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Listen to a story about my trip to Disney World!
You’ll also learn how the words “kind of” become the sound /ˈkaɪnə/ in fast, natural spoken English.
Welcome to the English Teacher Melanie Podcast, a podcast for intermediate to advanced English learners who want to improve their English listening and speaking skills!
Each episode includes a story and a pronunciation tip. In the story, I use core vocabulary, the most common words in English, to tell a real world story. The pronunciation tip will help you understand natural spoken English.
You’ll hear the story twice. The first time, the story is a little slower than normal. It sounds funny because I used editing software to change the speed of the story and make it slower. After the pronunciation tip, you’ll hear the story again, but at a regular speed.
THE STORY
I am so excited to tell you about my trip to Disney World in Florida! We were there for 7 days and it was so much fun! We did so much in 7 days! We went on rides, we saw animals, we watched parades and shows and fireworks, we met characters, we went shopping, we ate, and we walked! A lot! I was exhausted by the end of the trip, but I loved every minute of it! In total, I took 1304 photos.
Learn more: How to say “photo” + the American T sound
I started planning this trip in January. Yeah, I’m that kind of person! Six months before our trip, I made all our dining reservations. We had breakfast with Mickey and dinner in a castle! Two months before our trip, I booked passes so we could skip the lines on some popular rides. That was awesome! Disney World is a massive place and always busy, so you need to be organized to make sure you see and do everything you want to!
Learn more: Travel English Vocabulary: Planning a trip
I love everything about Disney World, but most of all I love the nostalgia! This is the 8th or 9th time I’ve been to Disney World. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the first couple times I visited because I was so young. The great thing about Disney World is that there’s always something new to discover each time you visit! I am never bored there.
Learn more: Have you ever been to … ? (Present Perfect)
Everything was great about the trip – except for the rain. And it rained every day. We forgot to bring umbrellas and rain ponchos with us, so we were stuck paying $10 each for a Disney rain poncho, which was a ridiculous price. Even in the rain, Disney World is still fun! I can’t wait to go back and I’m already thinking about my next trip!
Learn more: Everyday or every day?
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PRONUNCIATION TIP
HOW THE WORDS KIND OF BECOME THE SOUND /ˈkaɪnə/ IN FAST, NATURAL SPOKEN ENGLISH
This transcript uses IPA symbols to represent sounds and teach pronunciation. Learn more about the IPA here.
It’s important to know how to say this sound so that you can also hear this sound.
Listen to this sentence from the story:
Yeah, I’m that kind of person!
Did you hear the words KIND or OF in the sentence? There are 3 things that happen in spoken English when the noun KIND is followed the preposition OF. In fast natural speech, the two words are combined and reduced to the sound /ˈkaɪnə/.
The preposition OF is a function word. It’s a grammar word. It needs to be in the sentence to make the sentence grammatically correct, but it’s not an important word. In fast, natural speech, the preposition OF is reduced to just the sound /ə/. That sound is called the schwa and it’s the vowel sound in reduced syllables.
One of the main features of English pronunciation is linking. It’s part of the rhythm of English. In spoken English, words are linked, or connected, so that there is no pause between the words.
The noun KIND ends with a D consonant sound and the preposition OF begins with a vowel sound. The D at the end of KIND links to the vowel sound /ə/. KIND and OF become one word with two syllables, and the D is the first sound of the second syllable.
Listen: /ˈkaɪndə/
This is why you will sometimes see native speakers write “kinda” K-I-N-D-A even though that’s not a word. They’re just writing what they say.
The N and D consonant sounds at the end of KIND have the same starting mouth position. The tip of your tongue is touching the alveolar ridge or gum ridge behind your top teeth. Instead of finishing the D sound, American English speakers just don’t say the D sound at all, and so /ˈkaɪndə/ becomes /ˈkaɪnə/
Listen to the sentence from the story again:
Yeah, I’m that kind of /ˈkaɪnə/ person!
In natural spoken English, you will hear KIND and OF together pronounced three ways:
/ˈkaɪndəv/
/ˈkaɪndə/
/ˈkaɪnə/
It’s important that you know all three ways of saying KIND OF so that you can hear all three ways of saying KIND OF.
Learn more: How “how to” becomes /haʊt̬ə/
QUESTION
Where did you go on your summer vacation?
If it’s not summer yet where you live, where do you want to go on your summer vacation?
Leave me a comment below!
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