Master the American English vowels with this comprehensive online course! The course material is specific to native speakers of Mandarin Chinese. The course includes hundreds of downloadable audio files, videos, quizzes, and more!
"Take the leap to reach your English goals!"
"I recently finished a 10-session program with Julie, and I am completely satisfied with the results.
Since the first class, it was clear that she was an expert on the subject and created a safe space to practice and ask questions. I totally recommend Julie if you are looking for a coach who helps you improve the details of your accent that limit your communication or make you feel less confident. My best piece of advice is to take the leap to reach your English goals!"
Juan V., PhD Student, Spanish
Course curriculum
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Welcome to the course!
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How to use this course / FAQs / Troubleshooting
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Before we begin...
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Mission #1: Introduce Yourself
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[REPLAY]: Live Class: Thursday, June 16 @ 5:00 p.m. PST
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How to Practice: Muscle Memory
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How much practice do you need?
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How to Practice: Imitation
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How to Practice: Make a Recording
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An Introduction to the Vowels of Mandarin
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Mandarin Vowels and American English Vowels
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Top 5 Pronunciation Challenges
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Mission #2: Challenging Vowels
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Introduction to Rocio Pena
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Interview with Rocio Pena (native speaker of Spanish)
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Mission #3: Your Experience Learning English
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Introduction to Vowel Reductions
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Vowel Reductions: Function Words
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Vowel Reductions: Sentences
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Vowel Length
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Tense vs. Lax Vowels
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Nasality
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Mission #4: Vowel Foundational Skills
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An Introduction to the IPA and the American English Vowels
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IPA: Online Resources
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IPA: Vowels Quiz
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Mission #5: IPA
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About this course
- $99.95
- 164 lessons
- 4 hours of video content
American English Vowels for Mandarin Chinese Speakers
Course details
What will I learn?
If you've been searching for an online course that teaches you everything you need to know to master the American English vowels, then this course is for you!
This course is comprehensive. You'll learn how to pronounce each vowel through innovative practice methods developed by Julie Cunningham, an industry-leading American accent coach and licensed speech-language pathologist. The lessons and instructions are unique to native speakers of Mandarin.
Then the practice: You'll practice each vowel of American English with over 1,600 audio files, 60+ videos, and detailed instructions on "What to do / What not to do" when pronouncing that vowel. All audio files can be downloaded to your device or computer, as well as additional exercises in PDF format.
Every chapter has quizzes to test your knowledge and end-of-chapter pronunciation challenges to maximize your learning.
But that's not all! In addition to learning about each vowel of American English, you'll also learn about key vowel considerations that impact the accurate pronunciation of all vowels, such as vowel reductions, nasality of vowels, and vowel length.
How do I receive extra help during the course?
There are many ways you can receive extra help during the course!
#1: You can participate in the online SDVA Discord community if you have questions or want extra help along the way. Julie will be there to answer your questions and give you feedback.
#2: You can also post your questions on the Discussions page of each chapter if you want help on a specific lesson or exercise.
#3: You can purchase discounted private accent training with Julie if you want more personalized coaching and pronunciation guidance as you complete the course. This discount is only available to students who enroll in this course! You can add these one-on-one sessions at the time of purchase, or contact Julie for more information ([email protected]).
#4: And don't forget: SDVA offers LIVE ENGLISH CLASSES! You can join Julie for a live English lesson every week at Julie's Conversation Club! Come to a meeting, ask questions, and receive live feedback on your pronunciation! Learn more about Julie's Conversation Club here: Julie's Conversation Club.
Who should take this course?
This vowels course was specifically designed for native speakers of Mandarin. The course material was written from the perspective of a native speaker of Mandarin and the typical pronunciation differences that person may have when speaking American English. If you are ready to dive deep into the American English vowel system and master both the theory and the pronunciation of American English vowels, then this course is for you!
Click here to learn about the other courses offered by San Diego Voice and Accent.
What English skill level should I have before I take this course?
The material in this course is best for a skill level of intermediate and above.
If you're a beginner of English, focus on improving your English vocabulary and language skills before you try out this course. You can always enroll once you're ready to advance your English pronunciation skills!
Why should I take this course on the American English vowels?
Pronunciation can't be learned from a book. Once a word is spoken out loud, its pronunciation often changes, and the only way to learn about that pronunciation is to listen to native speakers and then imitate them. This course will give you the opportunity to do just that - listen to and imitate native speakers of American English - with powerful practice material and instructions that were written from the perspective of your native language.
Now's your chance to gain the confidence and fluency that you're looking for. Enroll today!
"Julie increased my awareness of how to speak like a native speaker."
"I have worked with Julie for 8 months to improve my accent.
