Let's get down to business!
(That's an English idiom for: let's get started!)

But really, today's lesson is all about the word 'business.' So we really are getting down to business. ;)  ...sorry, bad joke!

I want to give you words that will help you with your business English, so I thought, let's start with that very word: business.

And yup, more silent letters in this word! Follow along with the video and you will be able to say this word naturally in no time. 

Here's how to pronounce 'business' like a native:

More silent letters! Are you getting tired of all these silent letters?

Don't worry, I will help you, word by word, as we go along in this American English pronunciation series.

I want to help you with the pronunciation of 'internet' today. 

Click on the video below to learn how to pronounce 'internet' the American way:

Because VEGETABLES! Yes, common word. But one little tricky part right in the middle.

Here's how you can fix your pronunciation of this common word! 

I always say that everyone (well, maybe not EVERYONE, but most everyone) loves talking about food. Talking about food and eating together is maybe one of the best ways to learn language.

'Vegetables' is one of those common, but in actuality, kind of tricky words to pronounce. 

I break down the word 'vegetables' to help you say it like a native English speaker here in this video:

"Argh! English spelling! It's so weird!"

It is completely weird, I agree. I even had to look up the spelling of a word in the last sentence -the word 'weird' - because it's hard for me to spell.

One reason English spelling can be so weird is that lots of our words come from other languages. 

In the video below, you will learn how to pronounce the word 'chocolate' like a native English speaker.

The word 'chocolate' orginally comes from Spanish (and they even borrowed it from another language!), but when we say 'chocolate' in English it sounds REALLY different from the original languages.
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You can listen and learn how to say 'chocolate' here in this video:

Aaaah! The silent letters.  If only English could be pronounced like it is written. If only.

Sorry to tell you though, English will probably never be pronounced like it's written.   :(

That's why I've made this series for you! One reason English can be so hard to pronounce (especially if you learned from a grammar book or your foreign speaking English teacher) is that so many words in English that have letters that are silent. If you saw last week's video, you learned how the letter 'I' in 'family' can be silent as well.

Here's how to pronounce another common word that has multiple silent letters: 'clothes.':

I was born in the U.S. and raised in an English speaking family. I am lucky to have English as my native language, and I want to share my knowledge of the English language with you.

I have always loved everything about language: reading, writing, creating and reading poetry, listening to and reading music lyrics, watching and enjoying T.V. and movie writing, and, as an adult, learning two foreign languages. As an English tutor, English language coach and pronunciation trainer, I am able to share my love of language and language learning with my students every day.

I want to help YOU love the English language too, dear reader! English was a gift I received from my family, and I want to give you the power of speaking English too.

So today, you can be part of my 'family,' and practice the American pronunciation of this word: