Mouth Posture Phase 0: Basic Awareness/Training and Reset | Master your Tongue to Sound Native!

[@MMGCRAFT]

Quick tip for anyone having trouble relaxing the back of the tongue like i did: tense the front of your tongue while sliding the tip of your tongue back the roof of your mouth. This should tense the back which will give you more awareness of what needs to be relaxed. To fully relax the tongue you might need to “shift” that back tension (at the root of the tongue) to the top of your throat (this is what he talks about in phase 0, part 2) this will push out your throat and give you more space. - keep in mind english holds the muscles more “relaxed” than most languages. But like he talks about in phase 0, part 2, you might need to build some muscle memory before these muscles feel relaxed. Hope this helps

[@alexhp1282]

Writing this comment down because this video and phase 1 helped me astronomically, as someone who came to the US when I was 13 and had some past knowledge on it even before, I’ve never really mastered my US accent and I’m 21 now, and after working on the exercises in this video and following phase 1 I’ve been seeing good results, the only thing I can say to anyone trying to do the same is that changing your accent(and in my case also my voice) takes a long time and you really do need to put in the work, it takes a good 2 months to start seeing true results if you continue practicing, test yourself, and don’t give up. Take long breaks if you have to even up to a week and then go at it again. Right now I’m trying to master my normal t’s and th’s let’s get it..

[@mry9311]

Wow! I can't thank you enough!♥️ I just watched some parts of this video to have a general idea on its content and I found out that this video is what I needed!! You're a very skilled coach and you understand learners' needs and you very well know where their weaknesses are in English. l'll be watching it over and over these days . Thank you again 💙

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

😊

[@deliohector]

Just finished watching this video. Can't wait to start practicing. This time I was just watching it bc it's midnight and I just couldn't wait till tomorrow. I did try some of the tongue exercises tho...and I realized that my tongue likes to behave like an unruly teenager- it doesn't obey me.😁

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

Yep! There are quite a few reasons why this should be the starting point. Why even try to get the sounds when your tongue won't do what you tell it to? Or if you can't feel it. It's Iike trying to hit a target while blindfolded

[@iiAbdullah635]

This video is the best video in your whole channel. This should be taught in schools. 5k views only is a crime, dude.

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

Perhaps one day. Maybe I'll open my own school at some point 😎

[@iiAbdullah635]

@@NativeEnglishHacks We have a saying in Arabic. "Dreams are indeed free, so feel free to dream as much as you want. One day, it might become true."

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

@iiAbdullah635 Story of my life

[@RinkuAccentEnglish1212]

I have been finding this lesson for a long time. Appreciate for this precious techniques.

[@Jasshcsm]

Brilliant stuff! I really look forward to where these exercises lead. This also brings clarity to "the center of gravity" -idea

[@loutol2952]

Just subscribed. Your hacks are genius! I am learning British RP and your videos are simply the best. Much obliged.

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

Thanks! Glad to hear you're enjoying the content. Keep in mind there do seem to be some differences between American posture and British posture, though. Not an expert on the British one, but the center of gravity is definitely different

[@english5892]

Hi, in the back tongue exercises 1) Should I use the "brace" in the upward and downward excersies, I notice you only said for forward and backward? 2) Do you have any other advice for gain separe control of the throat from the back tongue? each time I iwant to move the tongue upward, the throat go upward, the same for all the directions. I've been trying for a week and I can't isolate them, and I noticed also that when I do the throat directions exercises, the back of the tongue also moves in the same position. So, for me is like the same exercises, only that in the throat exercises I can also change the pitch to go lower or higher. I haven't advanced to the middle tongue exercise yet because I still can't control the back of the tongue without use a lot of the throat. Thanks

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

Always use the brace unless otherwise noted. It helps stabilize everything (and will become indirectly useful in further lessons). The separation of the throat and the back of the tongue is a tricky thing that most learners struggle with. It can take some time. The fact that you can do pitch change or no change between the two is a good sign. You don't necessarily have to 100% separate them, meaning if you feel a little movement from the tongue while doing the throat or vice-versa, it's ok, but only a little. Unfortunately, I don't really have any extra advice here. Just know it can take a little while to get it

[@english5892]

