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DAY 1
In the first challenge, we are focusing on keeping the back of the tongue tense and the front more agile and relaxed!
DAY 2
Today's challenge looks at the different tongue and vocal tract position between two important front vowels /i/ as in TEAM and /ɪ/ as in TIM - focus on getting that forward tongue arch for /i/ (EE) and the little dent in the front tongue for /ɪ/ (IH), while also maintaining an open back of the throat.
DAY 3
In today's challenge we are comparing the sounds /ɛ/ as in PEN and /æ/ as in PAD, the last two major front vowels! Notice that the jaw opens slightly lower as you go from the /i/ sound to the /æ/ sound. Remember to keep the palate in the back, or velum, lifted.
DAY 4
In today's challenge we are learning what VOT is and how to add more air to P, T, K. And, *when* to use more air. Let's practice adding more air to these voiceless consonants when they are at the BEGINNING of the word or syllable.
DAY 5
In today's challenge, we will look at the MID vowels /ɝ/ as in STIR, /ə/ as in THE, and
/ʌ/ as in CUP, LOVELY. This means, our tongue arch is in the MIDDLE of our mouth, but try to reach it up and slightly forward. Now, remember the SCHWA or the /ə/ sound as in THE is ALWAYS UNSTRESSED, so that sound is never tense.
DAY 6
In today's challenge, we are seeing one instance where you DO NOT aspirate or add air for P, T, K. Remember, a few days back we added air when the P, T, K was in the initial position of a word or syllable. Now, we are giving the S all of the air and the T, P, K sounds will be muted and sound closer to a B, D, G.
DAY 7
In today's challenge, we are looking at the proper tongue position of the TH sound, in the beginning of a word, middle and end. Get those tongues READY!!!
DAY 8
In today's challenge we are starting with some gliding into the TH sound. Really use a delicate tongue touch to go from an S into a TH and back and Z into a TH and back. Keep the air flowing and vibrating.
DAY 9
In today's challenge we are looking at the placement and the quality of the sound (the differences) of the UH /ʌ/ - as in TON, BUG, SON and the AH /ɒ/ - as in BOX, ROCKET, NOT sounds. The UH /ʌ/ sound has a more closed mouth position, and the AH /ɒ/ sound has a more forward tongue placement and a more open jaw.
DAY 10
In today's challenge we are working on gliding the tongue into the TH position from an F and V sound!
1. Have they left those for Maeve though?
2. Leave these with Ralph Thurston and drive them home later.
3. Did Finn wave them in and rave there with fanfare and life theories?
4. Have them drive them up after five through the half thrush prairie.
DAY 11
In today's challenge we are gliding and connecting from a P sound into a TH sound. A couple of things to remember: 1. keep the /p/ voiceless, 2. always have a puff of air into TH.
He kept them up there all night.
I hope the rope that Cap threw can hold up their weight.
I can’t stop that from happening Polly. We’ll just keep them posted and hope that everyone is asleep then.
DAY 12
In today's challenge, we are looking at gliding from a T sound into a TH sound. Remember: 1. there needs to be no voice, a complete stop of sound, and 2. the T stops a bit further toward the teeth to make it to the TH. Also, sometimes to compensate, native speakers will keep the TH more voiceless.
They might think Brett thwarted them.
2. Matt thought about Thad’s fight Thursday.
3. Just let that thoroughly dry before Cat thinks wheat thistles are plant things.
4. Let them at them will you?
DAY 13
In today's challenge, we are going from a K sound into a TH sound. It's important to have a slight puff of air coming from the back of your tongue and velum (or soft palate) as you move from a K to a TH.
1. Can you make those cake things?
2. I took those breakthroughs as a mock theory.
3. Back then, Mike thought about how long it took them.
4. Look, Thad, if I back Theo and make thirty dollars, I like the odds.
DAY 14
In today's challenge, we are putting it all together and consolidating a bit so that we can be sure of our placement with T, P, K into a TH sound. Remember, keep the integrity of the sounds by making sure they stay voiceless, by adding air when appropriate, and by allowing the TH after it to be a bit voiceless. This will help the T, P, K sound stay voiceless, too.
1. We ate those, but they did a backflip this morning in my belly.
2. Hope thinks she was absent Thursday.
3. Mike threatened Jack with dark thoughts.
4. Leap up there, take things with you, and park the car, Judy!
DAY 15
In today's challenge, we want to continue the voicing of D /d/ into a TH sound so that we can have the feeling like the D is stopped yet continuing in voice only into the next word.
1. He made them hide their face.
2. We need them to ride the bus, Jack!
3. That mud threatened to slide through old thick walls.
4. I had those boots made that day in Madison.
DAY 16
In today's challenge, we are continuing with the VOICED consonants on the alveolar ridge or the little ridge on the hard upper palate. Like D, we want to continue the voicing into the TH sound.
1. And then, he ran through the stoplight!
2. Can they plan this party? I’m done thinking about Nancy.
3. Just hand them over to Todd and then call me.
4. The corn thawed when Thadeus put the can through the opener.
DAY 17
In today’s challenge, we are looking at two kind of tough and annoying words in English: DON’T and WANT! Remember we do not usually stress negation, so don’t is usually unstressed. And, Want should always be spoken with an open back of the throat. This of a slight “UH” sound as you go into the words DON’T and WANT.
