Matteo Marcelli

5 star rating

“I find this course extremely well done and I consider it a top amongst the pronunciation courses I've done so far. The course is absolutely a must. John teaches how should be the shape of the mouth and position of the tongue in order to produce t...”

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“I find this course extremely well done and I consider it a top amongst the pronunciation courses I've done so far. The course is absolutely a must. John teaches how should be the shape of the mouth and position of the tongue in order to produce the correct vowel sounds.”

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Yang Du

5 star rating

“The Vowels of British English has the content you need to pronounce vowels correctly. John is a very professional, knowledgeable and responsible coach. His course help me to learn how to pronounce vowels in British English. The course has a great...”

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“The Vowels of British English has the content you need to pronounce vowels correctly. John is a very professional, knowledgeable and responsible coach. His course help me to learn how to pronounce vowels in British English. The course has a great structure as well. John is very professional and he could spot my problems easily and correct me. He has a broad knowledge of how people from different backgrounds speak English incorrectly. And he always pointed out as a mandarin speaker, what do I tend to pronounce wrong. He has been my coach for around 9 months now and I speak more and more like British. ”

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Yana Rits

5 star rating

“The Vowels of British English is built brilliantly - very well organised, clear, logical, user friendly = easy to navigate. Graphics and all visuals are simple, informative and support the explanations very well. I liked the use of pictures in ...”

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“The Vowels of British English is built brilliantly - very well organised, clear, logical, user friendly = easy to navigate. Graphics and all visuals are simple, informative and support the explanations very well. I liked the use of pictures in the quiz part and well known people in the examples part - it makes learning more fun. The way John demonstrates all the tongue and mouth positions is perfect. My only suggestion would be to add a bigger vocabulary list to illustrate where this or that sound is used.”

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carlos arano nacif

5 star rating

“John is one of the best pronunciation coaches that you can have. He is very effective, structured and he has a lot of knowledge and he understands exactly what you need to improve. After taking the course “The Vowels of British English” I decided ...”

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“John is one of the best pronunciation coaches that you can have. He is very effective, structured and he has a lot of knowledge and he understands exactly what you need to improve. After taking the course “The Vowels of British English” I decided to take Personal Coaching and the combination of both courses has been unique. If you want to improve your pronunciation skills I recommend that you join the course and talk with John in just a few weeks you will see the difference. ”

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Marcello Moro

5 star rating

“British English is very rich in vowel sounds. The non-phonetic spelling of words makes it difficult for foreigners to identify and memorise what these sounds are. The Vowels of British English provides clear explanation and examples of the 10 basi...”

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“British English is very rich in vowel sounds. The non-phonetic spelling of words makes it difficult for foreigners to identify and memorise what these sounds are. The Vowels of British English provides clear explanation and examples of the 10 basic vowels, against the universal phonetic symbols and the real pronunciation. I am more confident that if I can make my speech clearer if I exercise my pronunciation according to the tangible examples given in this course”

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Junior DaSilva

5 star rating

“The Vowels of British English is great and it is really helping me to improve my pronunciation skills. I am also using it as a kind of resource every time I need it. This online course is a good complement to my one-to-one classes with John. I am ...”

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“The Vowels of British English is great and it is really helping me to improve my pronunciation skills. I am also using it as a kind of resource every time I need it. This online course is a good complement to my one-to-one classes with John. I am really happy with the results so far. ”

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Andrea Cappellini

5 star rating

“This Vowels of British English is really helpful if you are serious about improving your pronunciation. All sounds are well explained with plenty of exercises and examples. ”

“This Vowels of British English is really helpful if you are serious about improving your pronunciation. All sounds are well explained with plenty of exercises and examples. ”

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Ekaterina Didenko

5 star rating

“I've finished The Vowels of British English but still come back to review some details whenever I have a spare minute. It's very convenient to use. The information is given in portions, so it is not tiresome, has lots of examples, excersises and q...”

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“I've finished The Vowels of British English but still come back to review some details whenever I have a spare minute. It's very convenient to use. The information is given in portions, so it is not tiresome, has lots of examples, excersises and quizes to check yourself and build better awareness. Before I didn't know that long vowels can sound shorter in certain words and the words like "pear, spare, aware" are pronounced with a long monophtong in modern British English instead of a dipthong, which I was tought before. Each vowel is shawn by John very clear and precise, with an indepth explanation, so you just take a mirror and start practicing. However, it is especially effective and the result seems obvious combining the course with personal training inbetween when you can get a proffessional advice and correct yourself. ”

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Alexander Saus

5 star rating

“With his specific perfectionism, John created the exhaustive system in which every vowel is explained and put in the structure so there is no chance for ambiguity left. I would certainly recommend The Vowels of British English for those infuriated...”

