship between
  • To understand or sympathize with, e.g. a problem
  • To tell a story, or tell about a particular event

should

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US / ʃʊd /

UK / ʃʊd /

A1
  • other
  • Used to indicate what is proper or reasonable

speak

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US / spi:k /

UK / spik /

A1
  • verb
  • To be able to use a certain language
  • To use words to tell information, express thoughts

while

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US / waɪl /

UK / hwaɪl, waɪl /

A1
  • conjunction
  • In spite of the fact that; although
  • During the time that; at the same time
  • noun
  • Short amount of time

and

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US / ənd /

UK / ənd, ən,ænd /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used to refer to two or more things
  • Plus; in addition; on top of that
  • Used to introduce an action that follows another

insert

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US / ɪnˈsɜ:t /

UK / ɪnˈsɜ:rt /

B1
  • noun
  • Act of putting into a certain place or spot
  • verb
  • To put something into a certain place or spot

issue

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US / 'ɪʃu: /

UK / ˈɪʃu /

A2
  • noun
  • Important topic discussed, debated or argued over
  • Single edition of a magazine
  • verb
  • To make something available to be used or sold
  • To deliver a statement, etc. in an official manner

most

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US / məʊst /

UK / most /

A1
  • adverb
  • Very; extremely
  • Greatest possible degree
  • pronoun
  • Nearly all of something

keep

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US / ki:p /

UK / kip /

A1
  • noun
  • Large, strong tower in the middle of a castle
  • Money spent on you so you can live in a place
  • verb
  • To continue doing something; not to stop
  • To stop balls going in a goal in sports
  • To not give back or return something
  • (Of food) to not spoil or not rot
  • To take possession of something to own, e.g. a pet
  • To have and continue to hold something
  • To do something that you have promised or agreed
  • To stay in a certain place or condition
  • To maintain the rules

two

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US / tu: /

UK / tu /

A1
  • number
  • 2
  • Subtitles section
  • Hello, I'm John Russell.
  • Today, let's explore common issues that Arabic speakers have when pronouncing English words.
  • Even if you don't speak Arabic, you can still learn some important ideas in this video.
  • Arabic has many different dialects, but there is one issue that most Arabic speakers face when speaking English.
  • It relates to so-called consonant clusters.
  • Consonant clusters are groups of consonant sounds.
  • Arabic, in general, does not have clusters of more than two consonant sounds, and, at least in many dialects, it does not have consonant clusters at the beginning of words.
  • But, English can have consonant clusters at the beginnings and ends of words.
  • For example, English can have clusters of three consonant sounds at the beginning of a word, as in, string.
  • And English can have consonant clusters at the ends of words, as in, world.
  • So, what should you do if you are an Arabic speaker, or if your language has different kinds of consonant clusters than English?
  • You can start with practicing consonant clusters at the beginnings of words.
  • You can insert a short vowel in between the first two consonant sounds, and then repeat the word while increasing the speed.
  • For example, take the color green.
  • You could insert a vowel sound between the first two consonants and slowly increase the speed.
  • When you say it faster, you can remove the vowel sound.
  • Like this, g-reen, g-reen, g-reen, g-reen, green.
  • That's all for today.
  • Keep up the good work!