The InFluency Podcast

My course New Sound is OPEN!

Have you ever tried to practice rhythm in English before? In this episode, we're diving into the rhythm of English, an essential part of speaking with fluency and confidence. English is a syllable-timed language, meaning that the rhythm is based on the time between syllables, not on individual words.  Let's practice together today with a metronome to help you develop rhythm in English in several different exercises! More episodes on rhythm:  Rhythm of English words: https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/116/  Practice rhythm in a speech: https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/47/

Struggling to show up with authority in English? In this episode, you'll learn how to build authority and confidence as a nonnative speaker: without trying to sound perfect. Discover practical tips to own your voice, speak with impact, and get the respect you deserve in any conversation. Learn more about my audio course, My English Mindset here: https://bit.ly/47wXuYD Get started with my free 14-day pronunciation plan: https://bit.ly/3YAWcJ5

Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss. Read along with me and improve your pronunciation in English! This is no easy challenge. Are you up for it? For more pronunciation practice, grab my free 14-day pronunciation plan https://bit.ly/3YAWcJ5

ChatGPT is a game-changer for English learners. Whether you're working on speaking, writing, or pronunciation, this guide will help you unlock its full potential. Today, follow along with me and learn just how you can use it for your English practice! Looking to improve your English with ChatGPT? I've got you covered! Get my brand-new ChatGPT English Practice Guide here https://bit.ly/3FPT5qJ This step-by-step guide includes: ✅ 4 video trainings on optimizing grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, writing, and fluency with ChatGPT. ✅ 200+ ChatGPT prompts to enhance your practice. Get it now! https://bit.ly/3FPT5qJ

Let's read out loud together! Reading out loud is an excellent way to improve your vocabulary, pronunciation and pace. We're reading a scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling. Download the PDF to read along with me and learn the vocabulary from the episode! https://bit.ly/4bZJx8B

Practice 12 of the best tongue twisters in English to improve your pronunciation! Tongue twisters are some of the best ways to warm up your articulation muscles, get you ready for speaking, and you know what, they're just fun! For more tongue twisters, click here https://bit.ly/41U4Epj

Today, I'm answering questions from my New Sound students! We go into pronunciation questions to specific words, practice strategies, and details about incorporating breathwork into speech.  Got a question you want me to answer on the podcast next? Ask it here! https://bit.ly/3L71bu8

Cup or cop? Today we're practicing the differences between the /ʌ/ vowel and the /ɑ/ vowel in American English pronunciation. Words like wonder vs. wonder, color vs. collar, and cup vs. cop are what we're practicing today! Follow along with me and repeat these words out loud. Keep practicing your pronunciation with me inside the FREE 14-day pronunciation plan! https://bit.ly/3YAWcJ5

If you've ever felt like fluency in English is just out of reach, this episode is for you. Meet Lisando, Alex, Orsi, Anne, and Alain: My New Sound students who once felt stuck but found a way to transform their confidence, pronunciation, and fluency. In this episode, they share exactly how they did it. If you've ever hesitated in conversations, struggled to be understood, or doubted whether you'll ever feel truly comfortable speaking English, their stories will show you what's possible. Watch now to see real-life impact and success in English, and how New Sound can help you speak with clarity, ease, and confidence. You might just realize that the transformation you've been dreaming of is closer than you think. Click here to learn more about New Sound: https://bit.ly/3CXnP84  Click here to read more success stories: https://bit.ly/4b2iwkx

Your mindset and emotions play a huge role in your confidence and clarity when speaking English. In this video, I want to remind you that transformation is possible—you just need the right tools and mindset. Whether you're working on your pronunciation, fluency, or self-expression, know that you are capable of growth, and I'm here to support you every step of the way! Want to take your English to the next level? My program New Sound is finally OPEN! Click here to learn more https://bit.ly/3CXnP84  Resources Mentioned: Dr. Joe Dispenza: Your Thoughts Are Making You Sick! (Podcast)https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Mf2TSEC6PG11TDVHy7uva  Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself (Book by Dr. Joe Dispenza)https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Habit-Being-Yourself-Create/dp/1401938094  Ep #47: Change and Your Brain (Podcast Episode)https://www.thelifecoachschool.com/podcasts/the-life-coach-school-podcast-2/episodes/2148780108  How to Speak Your Stress and Master Your Emotions (Dr. Gabor Maté)https://magnamiti.medium.com/how-to-speak-your-stress-and-master-your-emotions-dr-gabor-mate-perspective-9807070f2a58

Join my free masterclass and transform the way you speak English: https://bit.ly/4jJUSNA  If you're learning English and feel like you're not making progress, you might be following advice that simply doesn't work. In this video, I'm breaking down the most popular but not-so-great English tips, and what to do instead to actually improve your fluency, pronunciation, and confidence! If you're tired of outdated methods that don't work and want real, lasting results, this video is for you!  

