489. One vowel sound, 15 different spellings: The /ɑ/ as in FATHER vowel

Do you ever feel like you are "not a storyteller" or worry that your stories are too long, too messy, or "not interesting enough" in English? Join this conversation with us! In this episode, I talk with Bree from the podcast "Into the Story" about what storytelling really is and why you do not need perfect English, fancy vocabulary, or a big dramatic life to tell powerful stories that connect.  We also talk about confidence, perfectionism, and that little feeling of shame when you remember a tiny mistake you made in English hours later. If you are tired of waiting to "fix" your English before you share your story, this episode is for you. Connect with Bree: Into the Story podcast: https://intostory.com/ Bree's website: https://intostory.com/  TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking" by Chris Anderson: https://www.ted.com/read/ted-talks-the-official-ted-guide-to-public-speaking

One vowel sound, but so many spellings in English! English spelling is not phonetic, which means that just because it has one spelling, doesn't mean it always sounds the same way! In this video, we're going to talk about the 15 (!) different spellings that just ONE sound has in English. Crazy, right? For more information about this vowel, check out these episodes: How to pronounce 'water': https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/water/  /ah/ as in father (and coffee, job and office): https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/aa-as-in-father/  The 3 A's : cap-cup-cop: https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/cap-cup-cop/

In this lesson we'll practice together how the same text can sound happy, sad, serious, or excited, only by changing your voice! I'll read two paragraphs in different ways so you can hear how tone, pitch, and rhythm change the meaning. Then we'll shadow together and you can practice your own intonation. Shadow with me, repeat after me, and train your voice to tell the story you want! If you want more practice with intonation, pronunciation, and real speaking skills, check out my free 14-day pronunciation plan! https://bit.ly/3YAWcJ5

Unlock the parts of you that stay quiet in English and finally show up as your full self. In this episode, we talk about the habits and thoughts that limit your expression and how to break them so you can speak with clarity, confidence, and freedom. You will learn how to: • Notice the beliefs that hold you back • Shift from fear to curiosity • Practice in simple daily ways that build real confidence • Express yourself with more presence and ease Want to keep practicing and building your true voice in English? Check out my practice community, Beyond.  https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N

Struggling with prepositions in English? In this lesson, we'll discover the most common preposition mistakes and practice them together with clear drills so you can use them confidently in real life. Learn with me in my courses 🤝 https://bit.ly/4oBeZzC

Do you struggle to pronounce words like "girl," "term," "certain," and "earth"? In today's lesson, we're going to talk about how the American English R really sounds in these words! We'll also talk about spelling patterns, and how you can identify the pronunciation easily.  Download the R practice sheet here: https://bit.ly/3Alq9Eq  Get my 14-day Pronunciation Plan: https://bit.ly/3YAWcJ5

Do you want to stop translating, and start thinking in English? This episode will show you 5 steps you can do every day to build the connection in your brain in English, and make it yours.  Here are the resources mentioned in the episode: Join my membership, Beyond, and get access to HadarAI! https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N  Practice with daily Sprints: https://bit.ly/4qtZJ8P  Practice shadowing: https://bit.ly/4fx9j4t 

Want to improve your grammar, but you're not sure how? Chances are, you KNOW the grammar rules, but when it comes time to speak, you overthink which tense to use. That's why I created this Grammar Sprint, a series of drills I've developed, aimed at building pronunciation confidence in new tenses and common grammar structures.  The repetition builds muscle memory so it becomes easier to use these tenses and internalize the grammar used.  Want more Sprints just like this? Join The Grammar Master! https://bit.ly/4o1PPdb

Ready to put your authoritative tone to the test in English? In today's episode, we're shadowing an infamous scene from The Devil Wears Prada. We will focus on clarity, pace, stress, and that cool, contained confidence that makes every line land. 👠💙 Download the PDF to practice along here: https://bit.ly/4nT59Zy

Today we have a video where you'll get a chance to test your English skills with this test! I've collected a list of common mistakes that English speakers make, and your job is to discover what the mistake is, and then we'll practice the correct form together! Remember, mistakes aren't bad, but they CAN be annoying if we repeat them over and over, even when we know the correct form. So this video will help you discover common mistakes you might be making, and practice so you can retrain your brain to use the proper form.  Want more practice like this, with even more conversation groups, and live classes with coaches? Join my practice community, Beyond! https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N