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The InFluency Podcast

Hadar Shemesh

The InFluency podcast is your go-to resource for learning, speaking and teaching English.
Hadar Shemesh is a pronunciation expert and fluency coach with thousands of students around the world, though she herself was an intermediate speaker of English once.
In this podcast she will share her best strategies for learning English, speaking English with confidence and mastering the American accent.

Discover how becoming fluent has everything to do with acquiring the right mindset, setting goals and learning how to overcome challenges.
Hadar will also share her teaching philosophy and techniques to support English teachers looking to help their students become fluent.

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#530
Tuesday · 12 min
530. The 3 things I regret not starting sooner (this is one of them!)
How many things have you NOT done because you felt like your English wasn't ready yet? Applied for that job. Started creating content. Spoke up more. Started a business. There were three big things I postponed because I kept telling myself I wasn't ready: teaching in English, starting my YouTube channel, and starting my podcast. And looking back, I wish I hadn't waited. Because waiting didn't make me more ready, taking action did. In this episode, I'm sharing these three stories and what they taught me about confidence, fear, perfectionism, and the idea of being "ready." If there's something you've been waiting to do because of your English, I hope this episode gives you the push to start before you feel ready! ♥️
#529
August 18 · 8 min
529. Pronounce Irregular Verbs the Easy Way (Grouped by Sound)
In this episode, let's practice common irregular verbs according to sounds! When you organize irregular verbs by how they sound instead of how they're spelled, everything starts to click. And saying them out loud, in groups, in sentences is how pronunciation actually sticks. This episode is the intersection between pronunciation and grammar, and I hope you enjoy it! Want to keep going? My free Pronunciation Masterclass will show you exactly which sounds to focus on and how to use rhythm, stress, and intonation to sound clear and expressive in English 👇 https://bit.ly/4gv9Iqe Other resources mentioned: Watch the full video on how to pronounce the T before N: https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/t-sound-in-kitten-button-manhattan/ Practice irregular verbs with the rap from Fluency MC: https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/interview-with-jason-levine/
#528
August 14 · 42 min
528. How to get fluent when you're on your own | Gilbert's story
What does it take to become fluent in English when there is no one around you who speaks English? Meet my student, Gilbert. He's from Guinea, living in Morocco, studying engineering in French, and one of my New Sound Scholarship winners. In this conversation, Gilbert shares how he went from silent, afraid and unable to open his mouth to someone who speaks English with confidence, teaches others, and is now building a public speaking club in his own community. I hope you enjoy this interview!
#527
August 4 · 11 min
527. 3 Things Musicians Know About Pronunciation Practice That English Learners Don't
You can spend hours practicing pronunciation and still feel like you're not making progress. And sometimes, it's not because you're not practicing enough. It's because of how you're practicing. There are things musicians know about practice that most English learners have never been taught, but they still apply to language learning just the same! In this episode, I'm sharing 3 of them with you. 🎹 Get it in your body (repetition is not optional) 🐢 Go slower to go faster (yes, really) 🧠 Manage your brain when people are actually listening Want to keep going? My free Pronunciation Masterclass will teach you everything you're not getting in conventional English classes, such as rhythm, stress, intonation and more. 👉 https://bit.ly/4cJVbGf I'll see you there.
#526
July 28 · 13 min
526. How to say big numbers in English | 10-min Pronunciation Sprint
Do you find it hard to pronounce BIG NUMBERS in English? You're not alone! I'm not talking about our basic 1-100! As soon as we get to hundreds, thousands, or millions - things get a little messy. In this Sprint, we're drilling big numbers together out loud, in real sentences, so they actually stick. We'll practice: ✔️ Three-digit numbers (like 304 and 989) ✔️ Four-digit numbers the natural way (2,462 → "twenty-four sixty-two") ✔️ Numbers with zeros in tricky spots (2,052) ✔️ Five, six, and seven-digit numbers, including millions ✔️ Real sentences you'll actually use such as prices, stats, dates, and more 🔁 Want more sprints like this one? Check out this playlist! https://bit.ly/sprints-playlist 🎯 Want daily Sprints delivered inside my practice community? Join my community Beyond and get a new Sprint each day. https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N
#525
July 21 · 23 min
525. The "ping pong" trick that makes English small talk feel natural
Sometimes the best conversations are like a ping-pong match. 🏓 No awkward silences, no gaps, just fast flowing conversations. Today, we're taking a scene from the TV show, First Dates to practice exactly that. We'll go sentence by sentence: you listen and test your comprehension, then we'll break it down, and shadow it together, paying attention to intonation, rhythm, stress, and pronunciation the whole way through. This is a great exercise for shadowing, but also, if you wanna practice your flirty side in English ;) Watch the full clip here: https://youtu.be/2i5l33TxIpI Join my pronunciation masterclass to learn more: https://bit.ly/3SXWZop
#524
July 14 · 13 min
524. Do you need to reduce your accent? What that really means