Thank you very much, I'll keep practicing :), happy night@@NativeEnglishHacks

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

@english5892 "Happy night" sounds a bit unnatural, at least in American English. "Have a good night" would be better 😀 And thanks

[@english5892]

Hello there, first Thanks, I have 2 doubts when practicing the 4 directions of the throat. In the downwards: * I can feel myself moving my throat down without changing pitch, just trying it like I'm doing a yawn * I can also feel my throat go down if I just turn down the tone. (From C3 to F2) * And if I combine them I feel that it goes down much more. which should i practice in this case? And upward. It's similar: * I can feel that my throat rises without changing the tone, doing the tense of the part of the "tense and release" of part 2, feeling the pressure on top above of the Adam's apple. * I can also move it by move up in pitch, but I can move it up to a falsette (from C3 to G5), so I don't know what range to move it to Which one do I practice there? And thanks for everything

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

The point isn't to do it "right" necessarily, but to build conscious awareness and control over these things. You should have a change in pitch, though. The fact that you can already do upward and downward (and in two different ways) likely means you don't have to practice them at all. Most people can't do these at all when they first start

[@english5892]

I see, thanks, it's just that I like to be detailed and I had doubts if I was doing it right haha, thanks for answering and excellent content.@@NativeEnglishHacks

[@english5892]

Hello, first thanks for the class. In the death tongue, where should the tip of the tongue go? In my case I have 2 ways and I don't know which one is right. First: I feel that it is below the gingivae / gums (but inside), that is, where the lower incisors just end, without touching those teeth, so the tip almost reaches the floor of the mouth. Second: I feel that it stays on the gingivae / gums (but inside), and it rests there, using it as a base, so my tip touches the lower incisors, The sound is practically the same in both. Thank you so much

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

For the dead tongue, it doesn't really matter. You're simply trying to remove as much tension as possible from your tongue to create a neutral base to work from in the other exercises.

[@english5892]

@@NativeEnglishHacks Thank you so much

[@dank7_oof481]

I saw a comment talking about the “pit” near the front of the tongue. I thought it was ok to have as I have seen some native English speakers have it but now I noticed some don’t. I’m confused about that. And I’m having a bit trouble keeping the back of tongue low and front away from the bottom teeth, any guidance would help.

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

Answers can be found in further lessons in this course. Even if you don't see the pit, it's there, but it's in the middle, not the front. If you're looking at the AH (cat) sound, there is a lot in the front, too. But for AW it's only in the middle. As for front of teeth, yes, but that's an advanced thing that breaks the default front of tongue setting and is strongly NOT recommended until you fully develop the default posture because it will almost guarantee problems with other settings

[@monicasanchez3902]

Thank you 😊🌄!!!!

[@Avi-tq6fd]

Hey T, I tend to forget the exact things to do while I'm exercising, so im planning to just focus till back tongue exercise for few days, after that I'll on other half. Would that be fine?

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

T? These exercises are just something I came up with. They work (really well, actually), but don't fall into the trap of "getting it right". If you're shooting at a target, that's the goal, but it's the process that makes that happen, meaning you need to have a mindset of exploration and playing with things. That being said, you should take as long as you need. I've had a few students pass phase 0 in 2-3 classes (spread over a week). On the slower end, I've had a couple students who take a month just to get the throat. My time recommendations are minimums, but they don't really matter. What matters is that you achieve the result, however long that takes.

[@Avi-tq6fd]

@@NativeEnglishHacks T for teacher. A lot of students use in classes to address educators/professors (granted its only in online classes). And thanks for the reply, I can imitate the exercises (up until halfway, rest of the exercises im planning to practice later) to a good level after listening to you instructions again and again but when I do it alone, I forget things. There is also fear of not making it 100% identical and developing something (wrong posture) else entirely. Especially with the back end of the tongue. I fall in the Indian category, and my native tongue is definitely forward spoken, so I dont seem to Feel tension in the back part as good as I can feel in other two parts. In fact, to offset the forward placement, I have tried lowering my whole placement, and that sometimes makes my sentences choppy and slow (i speak very fast in both the languages so it comes out weird for some sentences like: "they feel really good", because of dark Ls and trying to lower the placementi stress on these words a but too much).

