This course is part of the The Pronunciation of American English Specialization

Helen Nam +3 more instructors
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The Pronunciation of American English SpecializationUniversity of California, Irvine

About this Course

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This is the second course of The Pronunciation of American English specialization.  In this course, you will learn and practice all of the vowel sounds of American English, including pairs of vowels that may be easy to confuse.  Each week you will receive practical advice from successful English learners and practice an effective technique called shadowing to improve your pronunciation of vowel sounds.  You will also have opportunities to record yourself and to respond to the recordings of other learners.
Only learners who pay for the course will be able to take the graded quizzes or submit assignments for feedback. The free version provides access to the lectures and practice activities only.

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Course 2 of 4 in the

The Pronunciation of American English Specialization

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Beginner Level

Approx. 23 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, Turkish, English, Spanish

Instructors

Instructor rating

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Course 2 of 4 in the

The Pronunciation of American English Specialization

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 23 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, Turkish, English, Spanish

Offered by

University of California, Irvine

Since 1965, the University of California, Irvine has combined the strengths of a major research university with the bounty of an incomparable Southern California location. UCI’s unyielding commitment to rigorous academics, cutting-edge research, and leadership and character development makes the campus a driving force for innovation and discovery that serves our local, national and global communities in many ways.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(1,928 ratings)

Week

Week 1

4 minutes to complete

Welcome

Welcome to Vowels of American English Pronunciation! In this course, you’ll practice all the vowel sounds of American English—like the first sounds in “apple,” “out,” or “even” that flow out of your mouth very smoothly. You’ll also practice some pairs of vowel sounds that may be confusing, like the middle sounds in “beat” and “bit” or “set” and “sat.” Some of these vowel sounds will probably be very easy for you, but some may be more of a challenge. Don’t give up. Keep listening to the sounds, learning about how they’re pronounced, and practicing the ones you find difficult. Good luck practicing the vowel sounds of American English.

4 minutes to complete

1 video (Total 2 min), 1 reading

1 video

Meet Your Teachers2m

1 reading

Optional Pronunciation Journal2m

5 hours to complete

Introduction to Vowels

5 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 39 min), 9 readings, 5 quizzes

8 videos

Introduction to Week 11m

Vowels Pretest Review5m

Vowel Overview3m

Vowel Overview Practice Activity4m

Rounded and Unrounded Vowels8m

Rounded and Unrounded Vowels Practice Activity5m

Pronunciation Tips6m

Shadowing a Conversation4m

9 readings

Vowels Pretest Directions2m

Vowels Supplemental Materials1m

Vowel Overview Directions1m

Vowel Overview Practice Activity Directions1m

Rounded and Unrounded Vowels Directions1m

Rounded and Unrounded Vowels Practice Activity Directions1m

Pronunciation Tips1m

Shadowing a Conversation Directions1m

Shadowing a Conversation Assignment1h

4 practice exercises

Vowels Pretest30m

Vowel Overview Practice Quiz30m

Rounded and Unrounded Practice Quiz30m

Week 1 Graded Quiz30m

Week

Week 2

6 hours to complete

Vowels Part 1

6 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 46 min), 9 readings, 5 quizzes

9 videos

Introduction to Week 21m

Front Vowels7m

Front Vowels Practice Activity6m

Tense and Lax Vowels6m

Tense and Lax Vowels Practice Activity4m

Confusing Vowel Pairs 16m

Confusing Vowel Pairs 1 Practice Activity3m

Pronunciation Tips5m

Shadowing a Conversation3m

9 readings

Front Vowels Directions1m

Front Vowels Practice Activity Directions1m

Tense and Lax Vowels Directions1m

Tense and Lax Vowels Practice Activity Directions1m

Confusing Vowel Pairs 1 Directions1m

Confusing Vowel Pairs 1 Practice Activity Directions1m

Pronunciation Tips1m

Shadowing a Conversation Directions1m

Shadowing a Conversation Assignment1h

4 practice exercises

Front Vowels Practice Quiz30m

Tense and Lax Practice Quiz30m

Confusing Vowel Pairs 1 Practice Quiz30m

Week 2 Graded Quiz30m

Week

Week 3

6 hours to complete

Vowels Part 2

6 hours to complete

10 videos (Total 50 min), 9 readings, 5 quizzes

10 videos

Introduction to Week 31m

Central Vowels3m

Back Vowels6m

Central and Back Vowels Practice Activity6m

Diphthongs5m

Diphthongs Practice Activity6m

Confusing Vowel Pairs 26m

Confusing Vowel Pairs 2 Practice Activity4m

Pronunciation Tips5m

Shadowing a Conversation3m

9 readings

Central and Back Vowels Directions1m

Central and Back Vowels Practice Activity Directions1m

Diphthongs Directions1m

Diphthongs Practice Activity Directions1m

Confusing Vowel Pairs 2 Directions1m

Confusing Vowel Pairs 2 Practice Activity Directions1m

Pronunciation Tips1m

Shadowing a Conversation Directions1m

Shadowing a Conversation Assignment1h

4 practice exercises

Central and Back Vowels Practice Quiz30m

Diphthongs Practice Quiz30m

Confusing Vowel Pairs 2 Practice Quiz30m

Week 3 Graded Quiz30m

Week

Week 4

6 hours to complete

Vowel Challenges

6 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 50 min), 9 readings, 5 quizzes

9 videos

Introduction to Week 41m

Unstressed Vowels6m

Unstressed Vowels Practice Activity5m

R-Controlled7m

R-Controlled Practice Activity5m

Vowel Spelling Challenges7m

Vowel Spelling Challenges Practice Activity6m

Pronunciation Tips5m

Shadowing a Conversation3m

9 readings

Unstressed Vowels Directions1m

Unstressed Vowels Practice Activity Directions1m

R-Controlled Directions1m

R-Controlled Practice Activity Directions1m

Vowel Spelling Challenges Directions1m

Vowel Spelling Challenges Practice Activity Directions1m

Pronunciation Tips1m

Shadowing a Conversation Directions1m

Shadowing a Conversation Assignment1h

4 practice exercises

Unstressed Vowels Practice Quiz30m

R-Controlled Practice Quiz30m

Vowel Spelling Challenges Practice Quiz30m

Week 4 Graded Quiz30m

About the The Pronunciation of American English Specialization

This specialization is intended for anyone who wants to achieve clearer, more understandable pronunciation of American English to help them communicate more easily and effectively. Through these four courses, you will learn about and practice consonant and vowel sounds, along with aspects of the “music” of English, including word stress, intonation, and connected speech. Clearer pronunciation leads to success in business, education, or any field where English is required.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You'll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. You'll need to complete this step for each course in the Specialization, including the Capstone Project. Learn more.
Will I earn university credit for completing the Course?
This Course doesn't carry university credit, but some universities may choose to accept Course Certificates for credit. Check with your institution to learn more. Online Degrees and Mastertrack™ Certificates on Coursera provide the opportunity to earn university credit.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

Vowels of American English Pronunciation