The InFluency Podcast

Latest Episodes:

86. Is technology screwing up your English? Dec 08, 2020

Show notes

We all know the advantages of technology when it comes to language learning. YOU'RE USING IT NOW! But have you ever considered the disadvantages?

Here's the thing – have you ever read or heard a word and thought to yourself, "Hey, I've looked up this word before. How come I don't remember how to use it, pronounce it, or even what it means?!?!"

It's not because there's something wrong with YOU. But it could be because your brain muscles have become really weak – because of the comfort of technology. In this episode I explain WHY, and how to overcome it.

Download my FREE vocabulary planner with my full vocabulary building process: https://bit.ly/2yMLaZh

30 different Sprints for a powerful daily practice: https://hadarshemesh.com/sprint-master

Videos mentioned:

How To Learn New Vocabulary? Build Pronunciation Confidence ? https://theaccentsway.com/how-to-learn-new-vocabulary/
Want to improve your speaking #vocabulary? STOP LEARNING NEW WORDS https://theaccentsway.com/improve-speaking-vocabulary/

85. The Top 10 Mispronounced TV Shows Dec 04, 2020

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.

This week we're going to talk about how to pronounce 10 of the most commonly mispronounced TV shows. Each one of them has a particular combination of sounds that makes it challenging to pronounce.

Here's a loose transcription of the names as explained in the episode:

Stranger Things: strein-dj'r thingz [IPA: ˈstreɪnʤər ˈθɪŋz]
The Handmaid's Tale: thuh-hand-meidz teil [IPA: ðə ˈhɛəndˌmeɪdz ˈteɪɫ]
Pretty Little Liars: pri-dee li-d'l lai-y'rz [IPA: ˈprɪt̬i ˈlɪt̬əɫ ˈlaɪərz]
Big Little Lies: big li-d'l laiz [IPA: ˈbɪg ˈlɪt̬əɫ laɪz]
Black Mirror: blak mir'r [IPA: blæk ˈmɪrər]
Game of Thrones: gei-m'v thrownz [IPA: ˈgeɪm əv ˈθroʊnz]
Orange is the New Black: o-r'nj'z thuh nuw blak [IPA: ˈɔrənʤ əz ðə nuː ˈblæk]
Westworld: WES(t)-w'rld [IPA: ˈwɛst̚ˌwɜrɫd]
Queer as Folk: kwir-az-fowk [IPA: ˈkwɪr æz ˈfoʊk]
The Bachelor & Bachelorette: th' bachl'r [IPA: ˈbætʃlər] / bach-luh-ret [IPA: ˌbætʃləˈrɛt]

To watch the video version of the episode, go here: https://theaccentsway.com/tv-shows/

If you want to improve your accent and understand spoken English better, download my free American Accent audio crash course: https://theaccentsway.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://theaccentsway.com/mispro-signup/

Join our Facebook community to connect with non-native English learners from all over the world: https://theaccentsway.com/influency-community/

84. The STRANGEST and Most EFFECTIVE Way to Learn CONDITIONAL SENTENCES Dec 01, 2020

Show notes

? Download my FREE & EFFECTIVE conditional sentences practice sheet & recording: https://theaccentsway.com/conditionals-pdf/

Have you been struggling with conditional sentences? ME TOO! ?‍ Conditional 0, conditional 1, 2 and 3. Mixed conditionals, confusing conditionals. So many options, and most of them don't make any sense! ?

Well, in this episode I'm going to explain conditionals in a new way, and while it may not be conventional… it might finally make sense. (In a strange way. But hey, there are stranger things than that.) I'll discuss the 3 main conditionals in English and share with you my method to practice them so you can use conditionals without second-guessing yourself. The main idea here is repetition. When we repeat things, they stick, and they become a habit. Conditional sentences are no different.

A playlist with awesome drills for every day https://bit.ly/2JwNatG

If you want to improve your accent and understand spoken English better, download my free American Accent audio crash course: https://theaccentsway.com/audio-accent-course/

Join our Facebook community to connect with non-native English learners from all over the world: https://theaccentsway.com/influency-community/

83. How to pronounce 'vulnerable' Nov 27, 2020

Show notes

English words can be really confusing sometimes. In the how-to-pronounce episodes released every Friday, I'll help you with the pronunciation of confusing or challenging words.

This week we're going to talk about how to pronounce the word "vulnerable".

Here's a loose transcription of the word as explained in the episode: Word: vuhl-nuh-ruh-b'l or vuhln-ruh-b'l IPA: [ˈvʌl.nə.rə.bəl] or [ˈvʌln.rə.bəl]

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/

82. 10-min Powerful Pronunciation Practice | HADAR'S SPRINT Nov 24, 2020

Show notes

DOWNLOAD THE PDF WITH THE SPRINT DRILLS: https://bit.ly/2H5eeiE

A Sprint is a 10-min exercise that I've developed, aimed at building pronunciation confidence using new sounds, new words, and common grammar structures, through consistent repetition. In this video, you'll get to drill a wide range of elements: pronunciation of important sounds, tricky consonant transitions, intonation of questions, and much more.

The repetition creates new pronunciation habits, so it becomes easier to use these sounds, retrieve the words, and internalize the grammar rule.