Join my FREE 7-day pronunciation bootcamp: https://bit.ly/40CcyCd What is radical responsibility, and how subscribing to this idea can change your English (and your life)? In this episode, I'm going to share my experience being part of a mastermind with 20 incredible businesswomen from across the U.S. and the valuable lessons I've learned about taking ownership of both life and business. I'll also dive into some philosophical reflections on how these insights connect to our language-learning journey. Plus, I have an exciting invitation for you! I'm hosting a free 7-day Pronunciation Bootcamp, where we'll have live trainings, mindset discussions, conversation groups, and practice sessions with expert coaches. This is an amazing opportunity to build the right foundation—not just to refine your pronunciation, but to enhance your overall fluency and confidence. I'd love for you to join us! Hope to see you there.

Sign up for my FREE Pronunciation Bootcamp! We start on February 5! https://bit.ly/40CcyCd  Have you ever wondered WHY you should work on your pronunciation, and what is the best way to do it? In this episode, I'm going to share with you tips on why you should work on your pronunciation, and explain how it can help you improve so many different elements of your English! I also shared that my FREE Pronunciation Bootcamp is coming up, we start on February 5! In the bootcamp, you'll get…

Intonation in English is the secret to sounding clearer, more expressive, engaging and interesting! In today's video, I'm going to share with you what intonation is and the key elements you need to know to start using even more intonation in your own speech. Get the free practice guide to follow along with! https://bit.ly/4hkq18n Get on the waitlist to join my signature program, New Sound! https://bit.ly/49q8RDB

Improve your vocabulary, pronunciation and pace while reading a story out loud with me! We're reading a scene from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling. Download the PDF to read along with me and learn the vocabulary from the video! https://bit.ly/4jfVHgG

In today's episode, I'm answering questions from my students inside my membership, Beyond. Today you'll get to hear questions like… [1:42] How can I find my natural voice in English? [13:12] How to improve similar vowel pairs like sheep/ship and pool/pull? [16:05] I feel like everyone speaks better English than me. How can I overcome this? And more! Do you have a question for me? You can ask it here! https://bit.ly/3L71bu8 These questions came from members of my Beyond membership. Get on the waitlist now! https://bit.ly/3ujoc8I  What's your speaker stage in English? Take the quiz! https://bit.ly/3YaFq4e  Get on the waitlist for my program, New Sound: https://bit.ly/49q8RDB

It's always a good time to get fluent in English, but this year is one of the BEST times to take advantage of everything that's happening in the world and in the language learning industry and make progress in your English! In this week's episode, I'm going to share with you four different reasons for why I think 2025 is going to be a GREAT year to finally reach your fluency goals in English. Get on my newsletter for weekly lessons: https://bit.ly/3DK1jzE Join my free online community! https://bit.ly/47tinnp Join the waitlist for my program, New Sound: https://bit.ly/49q8RDB

How do you even begin to talk about a full year of living in a new country? After relocating to Barcelona on January 4th, 2024, I'll share the top challenges I faced and the lessons I learned during my first year of relocation in this episode. Join me for a behind-the-scenes look at my relocation journey to Barcelona ✈️ ☀️

Skibidi toilet rizz, ohio, mewing and more…join me and my guest, Assaf, for a vocabulary lesson on Gen Alpha slang. Gen Alpha consists of any person born between 2010-2024, and today, we get schooled by Gen Alpha on some of the newest terms they're using in English!

Shadowing is one of the best ways you can practice your pronunciation, connected speech and rhythm in English, and today, we're going to do it with the song ‘Popular' from the new Wicked movie!  I also prepared for you a free PDF with the shadowing analysis and notes so you can practice this song on your own.  Here's the PDF with analysis https://bit.ly/4ikUh4l 

⚡ Black Friday Deal: Buy Sprint Master and get Sprint Master 2.0 (30 additional Sprints) for FREE! Click here before the deal expires: https://bit.ly/3ZmILhj Looking to improve your American English pronunciation quickly and effectively? This 5-minute daily exercise is perfect for building clarity, confidence, and fluency! 