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“With his specific perfectionism, John created the exhaustive system in which every vowel is explained and put in the structure so there is no chance for ambiguity left. I would certainly recommend The Vowels of British English for those infuriated with the unpredictability of the British English pronunciation. This course saves time, nerve and money . ”

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Get Personal Help with your Pronunciation

More than just an online course!

Individual Assignments & Feedback.

Submit videos & receive video responses.

The course includes assignments where you record videos of yourself doing pronunciation exercises & receive video responses from John, with feedback on your performance & new exercises designed especially for you. It's like having live one-to-one lessons, but more economical and convenient. All you need is a webcam or smartphone.

Regular Live Zoom Classes

Attend weekly live classes & join a community of motivated learners

The class currently takes place every Sunday at 12pm UK time. It is an opportunity for you to meet John, get feedback on your accent, and ask any questions you have about British English pronunciation.
Student attending free class

Expert Instruction

Watch lectures on all the sounds of modern British English

The course has hours of video lectures that provide you with a structured, progressive education in 'modern RP'. Start for free!
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Real-life Demonstrations

See hundreds of usage examples

The course has hundreds of carefully selected usage examples from world-class British vocal talent, including Benedict Cumberbatch and Emma Watson.
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Practical Training

Get a huge variety of exercises for daily practice

The course includes hundreds of vocal, listening & reading exercises to develop your vocal control, aural comprehension & theoretical understanding. Make consistent progress for years to come.
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Make real, long-term progress

Improving your accent, along with your general English, is a life-long process. There are no shortcuts. But if you follow the programme and put in the effort then you will achieve your goal.

“Natalya is a Russian architect based in the UK. She has a shy nature, which has held back her spoken English. After 2 years in the programme her confidence has grown. She is now less inclined to doubt herself when speaking English. She is also aware of some very Russian speaking habits that she needs to work on. If she continues to practice daily using the materials provided, then she will get better and better for years to come. ”

“Stas is a programmer based in Ukraine, and has been using the programme for about 2 years. In that time his accent has gone from intermediate to very advanced, despite not living in the UK. He has mastered the principles of British pronunciation and now just needs to continue practicing. If he moves to the UK in the future then he will speak with better pronunciation than almost all other non-natives, and many natives too!”

“Yang is a graduate student living in the UK. She joined the programme with severe pronunciation problems, but has been an exemplary student. By following John's instructions exactly, and practicing her vocal exercises diligently, she has made outstanding progress. She now has the foundation for long-term improvement. If she continues to practice a little every day then in a few more years she will speak English beautifully. ”

Course curriculum

    1. 3.1. Lecture

    2. 3.2. Usage Examples

    3. 3.3. Usage Example Notes

    4. 3.4. Vocal Exercises

    5. L3 /ʌ/ Quiz

    1. 4.1. Lecture

    2. 4.2. Usage Examples

    3. 4.3. Usage Example Notes

    4. 4.4. Vocal Exercises

    5. L4: /ʌɪ / Quiz

    1. Assignment 1

    1. 5.1. Lecture

    2. 5.2. Usage Examples

    3. 5.3. Usage Example Notes

    4. 5.4. Vocal Exercises

    5. L5 /əː/ Quiz

About this course

  • 459 lessons
  • 10.5 hours of video content

FAQ

  • Do I have to join the course to attend the classes?

    No, the class is open to everyone. Sign up for the next class (Sunday 12pm, UK time) by clicking on the blue button.

  • Who is the course intended for?

    The course is designed for English learners of all ages who want to reduce their native accents & sound more like a native, British person.

  • If I join the course, will I get individual help?

    Yes, the course includes assignments where you record videos and receive video responses. You can also ask questions through the discussion feature. Start for free by clicking on the blue button.

  • What accent will I learn?

    In this course you will learn standard southern-English pronunciation, also known as 'received pronunciation' (modern R.P.). This is a non-rhotic accent; i.e. the /r/ sound is only used at the start of syllables, never at the end. This is the style of pronunciation that people around the world recognise as quintessentially 'British'. However, there are parts of the UK where rhotic pronunciation is the norm: Scotland & Ireland in particular.

  • I live in an English-speaking country outside the UK. Should I join?

    In this course you will learn non-rhotic pronunciation. This is the norm in Australia, New Zealand & South Africa, so if you live in these countries then definitely join the course. If you are from Singapore (or live there) you should join the course too, unless you specifically want to sound more American. If you live in the Philippines then you are welcome to join, but bear in mind that most Filipinos speak English with an essentially American (rhotic) accent.

  • What factors will affect my rate of progress?

    The main factor is your attitude. Other factors are your age, your natural aptitude, your native language, the severity of your initial pronunciation problems, and your environment.

  • Can I try for free?

    Yes, click on the blue button to try the materials. No financial information is required.