DAILY TRAINING PROGRAM MODULES

In this section I have put together an overview of the modules included in the Daily Training Program together with some sample audio files. You can access the first module here.

Aspiration 01 & 02

While correct positioning of the articulators is important, achieving native-like pronunciation hinges on mastering aspiration. But what does it mean to aspirate sounds in a native-like manner? It entails adapting the speech mechanisms to maintain a relaxed posture across the various regions of the vocal tract. At first glance, aspiration may seem straightforward, but for many, it poses significant challenges. That’s why I’ve developed a dedicated three-hour module solely focused on aspiration.

Running length: 3 hrs

Available formats: 320kbps MP3, HD Audio FLAC

Level 01

Let’s start with the fundamentals. In this exercise, we’ll combine the various consonant sounds with the schwa sound. Just as babies begin with babble before talking, we will start by mastering the basic building blocks of the speech mechanisms.

 

This module can be accessed here:
https://courses.receivedpronunciation.com/

Running length: 52 minutes

Available formats: 320 kbps MP3

 

Content: 

  • Plosive + schwa
  • Fricative + schwa
  • Affricate + schwa
  • Nasal + schwa
  • Approximant + schwa
  • Cluster sounds containing /r/: prə, brə, trə, drə, krə,  grə, frə, vrə, θrə, ʃrə…
  • Cluster sounds containing /l/: plə, blə, klə, glə, flə, vlə, slə…

Sample:

pə… pə… pə… pə…
pə pə… pə pə… pə pə…
pə pə pə… pə pə pə…
pəpəpə…
bə… bə… bə… bə…
bə bə… bə bə… bə bə…
bə bə bə… bə bə bə…
bəbəbə…

Level 02

Running length: 2 hrs 27 minutes

Available formats: 320 kbps MP3, FLAC HD AUDIO

 

Content:

  • Plosive + schwa combination
  • Fricative + schwa combination
  • Affricate + schwa combination
  • Nasal + schwa combination
  • Approximant + schwa combination
  • **Cluster sound combinations**

Sample:

Workout exercise: plosive combination ①

pə… bə… pə… bə…
pəbə… pəbə… pəbə…
pə… tə… pə… tə…
pətə… pətə… pətə…
pə… də… pə… də…
pədə… pədə… pədə…
pə… kə… pə… kə…
pəkə… pəkə… pəkə…

Level 03

Running length: 1 hr 31 minutes

Available formats: 320kbps MP3, FLAC HD AUDIO

 

Content:

  • Central vowels: /ə/, /ɪ/, /ʌ/, /ʊ/
  • Back vowels: /uː/, /ɔː/, /ɑː/*
  • Front vowels: /iː/, /ɛ/, /æ/*

Sample:

Workout exercise: back vowels ⑰

pɒt… pɒt… pɒt…
bɒt… bɒg… bɒt…
tɒp… tɒp… tɒp…
dɒt… dɒg… dɒt…
kɒt… kɒn… kɒd…
gɒt… gɒʃ… gɒn…

Level 04

Running length: 50 minutes

Available formats: 320kbps MP3

 

Content:

  • Diphthong vowel /əʊ/
  • Diphthong vowel /aʊ/
  • Diphthong vowel /ʊə/
  • Diphthong vowel /eɪ/
  • Diphthong vowel /eə/
  • Diphthong vowel /aɪ/
  • Diphthong vowel /ɔɪ/*
  • Diphthong vowel /ɪə/*

Level 05

Running length: 5 minutes

Available formats: 320kbps MP3

 

Content:

Connecting sounds

Level 06

Running length: 67 minutes

Available formats: 320kbps MP3

 

Content:

  • Common words
  • Word combinations

Level 08

Running length: 18 minutes

Available formats: 320kbps MP3

 

Content:

Two word combinations & sentence practice*

 

Example: 

I do – I do my best every day.

Level 09

Running length: 53 minutes

Available formats: 320kbps MP3

 

Content:

Word combinations & phrases

 

Example:
I… do…
my best, my best…
every day, every day…
I do my best every day…

Level 10

Running length: 3hrs

Available formats: 320kbps MP3, FLAC HD AUDIO 

 

Content:

Demonstrative pronouns*

 

Example:
this… is…
this is…
this is, this is, this is…
this is… a…
this is a…
this is a, this is a, this is a…

Level 11

Running length: 32 minutes

Available formats: 320kbps MP3

 

Content:

Indicative

 

Example:

I am… the…
I am the…
I am the, I am the, I am the…

 

Level 12

Running length: 60 minutes

Available formats: 320kbps MP3, HD Audio FLAC

 

Content:

  • Plosive cluster + diphthong
  • Fricative cluster + diphthong
  • /θr/ + diphthong
  • /θr/ + long vowel
  • /ʃr/ + long vowel
  • /kw/ + diphthong
  • /kw/ + long vowel

Examples:

prə… prə… prə…
prə, prə, prə… prəʊ
prəʊ, prəʊ, prəʊ…

brə, brə, brə… brəʊk…
brəʊk… brəʊk… brəʊk…

Level 13

Running length: 8 minutes

Available formats: 320kbps MP3, FLAC HD Audio

Content:

Sentences with cluster sounds

Example:

Practice playing the piano.
practise… playing… the… piano
practise, practise, practise…
practise playing…
practise playing, practise playing, practise playing…
the piano…
practise playing the piano…

Level 14

Running length: 11 minutes

Available formats: 320kbps MP3, FLAC HD Audio

 

Content:

Common English phrases

 

Examples:

by the way…

in the meantime…

as far as I know…

Level 00: Aspiration Exercises – 10 minutes 

Level 01: Consonant + schwa, clusters sounds, light /l/ – 52 minutes

Level 02: Consonant + schwa combination, cluster sound combination – 68 minutes

Level 03: Central, front & back vowels – 57 minutes

Level 04: Diphthong vowels – 50 minutes

Level 05: Connecting sounds – 5 minutes

Level 06: Common words, word combinations – 67 minutes

Level 07 – 2 minutes

Level 08: Two word combinations & phrases – 19 minutes

Level 09: Word combinations & phrases – 53 minutes

Level 10: Demonstrative pronouns – 115 minutes

Level 11: Indicative – 32 minutes

Level 12: Cluster sound combinations – 15 minutes

Level 13: Sentences with cluster sounds – 6 minutes

Level 14: Common phrases

Current total length: approx 8 hrs