472. Pronunciation practice in a song: Traitor by Olivia Rodrigo

“Difficult doesn't mean impossible, and direction is more important than speed.” That’s a quote from the wonderful interview I’m having today with my dear student, Luciana! Her story will inspire you to keep going, no matter where you are on your English journey. In this episode, Luciana, a UX designer from Brazil now living in Portugal, shares how she went from avoiding speaking English and feeling awkward in meetings… to hosting conversation groups, creating videos, and speaking confidently every single day. We talk about: - How she shifted her mindset from fear to joy - Why community and accountability are game-changers - How pronunciation work improved her fluency AND listening skills If you’ve ever thought you’re too old to improve, or that fluency is impossible without living in an English-speaking country, Luciana is living proof that it’s possible. Luciana is a student of both my New Sound and Beyond programs! Check them out here: Join New Sound: https://bit.ly/3I9wNkY Join Beyond: https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N

Have you watched the TV show, Severance? In today’s episode, we’re learning and shadowing common phrases from the show!

In this interview, I have the opportunity to speak with my student, Laura, who shares her remarkable journey of transformation, from feeling shy and introverted with social anxiety, to being an active member of my community, hosting conversation groups, and organizing in-person events. In this conversation, Laura shares her limiting beliefs she overcame, the social anxiety that once made even simple interactions feel impossible, and the mindset shifts that helped her break free from self-doubt. I hope you enjoy this interview! P.S. you can buy Laura’s vocabulary planner here! https://laclaulab.com/ Get on the waitlist for New Sound: https://bit.ly/3I9wNkY Join the Beyond Community: https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N

Are you ready to take your English pronunciation to the next level? We’re offering 10 full scholarships for lifetime access to New Sound, my transformative 12-week pronunciation coaching program. This is your chance to get world-class training and personal support, all completely free! Apply here: https://hadarshemesh.com/scholarship What does the scholarship include? Lifetime access to the New Sound program 12 on-demand video modules with lessons, PDFs, audio recordings, and quizzes 12 weeks of live coaching with a supportive community for extra guidance 12 weeks of HadarAI, your digital fluency coach available 24/7 Exclusive bonuses and mini-trainings tailored just for New Sound students Apply here: https://hadarshemesh.com/scholarship Get on the New Sound waitlist to be notified when we open doors in September: https://bit.ly/3I9wNkY

In this episode, we'll explore different linking words that you can add to your English vocabulary. You’ll get more ideas to express your thoughts differently, beyond words like "however" or "or"! You’ll learn how to connect your ideas more naturally and fluently, making your speech and writing more dynamic and engaging.

Confidence doesn’t magically appear overnight, it’s something you build, one step at a time. The truth is, confidence is a skill, and just like any other skill, you can learn it, practice it, and get better at it. In this episode, I’ll share the most common things that get in the way of your confidence when speaking English, so you can finally recognize and overcome them. You’ll discover practical tips, mindset shifts, and real-life strategies that will help you stop second-guessing yourself and start speaking with clarity, ease, and impact. PLUS, I’m inviting you to join my brand-new 7-Day Confidence Challenge! Click here to start: https://bit.ly/3UmzZMY

Have you ever used music to boost your English pronunciation? 🎶 In this week’s video, I’m introducing you to Olivia Rodrigo’s song Traitor to practice the different T sounds in American English… especially the Flap T! I’ll break down lines from the song, show you how to pronounce them, and I’m certain you won’t be able to resist singing along with me 😉 Want to keep practicing prosody? Check out this playlist: https://bit.ly/4fx9j4t Here are the lyrics of the part we did together: Brown guilty eyes and little white lies Yeah, I played dumb but I always knew That you'd talk to her, maybe did even worse I kept quiet so I could keep you And ain't it funny How you ran to her The second that we called it quits? And ain't it funny How you said you were friends? Now it sure as hell don't look like it You betrayed me And I know that you'll never feel sorry For the way I hurt, yeah You'd talk to her When we were together Loved you at your worst But that didn't matter It took you two weeks To go off and date her Guess you didn't cheat But you're still a traitor Listen to the full music video here: https://youtu.be/CRrf3h9vhp8

Pronouns in English: I, you, he, she, we, they: It’s one of the first things we learn when starting to study English, but do you know how they are REALLY pronounced? The answer might surprise you. In this episode, we’ll uncover the real pronunciation of English pronouns in everyday speech, and spoiler alert! It’s probably NOT the way you learned them in English class. Download the free PDF (+ audio) to practice pronouns in English! https://bit.ly/4nOhXkf

Now with the rise of AI, everything has become FAST. We look for short videos, quick wins, and AI tools that do everything for us. And while that’s amazing in so many ways, it can also make us believe that fluency should be something that’s easy, instant, or effortless. But here’s the truth: some things still take time, intention, and consistency. And English is one of them! In this episode, I talk about the five must-have qualities you need to truly master English. Not tools. Not grammar rules. Not hacks. Qualities. The kind that no app or AI can give you. Because over the past couple of years, I’ve noticed something, not just in my own life and business, but in the lives of my students and the people I work with. It’s becoming harder to stay consistent. Harder to follow through. And easier to expect results without really doing the inner work. So in this episode, I want to shine a light on what’s actually holding people back from fluency, even when they’re doing “all the right things.” Even when they’re using amazing tools like AI. If you’re ready to go deeper and get the kind of support where you can bring these 5 qualities to LIFE I’m inviting you to learn more about my membership, Beyond! Click here to learn more: https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N

In this interview, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Katya, one of my amazing students who started learning English from scratch seven years ago. What’s even more incredible is that she did it all without ever living in an English-speaking country!! Katya takes us through her journey, from feeling stuck and frustrated to finding the breakthrough that led her to become a leader in our communities. We dive deep into how pronunciation work, especially prosody, not only helped her speak with confidence but also transformed her mindset and life. In this conversation, Katya shares her challenges, wins, and the powerful role our community played in her success. If you’re feeling stuck or unsure of your own learning path, her story will inspire you to keep going and find joy in the process. I am so honored to share this interview. I dearly love Katya, and I know you will love her too!  Learn with me: Join my membership, Beyond: https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N  Get on the waitlist for my 3-month program, New Sound: https://bit.ly/3I9wNkY