Are you ready to act in English? In this podcast, I'll guide you through a scene from the play The Rabbit Hole, where you'll get to practice key elements of English like pronunciation, emotion, and flow by reading along with me. Watch the video version with the script here: https://bit.ly/4eDz9mJ Download the PDF of the script here https://bit.ly/48TSuPo or read along with me below: BECCA: Ridiculous, right? Nine weeks pregnant. In a bar. Drinking. HOWIE: You said she wasn't drinking. BECCA: No, she said. But you know Izzy. Plus the place was probably clogged with cigarette smoke. HOWIE: Not anymore. Clean Indoor Air Act. BECCA: She was in Yonkers. You think they enforce that in Yonkers? HOWIE: I wouldn't worry about it. If the babies in France turn out okay, I'm sure this one'll be fine too. BECCA: You think this is funny, Howie? HOWIE: Of course not. But you need to relax about it. Izzy could be right. BECCA: About what? HOWIE: The baby, getting her on track. It can wake a person up. It did us. BECCA: She was bragging about a bar fight. HOWIE: It wasn't a bar fight. BECCA: They were in a bar! Fighting! HOWIE: Izzy hit someone, she didn't get into a fight. Blows were never exchanged. BECCA: What is your point? It's okay for a pregnant woman to be punching people? HOWIE: Well so long as they don't punch her back, it's probably all right. BECCA: What are you—? Why are you defending her? HOWIE: I'm not. I just think it's silly to get worked up about it. BECCA: I'm not worked up. I'm just saying. HOWIE: You're right, it's a mess, but what can we do? Maybe it'll be fine. Izzy's not a moron. Okay, she acts like one sometimes but... A baby can be good for a person. BECCA: I know that, Howie. HOWIE: Alright then.

Join me for a special bonus episode from a Q&A inside my membership, Beyond. Today you'll get to hear questions like… How can I find my voice in English? How can I lead a meeting with confidence? How can I become more confident? Why do we improve through speaking? Who are good role models for effective communication?  And more!  Got a question for me? Ask it here! https://bit.ly/3L71bu8 Episodes about finding your voice in English: https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/38/  https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/change-your-voice-in-english/  Book recommendation: Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Joe Dispenza

Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams or whatever meeting platform you use… if you have found yourself in an online meeting where everyone has their camera off, understanding your colleagues might be a challenge. In this episode, I'll share some tips with you about how to understand others better, ask for what you need, and set yourself up for success online! More episodes on how to improve your listening in English: How to Improve Your Listening Skills in English – 9 Tips Strategies to Improve your Listening in English  Can listening to different accents RUIN your pronunciation? How to Understand Fast English Better

Have you used AI to practice your English? What has your experience been? In this episode, I'm going to share with you the truth about practicing with AI, the pros and cons, and my personal opinion about using AI to practice a language. (it may surprise you!) Want to practice with real humans? We're here! Join my free community on Facebook, The InFluency Community https://bit.ly/47tinnp

We're revisiting some of our most popular and favorite episodes on the podcast. As an English learner, you must have wondered – what are the things that are preventing me from reaching a breakthrough in English? You may think it's just more vocabulary or phrasal verbs, and maybe all those fancy tenses that people use… When in fact, it's something a lot more basic and primal. It's not what ELSE you need to learn, but instead – it's how YOU think about yourself when speaking English. Yes, how we think about our English has a big part in how confident we feel when speaking English. Are we thinking kind and empowering thoughts? Or are we being harsh and critical? In this episode, I'll dive deep into explaining how you can reach a breakthrough simply by changing the way you think about your English. More useful episodes on the topic: Want to improve your speaking vocabulary? STOP LEARNING NEW WORDS ✋ https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/improve-speaking-vocabulary/ How To Learn New Vocabulary | Build Pronunciation Confidence? https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/how-to-learn-new-vocabulary/

Take the free quiz and determine your speaker stage in English https://bit.ly/3YaFq4e If you think that progress is only about going from A1 to C2 – think again! Your progress as a non-native speaker goes beyond your proficiency level. In a person's language journey, there are 5 typical speaker types, each characterized by a certain behavior and mindset. And guess what – no one has tried to identify those types before – UNTIL NOW!! In my BRAND NEW QUIZ, I'll tell you your speaker type … And share my *secret* tips to get to the next stage so your fluency can go from