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

Aside from the back tension (the top of the throat that I mention in the phase 0 update), phase 0 doesn't directly build the posture, so no need to worry about building it wrong. Phase 0 is designed to give you the basic awareness, control, and skills needed to start building the posture in phase 1 and the sounds in phase 2. Make sure you watch the phase 0 update lesson at least once because it's going to help with a lot of what you're doing. The education system has wrongly drilled into us that we have to get it right, but this becomes a huge mental block in skill development that actually slows your progress and keeps you away from the goal you're trying to reach. When you were a baby learning to walk, you didn't sit there thinking about the "right way" to stand up and not fall, you just tried again and again until you developed the proper motor skills to not fall (falling being a key source of feedback). In other words, you learned through trial and error how NOT to walk. Learning how NOT to do something is just as much part of the process (if not more so) as learning how to do the thing itself. Pay extremely close attention to what you feel and, more importantly, what you hear (especially keeping in mind the ssound quality guidelines in the phase 0 update lesson). It will take some time, but you can do it.

[@english5892]

Hi, I have a doubt. My death tongue sound gives me an A2 tone, and the minimum tone I reach is G2 (it hurts a little there and if I lower F2 it is already very uncomfortable and painful). I feel comfortable in A2 doing all the exercises that use the death tongue as a starting position, I feel relaxed and that is the natural tone that comes out when I am relaxed, if I raise it to B2 or C3 I feel more tension, although it doesn't bother me, like when do a lower tone. Here I clarify that I speak Spanish and my tone generally when starting a word is D3-C3, but it is a bit nasal, if I do it the the death tongue in that tone I feel a lot of tension, so if I relax, naturally it gives me A2, much lower than what I'm used to. I have seen that many words in English have stress in some syllables, and therefore the tone goes up a little and then goes down, for example "sensation" /sɛnˈseɪʃn/ (da-DA-da). If I understood correctly the sound of death tongue in the future will be very similar to my scwha, so it would have the A2 tone. But if I try to pronounce words in English or even my language, for now I am always starting at that A2 tone, so it bothers me and hurts when I go down to G2 in accented words, in which the tone drops a little. So I wanted to know if the tone of my death tongue is the one I should always start words with? Or rather it is the lowest tone that I should use, and rather I should start speaking in a higher tone, for example a B2 or C3, so I can lower the tone more comfortably. I hope you understand me and you can help me. Maybe you explain that later in other video or something related to the tones, but I had that doubt. Thank you so much

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

Unfortunately, I have no idea about tones, so I can't really answer this

[@John2corner]

Hi Josy, I am back. Is the QnA happening on Sundays? I thought it was Thursdays...so I missed a lot of them. I have a question btw. Where does sound resonate when speaking English? in the back of the mouth right below the soft palate? or throat? I know this might be a silly question, but I really want to know where American English sounds mostly resonate. I know some languages mostly resonate where cheeks are located if that makes sense. When you talk about not making nasal sounds in this video, you mention creating a vacuum in the back of the mouth, does that mean you need to try to make sounds in the back of mouth? Thank you again for the great video.

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

Yes, it's now on Sundays. I wouldn't pay much attention to the concept of "resonation" in the mouth. If anything, it's generally going to be in the center because that's where the center of gravity is. It's not a very useful concept and I strongly recommend that you don't try to resonate from a certain place.

[@John2corner]

@@NativeEnglishHacks where are the sounds made then? I believe mostly English make sounds in the space of the mouth behind the ridge? Is it correct? Do you need to make sounds there? Thank you again.

[@english5892]

Hello, in the open/close breathing (18:14), when exhaling should I do it without any tension? Or more like the \h\ phoneme where you can hear sound cause the little tension in the throat Thanks

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

Unless otherwise stated, things should always be done in an open/non-tense way (as much as the specific exercise permits). The most important thing is to try to match what you hear me doing as closely as possible

[@english5892]

Hi, when you inhale to do the death tongue (10:41) or the open/close breathing (18:37) , should you inhale only through the nose, or only through the mouth, or through both? Thank you

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

Always the mouth

[@english5892]

Hey, Thanks :)@@NativeEnglishHacks

[@21tranquynhnhu52]

12:19 dead sound

[@lilybrook268]

Should I breath through my mouth when I do the throat and breath exercise?

