In many languages the letter sequences "tr" and "dr" are fairly simple: it's just a /t/ or /d/ sound followed by an /r/ sound. In English? Not so. Instead, these sounds "affricate", changing to a whole other sound. In today's episode, let's learn what affrication is, show you how to do it, and learn about how this is actually natural process in many languages historically and presently.

Is improving your accent a betrayal of your culture—or just a form of adaptation? In this episode, I dive into the complex relationship between language, identity, and mindset. From stories about my Russian language partner, my British ex, and a college confrontation over pronunciation, to my own struggles with Cantonese and shifting accents, we explore what it really means to change the way we speak. Whether you’re trying to sound more native or holding onto the voice that shaped you, this one's for you.

Lack of aspiration is one of the biggest non-native accent features that English learners lack, especially those who speak Slavic or Romance languagesǃ In this episode, learn how to make this sound and where it occursǃ

What is the difference between pronunciation and accent? In today's episode, we will learn how they differ and how it matters to you if you want to speak in a more easily understandable way, or even if you want to pass as a native speaker of your target language!