She is an incredible teacher. I like how quickly she could diagnose my pronunciation issues, in particular my tongue placements. She increased my awareness of how to speak like a native speaker. She also gave me drills to improve my speech, some of which are quite innovative such as using a metronome. Julie is very patient and compassionate and fun to work with. I highly recommend her for her skills, caliber, and approaches to quickly move you forward."
Joan Y., Life Coach, Mandarin Chinese
Meet your course instructor
Hello! My name is Julie Cunningham, and I've trained thousands of people on their American English pronunciation and voice projection skills. Here's how I can help you.
I've been helping people with their American English pronunciation skills since 2007, when I moved to the Czech Republic to teach English. This experience sparked a desire to return to school and earn a graduate degree in speech and language pathology, then pursue specialized certifications in American English pronunciation and American accent training.
Then I founded my company San Diego Voice and Accent, where I work one-on-one with professionals who want to perfect their American English pronunciation skills, project a clear and confident voice, and maximize their speaking potential.
But I didn't stop there! I've also created online courses on the American accent that target all areas of American English pronunciation and professional voice projection, and I run live English classes every week at my flagship group class called Julie's Conversation Club.
Over the years of working as an American accent coach and professional voice trainer, I've learned a lot about what works and what doesn't work when training your pronunciation skills and voice projection. It's not enough for you to simply "repeat" what you hear; that isn't going to get you the results. You need to practice with the right technique and with the most effective methods, and you need someone there to guide you along the way.
That's why I created the premium online classes and courses from SDVA - to help professionals from all areas of the world and at all levels of English to speak with clarity and confidence, and to reach their goals of becoming a powerful and effective communicator.
The online classes and courses from SDVA give you everything you need to train your American English communication skills successfully, including effective practice techniques, pronunciation help and feedback, and access to the SDVA online community for guidance and support along the way.
Julie Cunningham
Founder of San Diego Voice and Accent
"I feel others can understand me better!"
"Before I attended Julie's 4-week seminar, I thought my pronunciation was pretty good.
After the first class, I realized that there are still many things I can improve on. The information I learned in her classes helped me to hear and understand better what others are saying. And with practice, I feel others can understand me better as well. Julie has a great way of helping me realize how the muscles in my mouth can move in a way to fulfill the need for the word at hand. This is exactly what I need to improve."
Hong Y., Senior Scientist, Mandarin Chinese
FAQ
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What's included in my course enrollment?
1) You will have instant access to the full course material, which includes over 1,600 audio files (all downloadable), 60+ videos, and detailed instructions on "What to do / What not to do" when pronouncing that vowel. 2) Every chapter has quizzes to test your knowledge and end-of-chapter pronunciation missions to maximize your learning. 3) Full access to the SDVA Discord community: Ask questions and receive help from Julie and the rest of the community! 4) Special discounts on private accent training (discount is only offered to those who subscribe to this course!).
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My payment was declined, but I entered the correct credit card information. How can I purchase this course?
This is a known issue for students in India or students who are using credit cards that are attached to banks in India (and potentially other countries). You may need to contact your bank to authorize this transaction, then return to this course website to purchase the course.
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Can I download the practice materials?
Absolutely! All audio files are downloadable, so you can practice your English pronunciation anywhere and at any time! Some exercises also come in a PDF format in addition to the audio format, so you can download and print out specific exercises you'd like to practice when you're away from your computer or device.
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How long will I have access to this course?
You will have lifetime access to the course through the San Diego Voice and Accent Courses platform (hosted on Thinkific).
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How long will it take me to complete this course?
The course was designed to be completed in 8 - 12 weeks, though this may be different for each person. You are encouraged to spend as much time as you need to on each chapter, and you can also repeat any chapters in order to maximize your learning.
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What if I am unhappy with the course?
Oh no! I don't want that! I offer a 10-day money back guarantee, no questions asked. If you are unhappy with the course for any reason, let me know within the first 10 days and I will refund your payment.
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I want to learn more about my specific pronunciation patterns. Can I complete a speech evaluation?
Yes! If you want to know your baseline pronunciation skills, SDVA offers a comprehensive speech and pronunciation evaluation. You can add this to your cart at the time of purchase.
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Can I pay with PayPal?
Yes! On the checkout page, select the PayPal button under the section "Select a payment method".
"I have renewed confidence in my accent capability."
"I had the pleasure of working with Julie on my standard American accent.
Her knowledge and supportive instruction style made the experience truly enjoyable and worthwhile. Her professional yet easy going manner made me feel comfortable from the outset. Julie was encouraging, enthusiastic and most of all patient. I have renewed confidence in my accent capability and I have her to thank for it."
Stephen L., Voice Over Actor, South African English