The podcast is addressed to all students, regardless of their Hebrew level. The aim is to make Hebrew more accessible by simplifying the difficult aspects of the language. 

Hebrew Time

Welcome to the American English Pronunciation Guide. My name is Trevor Kafka, and I am your host.

There are many different varieties of American English. I was born and raised in New York, which has given me General American English pronunciation. The English that I speak has 15 vowel sounds. 

Please view the transcript for help while listening.

Today, we will talk about the vowel sound number 2 of 15: /eɪ/ grey day. This vowel is what we call a diphthong, meaning that it’s really two vowel sounds smooshed together as one. The mouth begins very open when the sound begins, but then turns into a smile as the teeth come together.

Listen to me saying this sound and repeat: /eɪ/, /eɪ/, /eɪ/

Listen to and repeat the following single-syllable words:
gray
day
pain
whale
waste
straight
tail
wait
shade

Listen to and repeat the following multiple-syllable words:
chamber
embrace
greatest
labor
vacation
translate
Canadian
information

Listen to and repeat the following sentences:
The way you say “gray” makes my day quite okay.
I embrace the shade to stay out of the sun’s rays.
The greatest of Canadian vacations have no space for rain.

I would like to thank Shirley Thompson and Karen Taylor for their work in developing the set of key phrases that I use with each vowel, such as /æ/ black cat, /eɪ/ grey day, etc. 

📢 American English Pronunciation Guide

Episode 2 - Vowels: /eɪ/ gray day (2 of 15)

Welcome to the American English Pronunciation Guide. My name is Trevor Kafka, and I am your host.

There are many different varieties of American English. I was born and raised in New York, which has given me General American English pronunciation. The English that I speak has 15 vowel sounds. 

Please view the transcript for help while listening.

Today, we will talk about the vowel sound number 1 of 15: /æ/ black cat. The mouth must be open and wide for this sound, maybe a little more than you are used to in your native language.

Listen to me saying this sound and repeat: /æ/, /æ/, /æ/

Listen to and repeat the following single-syllable words:
black
cat
bad
can
have
laugh
sad
tax
thank

Listen to and repeat the following multiple-syllable words:
eggplant
gather
happen
master
command
family
unsatisfied
understand
imagine

Listen to and repeat the following sentences:
The mad cat had a hat.
It is bad to have a laugh when your family is sad.
I can imagine you’re unsatisfied with the master’s command.

I would like to thank Shirley Thompson and Karen Taylor for their work in developing the set of key phrases that I use with each vowel, such as /æ/ black cat, /eɪ/ grey day, etc. 