1. You want it or you don’t? Because, if you don’t want it, I do!
2. No, that’s what I want! I don’t care about anything else!
3. I don’t want to burst your bubble, but I don’t think that’s a thing.
DAY 18
In today’s challenge, we are looking at a glottalized nasal sound as in WOULDN’T and COULDN’T and how it’s slightly different from WOODEN and GOODEN. In other words, we are looking at how to make these sounds (TN/DN) and how to make them sound different from -DEN endings.
1. I couldn’t and wouldn’t find the wooden paddle.
2. I shouldn’t have gone to her wedding if she didn’t want me there.
3. I couldn’t Jack. They would know that Natalie lived in Manhattan.
DAY 19
In today’s challenge we are working on the FLAP! It is the little tap when it’s not a T or a D but a delicate tap. It is when T or D are within two vowel sounds, and usually in an unstressed syllable position. Find that Flappity Flap!
1. Ewww! Can you get it out of the butter, please?
2. They ordered a portable auditory test.
3. That little kiddo waited all day to eat up the batter.
DAY 20
In today's challenge, we are looking at a cool form of linking called Y and W insertion. When you have a word that ends with a vowel and the next word then starts with another vowel, you may need to extend the first vowel (usually a Y or W sound) so that you don't glottalize OR add an H. This helps keep the sounds linked and flowing.
1. Lee offered twenty acres to Annie.
2. We answered you Alex. Don’t you see everything we awarded you?
3. Why is he asking for a cut? They only opened the other store last week.
DAY 21
In today's challenge, we are looking at how English reduces sounds, syllables and words that are not stressed by adding a schwa (ə or ɚ) or short "uh" sound.
1. I would have gotten a two for one deal!
2. I’m going to go to the restaurant with another friend.
3. What do you want to do when we go out of town?
DAY 22
In today's challenge, we are looking at where we want to place R (the English reflexive R) in our mouth and practice it in different environments.
D D D D D D EEEEE
D D D Z Z Z EEEEE
ZZZZ ʒʒʒ (pronounced like garaGE) EEEE
ʒʒʒ RRRR EEEEE
1. Poor Riley. He really ran around that rugged rock!
2. Did you borrow the barrow for Larry tomorrow?
3. Yeah, well, my father answered for the first rehearsal.
DAY 23
In today's challenge, we are looking at another form of connected speech WITH our amazing R as well as other consonants. We have already looked at the Y and W insertion and the FLAP and connecting by reducing and deleting and now we are adding linking. We do this in many languages, so it isn't new, but with R it can be tricky!
1. Where are all the bar items?
2. Keep out of there or else she’ll ask a lot of questions.
3. Should Danny get in touch on Thursday?
4. I’ll make kebabs and dumplings on Nina’s birthday.
DAY 24
In today's challenge, we are practicing the first two diphthongs of R. This is when two sounds come together to form one sound, and in this case, the existence of R at the end creates a movement of the tongue and a diphthong feeling.
1. Clear your ears Clarence!
2. Is it fair to repair the rear steering?
3. I don’t care if Claire feared the hearing in Clearwater.
DAY 25
In today’s challenge we are continuing to look at diphthongs of R. We are looking at the last two that we typically use in North American English, the sounds in POOR and CAR. For the OR sound in POOR, make sure to use your lips to round forward and stretch the cheeks.
1. I wore corduroy vest to Tory’s party.
2. Did you mark the park bench that Marcus carved?
3. We stored the parts in the car for four boring hours.
DAY 26
In today's challenge, we are looking at a small but important hidden W that we tend to forget about in words that don't have an ACTUAL W in them. Words like "about," "around," and "don't." Remember it's all about that diphthong! If there is the /u/ sound, add a W sound.
1. Where are you going? And what were you doing for hours and hours?
2. He was going on about how out going he was as a kid.
3. That’s a sort of roundabout way of doubting, don’t you think?
DAY 27
In today’s challenge, we are taking a look at phrasal verbs. Phrasal verbs are compound verbs that contain an action and a direction or preposition. It’s important to remember that MOST of the time we stress the preposition or direction or second part of the phrasal verb.
1. Can you pick up the take out when you wake up tomorrow?
2. Can we take off after game? This way we won’t run out of time.
3. Look out for him. He might break up with one person, then slide in to favor with another.
DAY 28
In today's challenge, (dun dun DUN!) we tackle the /æ/ sound as in PAT, but after an M and an N sound. In the US, most people create a kind of diphthong in this environment, making the sound more like between and /e/ and an /æ/ sound with a bit of an UH in the mix too! It can be complicated, but watch the demo as much as you need and see if you can approximate it for yourself!
1. Did Sam’s family understand the program?
2. I can’t plan anything before the campout, because Annie needs to cram for a test.
3. Can you withstand revamping of the recipe for cranberry ham?
DAY 29
In today's challenge, we are looking at sentence stress. What to stress and how to stress it. I won't be doing a demo of these sentences, because I want you all to come up with the stress on your own! So, copy down the sentences, underline the words you think should be stressed according to my directions in the video, and record yourself doing that. If you can, add a comment first saying which words you stressed.