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B2-C1

How To Lose A Russian/Ukrainian/Slavic Accent

Fluent American

4,280 views 3 years ago

Warm-up Questions

What accent features do you think make a Slavic accent noticeable in American English?
Which English sounds do you personally find the hardest to pronounce clearly?
If you wanted to sound more “American,” would you focus more on vowels or consonants? Why?

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Lesson 4 GE A2 ED

Start With: Word Definition

Order: Alphabetical Random

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How To Lose A Russian/Ukrainian/Slavic Accent

Vowels: placement, airflow, and common confusions (00:00 – 13:40)

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1. For the American English “ah” sound (as in “box”), what does the speaker say you need?

Lots of air through the throat and the tongue down low
A high tongue position with little airflow
Tight lips and a strong smile

2. What change does the speaker recommend for the “ooh/u” sound to make it more natural in American English?

Make the lips very round and push the sound forward
Add an extra vowel before the consonant in most words
Use straighter lips and focus on more airflow

3. What does the speaker describe as especially difficult about the “a/æ” sound when it comes before a nasal (n/m/ng), like in “man” or “plan”?

The tongue slides back and the sound shifts right before the nasal
You should stop airflow completely at the end of the vowel
The lips must become very round to keep the sound stable

How To Lose A Russian/Ukrainian/Slavic Accent

TH sound + consonant contrasts (p/b/v/w) and listening practice (13:40 – 20:55)

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1. What is the speaker’s first alternative placement for making the TH sound smoother across words?

Tip of the tongue against the soft palate
Tip of the tongue pressed between the teeth as far forward as possible
Tip of the tongue against the back of the top front tooth

2. According to the speaker, what is the key difference between a /b/ sound and a /v/ sound?

/v/ is made by rounding the lips strongly
/b/ is always whispered (no vibration)
/v/ uses the top tooth contacting the lower lip

3. During the listening test, which word does the speaker say first?

West
Pest
Veer

How To Lose A Russian/Ukrainian/Slavic Accent

Diphthongs, lower placement, diaphragm/breath, and the American “o” spelling patterns (20:55 – 28:41)

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1. What does the speaker say “placement” refers to?

Where you are projecting sounds from when you talk
Where you put stress in a sentence
How fast you speak

2. Which body area does the speaker say you should engage to increase airflow and resonance?

The shoulders (lifting them on inhalation)
The diaphragm (around the stomach area)
The jaw (keeping it completely still)

3. In the “oan” combination (like “loan”), what common mistake does the speaker warn about?

Replacing the “o” with an “ah” sound
Adding an extra vowel between the “o” sound and the N
Dropping the final N completely

How To Lose A Russian/Ukrainian/Slavic Accent

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1. Across the lesson, what two big themes does the speaker repeatedly connect to a more natural American accent?

More lip rounding and stronger jaw movement
Speaking faster and using more idioms
More breath/airflow and lower placement/projection

2. What is one reason the speaker gives for why learners mispronounce English vowels that also exist in their first language?

They use a similar sound but with higher placement and less airflow
They deliberately try to sound different
They forget the spelling rules completely

3. What kind of practice does the speaker strongly recommend to improve pronunciation accuracy?

Avoid minimal pairs because they confuse learners
Record yourself and compare your sound to the model
Only read pronunciation rules without speaking

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

How To Lose A Russian/Ukrainian/Slavic Accent

Which specific vowel or consonant contrast in the video felt most relevant to your pronunciation? Why?
The speaker emphasizes “lower placement” and “more breath.” How could you practice these ideas in daily conversation (not just drills)?
Do you think aiming to “lose an accent” is a helpful goal, or is “clear pronunciation” a better goal? Explain your view.
What are two words you often mispronounce in English, and what concrete change (tongue, lips, airflow, or linking) will you try next time?