The summer is heating up and with schools out around the globe, people are beginning to take their vacations and plan trips to and from hither and yon. So we thought we would give you some tips on being a good, courteous traveler, as well as a few phrases you might hear while you are out and about this summer. Chances are if you have ever taken a trip in your life, you have come across one of “those” people. You know the ones, the person/people who just doesn’t seem to “get” it.  In this blog, your American accent training team at Pronunciation Workshop will give you a few tips and idioms ..read more

Speech pathologist from Highland Park taps global drive to speak perfect English Back in April, Paul was featured by the Chicago Tribune for his work in speech language pathology and his international travel with Pronunciation Workshop. Here is what Karen Berkowitz of the Tribune had to say: Paul Gruber isn't a recognizable figure in his hometown of Highland Park, but he is in parts of Asia. Gruber has appeared on daytime talk television in Vietnam, and has drawn hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube. All pretty heady stuff for a speech pathologist. Gruber is the guru behin ..read more

Proper Vowel Pronunciation Vowel sounds are often difficult for non-native speakers to pronounce. One explanation is that there are five vowel letters in English (A, E, I, O, U) but fifteen vowel sounds and there may be no clear relationship between the printed letter and its sound. Some vowels have as many as 10 different spellings! Think about these words: "cough, bough, dough, rough, through"--the same "ough" spelling, but five different pronunciations! Vowel sounds are made by slight changes in the position of the tongue and lips and tensing or relaxing the muscles of the mouth. One import ..read more

Today we are going to talk just a little bit about 'r' blends, and give you some quick tips on how to properly pronounce that sound with an American accent. A consonant blend is when two or more consonants are blended together, but each souns may still be heard in the word/blend. These sounds are unlike digraphs, which are two consonants that stand together but represent one sound (think 'ph' that sounds like 'f'). When it comes to R Blends the 'r' sound is always the strongest sound of the blend. When the blend is at the beginning of a word, your mouth prepares for the 'R' by coming forw ..read more

How to properly make the 'R' sound with an American accent Paul Gruber goes through the Pronunciation Workshop's American accent training method of teaching you how to properly pronounce words containing the consonant 'R', with an American accent. Consonant ‘R’: Two things to remember when making an American ‘R’ sound: • Your mouth and lips come forward, like you are going to kiss. • Your tongue moves back in your mouth, NOT forward. Example Words: ‘R’ at the beginning of words: Rock Rip Reach ‘R’ at the end of words or after a vowel: Car Far Star ‘R’ in the middle of words Very Direction ..read more

THE 10 KEYS TOWARDS IMPROVEMENT American accent training doesn't have to be difficult. Here are 10 keys to improving your English! The essential method by which speakers of English as a second language learns to pronounce American English is by imitating the pronunciation of American English-speaking persons. The approach should be as close as possible to those conditions of normal communication. Here are ten method that can help you reach your goal of mastering English: 1. Practice and listen. While eating out, listen to conversations in a restaurant. During your free time, listen to those a ..read more

The Art of Conversation Part 2 in my 4 Part Series The Art of Listening! I believe that one of the key areas that is many times overlooked when learning English in the U.S. is NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION. The signals and affirmations in non-verbal communication serve to indicate feeling, meaning and understanding. That is why facial expressions, voice, body language and movement are vital components to having a successful conversation that easily flows.   Conversation is a personal interaction that is all about sharing and caring.     Everyone wants to be heard. If you are in ..read more

Holy Powerpoint!!! 747 Slides - DONE! That is how many slides are in my Keynote presentations for Vietnam next week! I hope Henry Higgins would be proud! It seems that "My Fair Lady" certainly left an impression on me. Thanks Rex ..read more

Pronunciation Workshop is excited to announce, that they will be working with staff from Warner Brothers in Paris, France, to train them on speaking 'Perfect English'.  French speakers do amazingly well with Paul Gruber's Pronunciation Workshop American Accent Program.  We are so excited to be working with such a respected entertainment organization!  ..read more

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