In this episode, I'm breaking down the real difference between three things people often confuse: 1: Reducing an accent 2: Acquiring a new accent 3: Speaking with clear, predictable pronunciation. I'll share my story, why "accent reduction" is actually a myth, and what really matters, depending on your personal goals. If you want to work on your pronunciation with me, join my FREE Pronunciation Masterclass, where I teach you the elements they don't cover in conventional English studies. The ones that actually make your speech clear, expressive, and confident: https://bit.ly/4gBnjg5
#522
July 7 · 54 min
523. She could barely speak English. Now she runs her own business
Who am I? That was the question Glenda kept asking herself when she first moved from Costa Rica to the US. She was not able to communicate and felt terrified to even answer the phone or turn on her camera in a video call. In this conversation, my student Glenda shares her journey from feeling powerless and dependent on her husband for everything, to building her own dog training business, hosting conversation groups and book clubs, and now raising her daughter… all in English :) I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did ♥️ 👉 Join our Beyond community for English learners (Glenda is there too!): https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N
#522
June 30 · 12 min
522. Daily 10-minute pronunciation exercise (Sprint)
These Sprints are designed to set yourself up for success using daily articulation and speech exercises to make your pronunciation effortless and to be more clear in English! Do this 10-minute pronunciation practice every morning before you start your day, or before an important meeting, and you'll feel the difference. And if you want 30 daily Sprints just like this, get full access in my course, Sprint Master: https://bit.ly/419T61z
#521
June 23 · 25 min
521. Read out loud with me! Atomic Habits PART 2 – Vocabulary, pronunciation and intonation
Get ready to read Atomic Habits Chapter 2 by James Clear out loud with me! Follow along and improve your vocabulary and pronunciation with an excerpt from Atomic Habits! Personally, I love this book. It's such a great book all about building habits that last (and these tips are great for language learning too!) Check out Chapter 1 here: https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/464/ Get a 30-day Audible free trial using my referral code and get Atomic Habits for FREE: https://adbl.co/2ESq3ro
#520
June 16 · 24 min
520. The 5 R vowels of English
The R is one of the hardest sounds in English…but it doesn't have to be after this episode ;) In American English, there are two R sounds: the strong R (red, around, crazy) and the soft R, or R vowels. That's when the R appears AFTER a vowel (car, here, first). In this focused practice session, we're working through the 5 key R vowel sounds together. For each sound, I'll give you words and example sentences to follow along with. By the end, these tricky words like world, work, word, girl and first won't feel so scary anymore. Want to go deeper into pronunciation? Join my FREE Pronunciation Masterclass! A full hour of everything I know about sounds, prosody, intonation, rhythm, and stress, so you can stop putting so much effort into speaking English. It's completely free, and it's going to be fun. → https://bit.ly/4xZGyqv Check out these other R videos to keep practicing: https://bit.ly/4vMcltM
#519
June 12 · 40 min
519. Rediscovering your identity in English: Interview with my student, Valentina
If you've ever felt funny, smart, and expressive in your first language, but timid, or smaller the moment you switch to English, this conversation is for you! In this interview, I spoke with Valentina, a longtime student of mine, to talk about something almost every English learner feels but rarely has the words for: the gap between who you are and how you show up in English. We get into the difference between the language gap (knowing more than you can say) and the identity gap (not feeling like yourself), why your English behaves differently depending on the room you're in, and how letting go of who you "should" be is the thing that finally sets your voice free. This one is tender, honest, and full of permission. I loved every minute of it. 💛 To join our community, check it out here! Beyond Community → https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N
#518
June 9 · 24 min
518. 10 things I LOVE about being a non-native speaker
Today's episode is a bit different. That's because today, I am going to talk to you about the 10 reasons why I ABSOLUTELY LOVE being a non-native speaker. From having multiple personalities and voices in different languages, to the personal development journey that language learning truly is…this episode is not about pronunciation or grammar. Just the truth about what it means to speak more than one language. If you've ever felt embarrassed about your accent, guilty about making mistakes, or like you're "not enough" compared to native speakers, this episode is for you.
#517
June 2 · 16 min
517. How to Sound More Confident in English: 4 Speech Patterns to Notice
Want to sound more confident in English? In this video, I'm sharing 4 speech patterns and speaking habits that may be making you sound less confident, less clear, or less certain without you even realizing it. If English is your second language, these patterns may come from your first language or from habits you've built over time. The good news is that once you become aware of them, you can start changing them and sound more clear, natural, and confident in English. In this episode, we'll talk about: how rising intonation can make you sound uncertain why dropping your volume at the end of a sentence affects clarity how separating every word can hurt your flow why speaking too fast can make you sound less confident If you want to go deeper, save your seat to my free Pronunciation Masterclass! https://bit.ly/4hVBsa8