Pronunciation confidence is my unique teaching technique that has helped thousands of my students. Those who have used my different Sprints on a daily basis say that it works like MAGIC and they share incredible results.

If you liked this Sprint, you're probably going to like the SPRINT MASTER - 30 different Sprints for a powerful daily practice: https://hadarshemesh.com/sprint-master

More episodes with practice:

Sprint #1: https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/58/
15 Minute Morning Pronunciation Practice: https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/pronunciation-practice-english/
Addictive "Do the Drills" YT Playlist: https://bit.ly/32OypZL

81. Introverts Learning English Nov 20, 2020

Show notes

What is the best way for you to learn English as introverts?

If you are an introvert you know that some of the English learning methods out there are not as effective for you. Introverts need to acknowledge and understand their needs and use the right learning methods that work best for them.

In this episode, I will share with you some strategies that can help you improve your English without going against your nature.

If you want to improve your accent and understand spoken English better, download my free American Accent audio crash course: https://theaccentsway.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://theaccentsway.com/mispro-signup/

Join our Facebook community to connect with non-native English learners from all over the world: https://theaccentsway.com/influency-community/

80. Do you sound FRIENDLY in English? (What you need to know about TONE OF VOICE) Nov 17, 2020

Show notes

Tone of voice in English – Is it possible to change the meaning of what you're saying, without changing your words? The answer is – YES

Go to my blog post to watch the video, learn more & practice: https://bit.ly/35y81Fh

We use our voice to express our emotions and feelings. It plays a huge role in our communication with other people.

We often put more meaning into the speaker's tone of voice (how they say things) than into the words they use. And sometimes it only takes a slight change in our voice for something to be taken as a joke, an insult, or a friendly comment.

If you want to become more expressive and engaging, and help people connect with you – exploring your tone of voice is the way!

In this episode, I'll show you how the same sentence can be said in many different ways.

Go to my blog post to find a list of example sentences and practice using a different tone each time.

More useful videos for your voice:

Do you change your voice when you speak English? Here's why (+ listen to my voice in Hebrew?) https://theaccentsway.com/change-your-voice-in-english/
How to Use Your Voice in ENGLISH to Sound Powerful and Confident https://theaccentsway.com/improve-your-speaking-voice-in-english/
How to Practice Your Intonation In English [Podcast] https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/13/

If you want to improve your accent and understand spoken English better, download my free American Accent audio crash course: https://theaccentsway.com/audio-accent-course/

Join our Facebook community to connect with non-native English learners from all over the world: https://theaccentsway.com/influency-community/

79. How to pronounce words ending with '-ial' Nov 13, 2020

Show notes

English words can be really confusing sometimes. In the how-to-pronounce episodes released every Friday, I'll help you with the pronunciation of confusing or challenging words.

This week we're going to talk about how to pronounce words that end with the suffix '-ial'.

Get your FREE '-ial' Suffix Pronunciation Practice here: https://hadarshemesh.com/suffix-download/

Here's a loose transcription of the words as explained in the episode:

memorial: me-mo-ree-y'l [IPA: məˈmɔːriəl ]
testimonial: tes-tuh-mow-nee-y'l [IPA: ˌtestəˈmoʊniəl]
editorial: e-duh-to-ree-y'l [IPA: ˌedəˈtɔːriəl]
trivial: triv-y'l [IPA:ˈtrɪvjəl]

When this suffix appears after a SH sound, it changes:

financial: fai-nan-sh'l [IPA: faɪˈnænʃəl]
social: sow-sh'l [IPA: ˈsoʊʃəl]
commercial: kuh-mur-sh'l [IPA: kəˈmɝːʃəl]
martial: mar-sh'l [IPA: ˈmɑːrʃəl]
influential: in-flu-en-sh'l [IPA: ˌɪnfluˈenʃəl]
potential: puh-ten-sh'l [IPA: pəˈtenʃəl ]
controversial: kaan-truh-vur-sh'l [IPA: ˌkɑːntrəˈvɝːʃəl]

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/

78. Kamala Harris's Victory Speech – American Intonation & Rhythm Analysis Nov 09, 2020

Show notes

Download a transcript with my visual intonation notes of the stressed words, reductions and rhythm notes: https://bit.ly/3leOlvM

Kamala Harris, the new Vice-President-Elect of the US gave an inspiring victory speech this week.

In this episode, I'll break down a part of her speech and analyze the way she uses American prosody to send her strong and clear message to every woman and girl out there.

Learn more about American Intonation:

American INTONATION | What They don't Teach You in School https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/american-intonation/
How to Practice Your Intonation In English [Podcast] - https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/13/
How to practice intonation? | Bill Murray movie speech analysis + script https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/american-intonation-practice-pdf/
How to sound interesting in English | varied pitch vs. monotone | intonation - https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/intonation-pitch/
What makes a voice sound natural??| Intonation Analysis of Google Assistant - https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/natural-voice/

77. How to pronounce 'world' Nov 06, 2020

Show notes

English words can be really confusing sometimes. In the how-to-pronounce episodes released every Friday, I'll help you with the pronunciation of confusing or challenging words.

This week we're going to talk about how to pronounce the word "world".

Here's a loose transcription of the word as explained in the episode: World: w'rld [IPA: wɝːld]

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/

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