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

Yes, everything goes through the mouth unless you're specifically trying to do something with the nose

[@MsMRkv]

Thank you teacher!

[@iiAbdullah635]

12:04 this happens if I raised the back of my tongue. this sound is similar to j in Spanish 'not the same sound tho" it exists in some languages like Arabic. Arabic uses this symbol 'غ, غـ, ـغـ" Am I right about the back of the tongue? Edit: I/I've just looked it up this is the voiced version of the j in Spanish!

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

Hmmm, not quite the Spanish J, but kinda similar. For these exercises (and for American English in general) you want to avoid that kind of sound. If you raise the back of your tongue and produce that sound, you don't have the proper control

[@Avi-tq6fd]

Watching it second time!

[@iiAbdullah635]

I can't do it without moving my jaw is that okay? - 26:03 - And I also feel a bit of tension edit: I think I got it. it sounds like I'm really tired I haven't eaten for days. it's smilier to sound when you hit something suddenly

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

The jaw must stay in place

[@keviny7480]

Where is the top of the tongue resting when the tongue is the dead tongue? Does the whole tongue kind of float in the middle with the brace support?

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

Yes. It should be completely relaxed but not to the point that it sinks between the teeth or the back of the tongue sinks into the throat.

[@John2corner]

Hey Josh, Do you have any options to give some feedback after listening to some audio files submitted by members here? I would like to submit 2 min length audio to you and get some feedback. I personally don't have much time to do one-on-one lessions. Of course, I'd pay for the service. Would you be interested in doing sth like that? Thank you!

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

2 minutes is REALLY long for something like that if we're focused on pronunciation. But if I remember right, both Patreon members and KZbin channel members (both at a certain minimum price level) are allowed to send me 3 recordings a month for feedback.

[@John2corner]

​@@NativeEnglishHacks it doesn't have to be 2 min it can be just 10 or 20 sec tbh. oh didn't know that I will check that out.Ta

[@nickolasbowen2404]

when doing the tongue exercises, is the tongue suppose to stay in the dead position?

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

It always starts in the dead position, but also uses the brace, and only the part of the tongue that you're trying to move should move. Everything else stays where it is (in the dead position).

[@iiAbdullah635]

Can I use the schwa instead of the dead tongue?

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

Technically. One of the main purposes of these exercises to help find the schwa with the right quality. That's why it's phase 0, to help prepare for phase 1. If you can already do a perfect schwa, then you can use it

[@iiAbdullah635]

@@NativeEnglishHacks amazing!

[@grigoriidifero]

How is English not nasal? I always thought it was.

[@lilybrook268]

When I produce the dead sound, shouldn’t I feel any tension in my tongue?

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

No. It's completely dead, except you don't want it to fall into the throat. It should feel completely or almost completely relaxed. If you're doing the tongue exercises, you might need slight tension on the sides for the brace if your native language pulls the sides inward

[@caixabrinquedos]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@iiAbdullah635]

18:20 - I'm dying 🤣

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

?

[@iiAbdullah635]

@@NativeEnglishHacks I don't know why I found this sound kinda funny. I can't imagine myself doing it front of anyone. They would think I lost my mind, or I'm choking lol.

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

Well, it's not normal lol. But it is good for starting to feel and control your throat and breath better. It's not for other people to hear, just for you to practice with 🙂

[@iiAbdullah635]

@@NativeEnglishHacks to breath better? so this video teaches how to breath. interesting!

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

No need to troll. Languages use breath in slightly different ways. Some languages don't push out as much air and/or constrict the airflow more, others use more force and/or less constriction. It's very common problem for many learners of American English. It's a small difference, but it can be the difference between sounding natural and not (and sometimes the difference between being understood and not)

[@Jamal-bi9hv]

anyone here wanna go through this with me? we can send each other recordings and be practice buddies :)

[@GG-fy5hm]

how americans hold their toungue and the rest of mouth when not speaking nor eating?

[@NativeEnglishHacks]

That's next lesson 🙂 Or just watch this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2LPm3idbKaoadk