#516
May 26 · 18 min
516. 15-minute shadowing practice for English pronunciation | Breaking Bad
Shadowing is a great way to practice your pronunciation, prosody, grammar and so much more, but the key is knowing what to focus on. In this video, we'll practice pitch and rhythm using a scene from Breaking Bad. Download the script to follow along with: https://bit.ly/4v8pa1d Check out my other shadowing videos here: https://bit.ly/4fx9j4t Join my pronunciation masterclass: https://bit.ly/3UUR9Vj
#515
May 19 · 13 min
515. American English Pronunciation: The T Sound in Kitten, Button, and Manhattan
Do you hear people say words like kitten, Manhattan, forgotten, or written in a way that sounds different from what you learned? In this video, I'll teach you how the T is really pronounced in American English when it appears before a reduced vowel (schwa) and N, like in the words kitten, button, certain, written, and forgotten. Disclosure: This sound is a nuance of American English! It's not necessary for clear pronunciation. This lesson is here to help you notice the pattern, improve your listening, and practice the details of American English pronunciation if that's something you want to work on. If you want to go deeper into pronunciation and learn how it can improve your fluency, clarity, and confidence, join my free Pronunciation Masterclass here: https://bit.ly/4wQnuKi
#514
May 12 · 13 min
514. LISTENING and SHADOWING practice with The Devil Wears Prada 2 | FAST ENGLISH
Let's get ready to test your listening skills with a fast, fun clip from The Devil Wears Prada 2! First, you'll listen to the full clip and answer a few comprehension questions. Then, we'll break it down together, fill in the missing words, then uncover the connected speech, rhythm, stress, and intonation, and finally shadow the scene line by line. This episode will help you: - Understand fast English in context - Identify reduced and connected words - Notice pitch, rhythm, and tone of voice - Shadow naturally full of expression Liked this? check out my shadowing episode with The Devil Wears Prada 1: https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/482/ Want to improve your pronunciation and understand fast English with more confidence? Join my free pronunciation masterclass here: https://bit.ly/4wPgHk8
#513
May 5 · 12 min
513. 5 Great Ways to Practice English (When You're Tired of Everything Else)
Looking for new ways to practice your English? In today's episode, I'm sharing with you some of my favorite strategies that can help you improve your fluency, listening, pronunciation, and vocabulary. I've used these myself learning English (and now Spanish!) and I've shared them with my students time and time again. These strategies are simple, powerful, and will help you turn everyday English practice into something more active, consistent, and fun. Do you want to build a consistent English practice routine? Learn more about Beyond, my English practice community: https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N More resources for you to practice with: My shadowing YouTube playlist https://bit.ly/4fx9j4t Vocabulary practice YouTube playlist: https://bit.ly/4cZItm4 Impromptu speaking practice episode: https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/510/ My membership Beyond: https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N
#512
April 29 · 24 min
512. The #1 Strategy to Improve Your Pronunciation Fast
If you've been trying to improve your English but still don't feel clear, confident, or fully yourself when you speak, this video is for you! In this lesson, I'm sharing the number one strategy I use to help students improve their pronunciation, speak more clearly, and feel more confident in English. A lot of people think pronunciation is only important if you want to sound more polished, that pronunciation is a 'luxury' problem. But the truth is, pronunciation is a core part of fluency. It affects how clearly you communicate, how easily people understand you, and how confident you feel when you speak. In this episode, we'll talk about: Why pronunciation matters so much for fluency and confidence The difference between sounds and the music of English How pronunciation work can improve clarity, credibility, and ease My step by step method for improving pronunciation effectively How to identify what to practice first so you can get better results faster If you're ready to improve your pronunciation, intonation, rhythm, and stress, this will help you build a stronger foundation and start seeing results. Want to go deeper? Join my free Pronunciation Masterclass! https://bit.ly/4qH5RLF
#511
April 24 · 52 min
511. From afraid to speak to expressing herself fully in English | Real Student Story
In today's episode, I'm introducing you to a dear, long-time student of mine, Elisa! Elisa is Italian, and works in hospitality, but her relationship with English started long before any of that. One day, Elisa found herself stuck in a cycle: consuming English every day through music, YouTube and movies, but terrified to speak a single sentence out loud. In this interview, Elisa will share with us the exact shifts that changed everything for her: how she moved from overthinking every word to focusing on the message and what it felt like to finally become not just a more confident English speaker, but a more confident person. If you have ever told yourself, "I'm not ready yet," this one is for you! ⬇️ Resources mentioned: Free Shadowing Practice Playlist: https://bit.ly/4fx9j4t Read Out Loud With Me Series: https://bit.ly/4cFoiJV New Sound Course: https://bit.ly/4cGxbmC Beyond membership: https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N

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