Pronunciation Resources
This curated list features practical tools for improving American English pronunciation. From interactive apps and video lessons to classroom activities and audio samples of regional dialects, each resource helps learners speak more clearly and confidently. Whether you're studying independently or teaching others, these materials support better pronunciation, rhythm, and fluency.
Apps
ELSA Speak is an AI-powered app that helps non-native English speakers improve pronunciation, word stress, and intonation through real-time feedback and personalized lessons. It offers a free plan with limited features and a premium subscription, with a free trial available.
Sounds of Speech This interactive app, developed in collaboration with the University of Iowa, teaches how English sounds are produced using animated diagrams, audio, and video. It’s a powerful tool for exploring articulation, though access requires a paid subscription.
Accent Speech Samples
DARE Interview Audio Collection – UW–Madison This collection features field recordings capturing interviews with nearly 3,000 speakers across the U.S. between 1965 and 1970. The recordings document regional vocabulary, pronunciation, and cultural insights, making them a valuable resource for linguists, educators, and students studying American English dialects.
Speech Accent Archive – George Mason University This educational resource offers a rich collection of audio samples showcasing English spoken by individuals from across North America and around the world. Each speaker reads the same scripted passage, allowing for easy comparison of regional and international accents.
The Corpus of Teaching Assistant Classroom Speech (CoTACS) provides a valuable collection of audio recordings, transcripts, and partial prosodic annotations from classroom speech by 20 international teaching assistants (ITAs) and 10 native American English-speaking TAs, representing diverse linguistic and disciplinary backgrounds. This resource supports language teaching and research by enabling educators to explore features of spoken language—such as tone units and thought groups—through authentic classroom interactions, making it especially useful for developing learners’ listening and pronunciation skills.
The International Dialects of English Archive (IDEA) This resource offers a large collection of audio samples showcasing regional and ethnic English dialects across the United States. Each recording includes a speaker reading a standard passage and sharing unscripted speech, making it a valuable tool for studying pronunciation, accent variation, and speech patterns.
Online Resources
American English Pronunciation Workbook This resource from UC Berkeley offers a clear, interactive introduction to English phonetics. It includes audio examples of sounds and speech extracted from actual conversation, making it useful for learners and educators exploring the basics of pronunciation and sound production.
Eva Easton's American English Pronunciation This site offers a wide range of interactive materials designed to help learners master the sounds and rhythm of American English. Through video lessons, audio quizzes, and real-life speech examples, users can improve their pronunciation, listening comprehension, and overall fluency.
FluentU - 16 Pronunciation Activities for ESL Students This blog post presents creative pronunciation activities for ESL learners, including games and group exercises that build listening and speaking skills through fun, interactive practice. Each activity is adaptable for various classroom settings.
Learning English Pronunciation This page offers a collection of insightful articles on how to improve English pronunciation effectively. It focuses on practical techniques like using phonetic transcription, choosing a pronunciation model, and building consistent learning habits.
How to improve your English Speaking and Fluency: SHADOWING This YouTube video explains the shadowing technique, a powerful method for improving English fluency by listening and repeating spoken English out loud. This technique trains your mouth and ears, helping you build pronunciation, rhythm, and speaking confidence—even without a conversation partner.
SpeechActive This resource provides pronunciation and accent reduction support tailored for Japanese speakers. It includes video explanations, audio practice, and tips focused on common pronunciation challenges, helping learners speak English more clearly and confidently.
The American Accent Guide for Spanish Speakers by Hadar Shemesh This printable guide offers structured pronunciation activities for adult ESL learners, covering syllables, stress, rhythm, and intonation. It also includes links to supporting videos, making it a versatile resource for both classroom and self-study use.
The Color Vowel Chart This resource introduces the Color Vowel Chart, a visual tool that helps learners improve English pronunciation by linking vowel sounds to colors and key words. It supports better stress, rhythm, and intonation through a multisensory approach, making it especially effective for ESL learners.
TfCS (Tools for Clear Spech) Tools To-Go! from Baruch College’s Tools for Clear Speech program provides mobile resources to practice English pronunciation, rhythm, intonation, appropriate communication, and more. Materials are organized into categories for easy access and flexible learning.
Youtube Channels
English with Kim This YouTube channel offers playlists designed to help advanced English learners speak more clearly and confidently. The videos focus on key aspects of natural American speech—like pitch, intonation, stress, and thought groups.
Rachel’s English – Master the Sounds of American English This YouTube playlist is part of a comprehensive course designed to help learners master the sounds of American English. Each video breaks down individual sounds with clear explanations of jaw, lip, and tongue positioning, supported by helpful illustrations. It’s ideal for learners aiming to build a natural, neutral American accent through detailed, visual instruction.