In this episode, I spoke with Alastair, the host of the podcast, English Learning for Curious Minds. Alastair is originally from the UK but now lives in Sweden. We talked about his experiences moving from London to Malta and then to Sweden, and what's exciting and challenging about relocating. Alistair also talks about his podcast, English Learning for Curious Minds, where he combines cool stories and history with language learning. He shares how he makes difficult ideas easier to understand and explains why listening is such an important skill. Get useful tips and advice for building confidence in your English! Listen to my interview with Alastair on his channel: https://youtu.be/a9jL3MqfVMw Listen to some of Alastair's favorite episodes from his podcast here: Liquid Gold | The Great Canadian Maple Syrup Robbery: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/maple-syrup Fredric Tudor | The Ice King: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/ice-king The Affair Of The Diamond Necklace: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/affair-diamond-necklace The Haitian Revolution: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/haitian-revolution How TikTok Took Over The World: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/tik-tok The Marvel Universe: http://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/marvel-universe Prince Andrew | The Black Sheep of The Royal Family: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/prince-andrew Learn more about Alastair and his work by visiting his website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/

Have you ever wondered why your grammar is nearly perfect when you write, but when you start speaking, you can't use any of it? In this episode, I'll dive into why this happens and share tips on how to change it. We'll explore why you struggle to apply grammar rules in real-time, the difference between writing and speaking, and how you can train your brain to make grammar automatic when you speak. For more grammar exercises, check out my program, Sprint Master, where you will improve your grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and more in short, 10-minute daily exercises. https://bit.ly/3zGqKQX

We're revisiting some of our most popular and favorite episodes on the podcast. What happens when you make great progress in something, but then… You're stuck. You no longer move forward. It happens in so many different areas in life; losing weight, working out, in relationships… but also in English. You learn new words, build your confidence, improve your pronunciation… but after a while… you feel like nothing else is changing and again you find yourself on that silly hamster wheel. How can you get to the next level? In this episode, I'll share with you 5 ways to reach a new peak and get out of that annoying plateau. Full transcript and more information is here: https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/25/

I had the chance to interview Craig Wealand, the host of InglesPodcast, and an English teacher for more than 20 years! He shared his experiences as a teacher, Spanish learner, podcaster and more. I really enjoyed this episode, and I hope you will too! Listen to Craig's podcast: https://inglespodcast.com/ Learn with Craig: https://www.englishcraig.com/

We're revisiting some of our most popular and favorite episodes on the podcast. I've been an accent and fluency coach for over 10 years. It hasn't always been easy but it was always gratifying. I've learned new things about English and about my teaching, and I want to share these things with you. Full transcript and more information is here: https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/07/

Can we schedule a meeting for Monday at 9 AM? I'm sorry, I'm going to have to cancel our meeting. Whether you're scheduling, confirming a meeting, or canceling a meeting, today we're going to talk about essential phrases you can use in everyday English – with a focus on pronunciation and connected speech! Download the FREE practice sheet with even more useful phrases to practice along with: https://bit.ly/3MOxYp4

The end of 2024 is near – maybe you set some goals for yourself back in January, and even though you'd really love to achieve them,  you're not sure HOW exactly to do that. The good news is…we still have a quarter left in the year! If you're wondering how to turn around your practice and get inspired, motivated and determined to achieve your goals, there is a way.

We're revisiting some of our most popular and favorite episodes on the podcast. Taking small actions every day leads to great results. Author Darren Hardy calls it “The Compound Effect”, and it holds for a lot of things in life. In this episode, I'll discuss how I've realized it's deeply relevant to English learning and speaking. I experienced it in acting school, in the accent training courses I took, and in the past decade in teaching and building my business. I see it in my students as well, as they put in the work day in day out, not seeing immediate results but then reach a breakthrough and impact other people around them. See more information and links here: https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/15/

What exactly is a syllable? You may have heard this term a lot, but were never sure how to identify it on your own. Understanding syllables is essential to building a foundation for your pronunciation practice. So today, I'll explain what a syllable is in English, how to divide a word into syllables, and how it will help your English practice. Get your FREE syllables practice sheet here! https://bit.ly/3Z9DauZ For more syllable practice, check out these videos: Schwa – the BEST vowel sound in English https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/schwa/ How to Find the Primary Stress in Words https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/how-to-find-the-primary-stress-in-words/ How to find the stress in long words (words with suffixes) https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/long-words/

