5 Unusual New Year’s Resolutions for American Pronunciation Practice

Hi, it’s Ellen here from Speak More Clearly!

In this video, we’re going to practice speaking clearly with an American accent while we have a look at some unusual New Year’s resolutions. Copy or shadow me a few times, not just once, so you’re making use of this training to make your accent and your clear speech more automatic.

Have you ever made a New Year’s resolution in the past and found that after the first couple of days, your enthusiasm has slowly, or not so slowly, Seeped away?

People often bite off more than they can chew as they get caught up in the energy of the oncoming New Year. We thought we would have a look at five unusual New Year’s resolutions for our American pronunciation practice. Small, doable, unusual resolutions. Of course, the most important thing is that you practice your clear speech while copying me saying these resolutions.

Here are the 5 Unusual New Year Resolutions:

1.  Send some Snail Mail

• You could write a letter to a loved one
• Send a physical birthday card to someone
• You can even drag out some of your craft skills and enjoy decorating the card before you send it. 

2. Change one small thing in one of your routine habits once a week

Life becomes more interesting and more present.

• Try a different cafe every now and again and make a new wait staff or Barista friend
• Drive down a different street on the way to work
• Smile at someone as they walk past and see what reaction you get; 
• Brush your teeth after you have your coffee
• Move a potted plant to a new location; 
• Hang upside down on the climbing frame in the park if you are there with your kids
• Have a swing even if you aren’t there with your children. 

3. Try a new food each week

Besides being interesting, this one also increases the different types of nutrients you are getting each week, and you never know, you might find new favorite foods!

Have you ever tried dragon fruit, artichoke, or pak choy? 

4. Practice using your new American pronunciation with 2 people each day

• If you live alone you’ll have to make an effort to ring a friend or go to the store near you.
• Use the sound you are currently practicing in a word or sentence, or use the opportunity to practice your American rhythm or word stress or linking. 
• You need to use it enough for it to become the new way of moving your mouth automatically. 

5. “I will only eat the good candy from the container on the office receptionist’s desk.”

If you have any unusual New Year’s resolutions yourself, we’d be very interested to hear them.

Happy New Year, everyone!