Exercise:

1. Listen to the recording and repeat each word or sentence in the same way as the speaker.

   (Do your best to imitate them!)

2. Voice-record yourself reading the words out loud

3. Play your voice recording audio and listen to your pronunciation

4. Compare with the original audio and Imitate the speaker

5. Send your voice recording to your language coach.

ACCENT INITIATION — LESSON 3 OF 4

Diphthong Dynamics

Goal: Pronounce common English diphthongs clearly, moving smoothly from one vowel sound to another without adding extra syllables.

Accent reference: Modern British English.

1. /eɪ/ — The Sound in Day

Instructions: Start with /e/ and glide towards /ɪ/. Keep it as one smooth syllable.

• day

• face

• late

• train

• explain

• available

Practise these sentences:

• I usually take the train to work.

• She explained the changes to the team.

• We arrived late because of the traffic.

• Can you make the payment today?

• They agreed to change the date of the meeting.

2. /aɪ/ — The Sound in Time

Instructions: Start with an open /a/ sound and glide towards /ɪ/.

• time

• price

• right

• decide

• advice

• reliable

Practise these sentences:

• I might arrive five minutes late.

• We need to find the right time to meet.

• She decided to buy a reliable device.

• I'd like to try a different approach.

• My advice is to practise a little every night.

3. /ɔɪ/ — The Sound in Boy

Instructions: Begin with /ɔː/ and glide towards /ɪ/. Keep the movement smooth.

• boy

• choice

• voice

• point

• avoid

• appointment

Practise these sentences:

• I have an appointment at half past three.

• He raised an important point during the discussion.

• We have a choice, so we should think carefully.

• Try to avoid making too much noise.

• Her voice sounded different on the phone.

4. /əʊ/ — The Sound in Go

Instructions: Start with a relaxed central vowel and glide towards /ʊ/. Avoid making the sound two separate syllables.

• go

• home

• phone

• notice

• approach

• alone

Practise these sentences:

• I hope you get home before it starts to snow.

• Please leave your phone next to the door.

• We noticed a problem with the new approach.

• Although it was cold, we decided to go out.

• I don't know how to solve this on my own.

5. /aʊ/ — The Sound in Now

Instructions: Start with an open /a/ sound and glide towards /ʊ/.

• now

• house

• sound

• amount

• announce

• throughout

Practise these sentences:

• The house is much quieter now.

• We found out about the change this morning.

• Could you write down the amount?

• They announced the results at around four o'clock.

• I usually listen to podcasts while I'm out and about.

6. /ɪə/ and /eə/ — Near and Care

Instructions: Practise the vowel movement carefully. In contemporary British speech, these sounds may be more diphthongal or more monophthongal depending on the speaker.

• near — chair

• here — hair

• fear — fair

• beard — bear

• serious — various

Practise these sentences:

• The chair is near the window.

• I need to repair the hairdryer.

• Is it fair to ask everyone to be here early?

• She looked serious when she heard the news.

• We need to be clear about the areas that require improvement.

7. Smooth Transitions

Instructions: Join the words naturally. Avoid pausing between them or exaggerating each vowel.

• day out

• my own

• go away

• find out

• enjoy it

• stay around

• no doubt

• right now

Practise these sentences:

• I'd like to find out more about the course.

• We should go away for a few days.

• I enjoy it when people explain things clearly.

• There's no doubt that regular practice helps.

• I need to decide right now, so give me a moment.

• They stayed around after the meeting to talk.

8. Mixed Diphthong Activation

Instructions: Read each sentence three times: slowly, at normal speed, then without looking.

• I decided to take the train rather than drive.

• We found out that the price had gone up.

• Although I enjoyed the appointment, I was quite tired afterwards.

• The choice was difficult, so I asked for advice.

• I hope to improve my pronunciation by practising every day.

• Could you explain how to avoid making the same mistake?

• They announced the new date while we were outside.

• I don't know why, but the whole conversation sounded different.

• We need to find a reliable way to organise our time.

• I'd like to know more about the course before I make my choice.

9. Independent Speaking

Instructions:

• Record yourself speaking for two minutes about a decision you made recently.

• Use at least eight words from today's lesson.

• Listen back and identify three words where the vowel movement sounded unclear or unnatural.

• Repeat each word five times, then use it in a complete sentence.

• Record yourself again and compare both versions.

10. Final Challenge

Instructions: Read the paragraph aloud twice. Then cover it and retell the story in your own words.

A few days ago, I decided to find out more about a training course. I phoned the provider and explained what I wanted to improve. They outlined the different choices and advised me to take my time before deciding. Although I was unsure at first, I now feel quite confident about choosing the right course.