I'm hosting a FREE 5-day challenge from September 2 - 6. Join us here! https://bit.ly/4dYqfjC We're revisiting some of our most popular and favorite episodes on the podcast. Like any other challenge or thing we need to work on, improving your fluency is first and foremost about developing the right mindset. In this video, I'll discuss some of the things that hold you back and that you really need to let go of if you want to achieve a breakthrough in English. Download 30 English affirmations that will help you reach a breakthrough: https://bit.ly/4739Kkl

We're revisiting some of our most popular and favorite episodes on the podcast. I mention the schwa almost every time I speak about American English. That's because this vowel is all over the place, and once you hear it, you never stop hearing it

We're revisiting some of our most popular and favorite episodes on the podcast. In this podcast episode I elaborate on how to practice it effectively and integrate it into your day-to-day speech. Because forming a sentence is not enough. And making the right sounds isn't enough. It's the intonation that determines the meaning of the sentence: is it a question or a statement? Is it a joke and you're just being sarcastic? This is also where culture and your inner feelings are thrown into the mix. Intonation conveys ALL of that. To do that you need to know how to practice! This is why I also share my most effective practice techniques that I've used myself and with my students, that are going to help you improve your intonation and deliver your message in a clear way. If you haven't listened to my previous episode about American intonation, don't miss out on it: https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/12/  How not to be monotone when speaking English: https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/intonation-pitch/

The R sound is NOT an easy sound to pronounce. Even if you've been practicing it for a while, you may feel frustrated that you STILL can't use it as consistently as you would like. So today, instead of telling you how to pronounce the sound, I'm giving you the best strategies to practice the R sound and make it STICK! Download the free R sound PDF to practice with me: https://bit.ly/3Alq9Eq More episodes about pronouncing the R:

Are you watching the Olympics? Today you'll learn how to pronounce 10 of the most popular sports in the Olympics, so you can say them like a pro.

Over the summer, we're revisiting some of my FAVORITE episodes and stories that I've shared with you over the past several years on the podcast! Pronunciation is the door to understanding and mastering spoken English. It's the secret of speaking with confidence and communicating clearly. In this episode, I pinpoint the reasons why learning pronunciation is crucial if you want to make an impact and not compromise your message. Because this is really what it's all about. It's not about you sounding more American and losing your identity. It's about you feeling amazing in your own skin when you communicate in English. Full transcript: https://hadarshemesh.com/transcript/podcast-04/

Are you curious about how you can improve your writing in English? In this interview, I speak to teacher, author and non-native speaker, Fabio Cerpelloni as he shares tips for writing, expressing yourself in a second language, and the contradicting rules he writes about in his book, Any Language You Want.  Read more about Fabio's work here: https://fabiocerpelloni.com/about/

Over the summer, we're revisiting some of my FAVORITE episodes and stories that I've shared with you over the past several years on the podcast!  In this episode, I'm re-sharing with you how I transformed from being a timid speaker of English to a pronunciation expert and fluency coach who runs a thriving online business, and how I get to do what I love teaching students from all around the world who inspire me every day. This is my story. Full transcript: https://hadarshemesh.com/transcript/podcast-02/

Summertime is in full swing, and it has been busy! Summer camp, road trips, weddings and family visits are on the calendar over the next few months. Today I'll talk about navigating it all, the definition of ‘feeling at home' and the idea of homesickness.

Summertime is in full swing, and it has been busy! Summer camp, road trips, weddings and family visits are on the calendar over the next few months. Today I'll talk about navigating it all, the definition of ‘feeling at home' and the idea of homesickness.

When you read out loud, do you feel monotonous, like everything you say sounds the same, and there's no emotion or expression? Whether you're practicing for a presentation, reading to your kids, or you just want to have more expression when reading, this video is for you. We'll walk through different ways you can unlock more expression in your voice to sound more engaging when reading out loud.

When you read out loud, do you feel monotonous, like everything you say sounds the same, and there's no emotion or expression? Whether you're practicing for a presentation, reading to your kids, or you just want to have more expression when reading, this video is for you. We'll walk through different ways you can unlock more expression in your voice to sound more engaging when reading out loud.

This week my sister and her children gave us a surprise visit in Barcelona so I sat down with my niece Gaya to talk about our relocation, feelings and plans.