1) When [t] occurs in between vowel sounds within one word

later /'leɪt̬ər/

2) when [t] occurs at the end of the word and is preceded by a vowel and the word that follows it begins with a vowel

hit it /’hɪt̬ ɪt/

If you want to, you can find audio clips with the pronunciation of these words in the dictionaries I linked below.

Words:

• native

• better

• writer

• letter

• bitter

• creative

• water

• excited

• getting

• lighter (Gotta light, uh?)

• limiting

• pattern

Phrases:

• It doesn’t matter

• Not at all

• Forget about it

• I put it in the pretty box

• Betty bought a bit of butter

And a very advanced - I edited it ahead of time

Wikipedia article on flapping/tapping/t-voicing (Wikipedia articles on phonology in English are usually very reliable).

Merriam-Webster Dictionary (American English dictionary - when it doubt, use it when you’re confused about American spelling, too!)

Cambridge Dictionary (when listed, listen to the US pronunciation)

After you’ve the Speaking video, I want you to answer these questions:

1) What are the things I believe about my level of English?

2) If my best friend said to me these things about what they think about their English, would I tell them that they’re right? How would I respond?

3) What is my best memory of me speaking English? What did I do? How did I feel?

4) In what situations do I hold myself back and not speak English when I want to? Why? How can I change that?

5) What is my dream level of English? How does it serve me? What is possible for me thanks to the way I speak English and the way I feel about myself when I speak?

6) How do I want to feel when I speak English on the level I’m dreaming of? How is it different than the way I feel when I speak English now?

7) What new, positive statements am I going to say to myself when I feel down about my English skills?

You can write your answers down and read them out loud or answer them in speech straight away.

These exercises in the challenge only matter when you speak.

So…

…speak.

Replace any negative thoughts and statements running through your head that make you feel bad and less confident about your English. Depending on what they are, you can try replacing them with these:

• My English is getting better and better every day.

• I am improving my English skills all the time.

• I am becoming more confident when I speak English.

• I feel more and more relaxed when I think about speaking English.

• I feel excited when I know that I’ll be speaking English.

• I forgive myself for judging myself too harshly as an English speaker.

• I accept the mistakes I’ve made and I’m feeling lighter and lighter.

• I accept my accent the way it is and I know I can change it at any time.

• My accent is becoming more and more American.

• I am getting closer and closer towards my desired level of English.