The InFluency Podcast

Latest Episodes:

266. Learn how to pronounce the months of the year Nov 08, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, I'll teach you how to pronounce all 12 months in the year, plus, I added a few bonus tips about knowing which prepositions to use when we talk about months and dates (yes, those tricky little prepositions in, on, and at)!

What month is the most challenging for YOU to pronounce?

Want to keep practicing? Use my pronunciation confidence method! Tune in here: https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/42/

265. How to pronounce Martyr vs. Murder Nov 04, 2022

Show notes

English words can be really confusing sometimes. In these how-to-pronounce episodes published on Fridays, I'll help you with the pronunciation of confusing words and common names. This week we're going to talk about the words 'martyr' and 'murder'.

Here's a loose transcription of the word as explained in the episode: Martyr: maar-d'r [IPA: ˈmɑːɹɾəɹ] Murder: m'r-d'r [IPA: ˈmɜːɹdəɹ]

Watch the video version here: https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/murder-martyr/

If you want to improve your accent and understand spoken English better, download my free American Accent audio crash course: https://hadarshemesh.com/audio-accent-course/ You can also download an interactive list of 50 of the most mispronounced words in English and master the pronunciation of those tricky words: https://hadarshemesh.com/50-most-mispronounced-words/ Join our Facebook community to connect with non-native English learners from all over the world: https://hadarshemesh.com/influency-community/

264. The behind-the-scenes of my New York City Meetup Nov 01, 2022

Show notes

This October, I was in my beloved New York City, where I had the most incredible meetup with over 50 New Sound and Beyond community members.

When I first got the idea for this meetup, I had no clue that it would turn out to be so big, with several students flying from all around the world to come and meet each other!

In this episode, tune in to learn about the behind-the-scenes of the meetup, the importance of community, and part of the speech I gave during the meetup.

Join the InFluency Community today! https://hadarshemesh.com/influency-community/

263. How to pronounce V and W Oct 28, 2022

Show notes

Here's a loose transcription of the words and phrases as explained in the episode: Vet: vet [IPA: vɛt] Wet: wet [IPA: wɛt] Why: wai [IPA: waɪ] We: wee [IPA: wi] When: wen [IPA: wɛn] While: wail [IPA: waɪl] Vile: vail [IPA: vaɪl] West: west [IPA: wɛst] Vest: vest [IPA: vɛst] Wine: wain [IPA: waɪn] Vine: vain [IPA: vaɪn]

Very well: ve-ree wel [IPA: ˈvɛɹi wɛl] White windows: wait win-dowz [IPA: waɪt ˈwɪndoʊz] Vicious wedding: vi-sh's we-ding [IPA: ˈvɪʃəs ˈwɛdɪŋ] Viking warriors: vai-king wo-ri-uhrz [IPA: ˈvaɪkɪŋ ˈwɔːɹiəɹz] Save the world: seiv thuh w'rld [IPA: seɪv ðə wɜɹld] Of which: uhv wich [IPA: əv wɪtʃ]

Watch the video version here: https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/v-w/

262. What to do when you LOSE YOUR FLUENCY Oct 26, 2022

Show notes

Can you lose fluency in English? What can you do if you need to get it back? In this episode, I'll talk about how you can measure fluency which will help you know if you've lost it. I also talk about tips for what to do to gain fluency back, and how to prevent it from happening!

Research published in 2014 about loss of fluency in the Journal of Cognitive Science: https://bit.ly/3D2A4w9

Want more tips on how to maintain and improve your fluency? Check these videos out!

5 Fluency Strategies for Teachers and Students: https://bit.ly/3gxAnHH Want more confidence in English? Do this: https://bit.ly/3TR2SPc This Really Helped Me Become Fluent: https://bit.ly/3VX380S 50 Powerful Fluency Tips (in under 5 minutes) https://bit.ly/3gF5scI

Have you ever felt like you've lost fluency in English?

261. How to pronounce 'frustrating' Oct 21, 2022

Show notes

Here's a loose transcription of the word as explained in the episode: Frustrating: fruhs-chrei-ding [IPA: ˈfɹʌstʃɹeɪɾɪŋ]

Watch the video version here: https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/frustrating/

260. Will reading books help you get fluent? Oct 18, 2022

Show notes

Have you ever had this feeling while reading a book that you're really making progress? That if someone were to start a conversation with you, all those words and grammar structures you've read would be there for you, and come out of your mouth effortlessly? But has that ever happened? Probably, reality hit and you realized that it doesn't work that way!

In this episode I explain why reading books in English, as wonderful as it is, is not enough if you want to become fluent. I'll also share 5 tips on how you can use books effectively to improve your fluency. Because books should definitely stay a part of our practice, but in a way you might not know about.

How To Learn New Vocabulary? Build Pronunciation Confidence https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/how-to-learn-new-vocabulary/ Feel Stuck in English? Here's Why (The Illusion of Learning) https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/the-illusion-of-learning-english/

259. How to pronounce 'Forward' & 'Backward' Oct 14, 2022

Show notes

Here's a loose transcription of the words as explained in the episode: Forward: for-w'rd [IPA: ˈfɔːɹwəɹd] Backward: bak-w'rd [IPA: ˈbækwəɹd]

Watch the video version here: https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/backward-forward/

258. Obedience Oct 11, 2022

Show notes

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself where the fear of making mistakes in English comes from?

We avoid mistakes because making mistakes means that we are "breaking the rules of language".

Following the rules – including the rules that society, native speakers, or people in positions of authority have placed on us, has a greater impact on our English than you might realize!

In this episode, I talk about the connection between obedience and how it's affecting your English

Do you follow the rules?

257. How to pronounce Quit, Quite, Quiet Oct 07, 2022

Show notes

Here's a loose transcription of the words as explained in the episode: Quit: kwit [IPA: kwɪt] Quite: kwait [IPA: kwaɪt] Quiet: kwai-y't [IPA:ˈkwaɪət]

Watch the video version here: https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/quit-quite-quiet/