Pratique du Shadowing: American English Pronunciation | Z + TH = ? 😱 - Apprendre l'anglais à l'oral avec la vidéo

Création de la leçon...
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Hey, what's up?
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It's Alex.
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Today, let's look at the connected sounds in a couple of really common sentences that all start with the phrase, is this?
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Now, these are all questions, so pay attention to the intonation too.
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We'll start with the first one.
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Is this a bad time?
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So when we have is this, we have the problem of a z sound, z, and a th sound.
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So th, the voiced th and the voiced z sounds here.
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Is this a bad time?
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And that's hard for a lot of people to say.
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Is this, right?
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Because my tongue has to go from behind the teeth to in between the teeth.
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Is this, is this.
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Fortunately, there's a shortcut.
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Is this, is this a bad time?
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Is this a bad time?
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We simply delete the th.
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Is this a bad time?
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Is this a bad time?
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Now, it's still very important to learn to say, right?
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Because if you're speaking slowly and clearly, you have to be able to make this sound combination.
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When we speak slowly and clearly, we don't do a lot of these connected sound changes that I talk about in my videos.
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So when you're speaking slowly, you should say, is this?
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Is this a bad time?
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But when you're speaking quickly, you can leave off that th.
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Is this a bad time?
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Is this a bad time?
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Now let's the rest of the sentence.
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We have bad time.
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The T and the D here are made in exactly the same part of the mouth, and so because of that, they connect together.
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Bad time, bad time, we simply connect D and T.
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Is this a bad time?
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Is this a bad time?
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Is this yours?
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Is this yours?
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Take off the TH here.
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Is this yours?
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Now the vowel in yours is a little confusing sometimes.
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Yours is the full pronunciation.
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In fast speech though, a lot of people, me included, say yours.
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Is this yours?
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Y-r-z.
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Yours.
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Is this yours?
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Is this yours?
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Both pronunciations sound totally fine.
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Is this right?
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Is this right?
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Is this right?
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So here the t at the end of the sentence turns into a glottal stop.
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Is this right?
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Is this right?
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Is this all you need?
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Is this all you need?
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Is this all you need?
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Here you turns into ya.
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All you need?
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Need?
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At the end of the sentence here, my tongue gets ready to say d, but it's unreleased.
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I could say need.
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Is this all you need?
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Need?
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But it sounds a little bit strange actually in this example.
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Is this all you need?
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My tongue gets ready to say d, but it's an unreleased sound, so there's no final d sound.
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It's, is this all you need?
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Is this a joke?
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Is this a joke?
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Is this a joke?
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Now this sentence doesn't have any other sound changes.
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Is this a joke?
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Is this a joke?
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At the end of the sentence, even though it's a very light sound, I'm still saying k.
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It's not an unreleased k or a glottal stop anything like that.
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Is this a joke?
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Is this okay with you?
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Is this okay with you?
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Is this okay with you?
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So here, again, there's not really any changes.
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Is this okay with you?
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But these two sentences are, of course, very common things to say in everyday life, so it's a good idea to practice them too.
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Is this okay with you?
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Is this okay with you?
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All right, once more all the way through.
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Is this a bad time?
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Is this yours?
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Is this yours?
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Is this right?
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Is this all you need?
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Is this a joke?
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Is this okay with you?
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Let me know in the comments what other sentences you want me to analyze, and I'll talk to you next time.

Context & Background

In the video titled "American English Pronunciation | Z + TH = ? 😱," Alex focuses on the intricacies of connected sounds commonly found in everyday American English. The dialogue revolves around a particular phrase often posed in conversational contexts: "Is this?" By breaking down the phonetic challenges, Alex highlights how different sounds interact when spoken quickly versus slowly. Understanding these nuances is crucial for learners aiming to improve their speaking skills and overall pronunciation accuracy. For those looking to learn English with YouTube, this lesson provides practical examples that can be easily applied in real-life situations.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • Is this a bad time? - Perfect for checking if someone is free to talk.
  • Is this yours? - A common phrase when inquiring about ownership.
  • Is this right? - Useful for confirming information or understanding.
  • Is this home? - A phrase applicable in both formal and informal settings.
  • Is this clear? - Great for ensuring that communication is understood.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively tackle the pronunciation challenges presented in the video, follow this shadowing technique step-by-step guide:

  1. Listen carefully: Start by watching the video and paying close attention to Alex's pronunciation of the phrases. Focus especially on the "z" and "th" sounds.
  2. Shadow the phrases: Pause the video after each sentence and repeat it out loud. This helps you to imitate the rhythm and intonation. For instance, practice saying, "Is this a bad time?" dropping the "th" sound to make it flow more naturally.
  3. Practice in context: Use the phrases in different scenarios. Create short dialogues where you can ask someone, "Is this yours?" or "Is this clear?" This practice will enhance your English speaking practice.
  4. Record yourself: Use a recording app to capture your voice. This will allow you to compare your pronunciation with that of the speaker in the video and identify areas for improvement.
  5. Repeat frequently: Consistency is key to mastering pronunciation. Set aside time each day to incorporate these phrases into your routine. Over time, this will help you improve English pronunciation and gain confidence when speaking.

By following these steps, you can leverage the lessons from this video to enhance your English communication skills effectively.

Qu'est-ce que la technique du Shadowing ?

Le Shadowing est une technique d'apprentissage des langues fondée sur la science, développée à l'origine pour la formation des interprètes professionnels. Le principe est simple mais puissant : vous écoutez de l'anglais natif et le répétez immédiatement à voix haute — comme une ombre suivant le locuteur avec un décalage de 1 à 2 secondes. Les recherches montrent une amélioration significative de la précision de la prononciation, de l'intonation, du rythme, des liaisons, de la compréhension orale et de la fluidité.