The InFluency Podcast

Episode 200! Woo-hoo! In this podcast-convo, I'll share with you what I loved most about making the previous 200 episodes and what I'm hoping to do more in the next 200 episodes! I'll also share with you a list of the 10 most downloaded episodes of the InFluency podcast, and what I think about them!  And here they are!!  The Schwa: How One TINY Sound Can Make a HUGE Difference How to effectively practice your intonation in English Why I Quit Acting and Became an Accent Coach | My story 10 Things You Should Stop Doing if you Want to Speak English Fluently American Intonation: What They Don't Teach You In School How to Stay Motivated When Learning English Why pronunciation is important when learning a language Why Perfectionism Will KILL Your Fluency How Small, Smart Choices Can Transform Your English | The Compound Effect Why do I feel like a fraud every time I speak English? | The Impostor Syndrome If you want to improve your accent and understand spoken English better, download my free American Accent audio crash course: https://hadarshemesh.com/audio-accent-course/ You can also download an interactive list of 50 of the most mispronounced words in English and master the pronunciation of those tricky words: https://theaccentsway.com/mispro-signup/ Join our Facebook community to connect with non-native English learners from all over the world: https://hadarshemesh.com/influency-community/

In this 'Ask Hadar' podcast episode I'm answering Silvana, an English learner from Brazil, who wants to become an English teacher. Silvana isn't sure she can do it, because she still has a lot to learn herself. I get asked this question a lot – whether non-native speakers of English should teach the language. And I always say – absolutely. If pursuing a teaching career is what you want, don't let anyone – teachers or colleagues – put you down because you're not a native speaker of English. Because teaching is so much more than transforming knowledge, especially in this day and age. In this episode, I share some thoughts on how to know you're doing a good job teaching English, whether you're a native speaker or not. Want to ask me a question on the podcast? Submit your audio recording here: https://hadarshemesh.com/ask-hadar/ If you want to improve your accent and understand spoken English better, download my free American Accent audio crash course: https://theaccentsway.com/audio-accent-course/ You can also download an interactive list of 50 of the most mispronounced words in English and master the pronunciation of those tricky words: https://theaccentsway.com/mispro-signup/ Join our Facebook community to connect with non-native English learners from all over the world: https://theaccentsway.com/influency-community/

How well do you know primary stress? In today's lesson, we're doing a quiz to test your knowledge of just how much you know.  For more primary stress practice, check out these videos! How to Find the Primary Stress in Words https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/how-to-find-the-primary-stress-in-words/ Everything you need to know about WORD STRESS in English https://youtu.be/QR50k5Kz63o  Keep practicing with my FREE Accent Crash Course: https://bit.ly/3BnPC0S

Do you say estrong instead of strong? In today's video, we're talking about consonant clusters. Consonant clusters can happen at the beginning, middle or end of words, and today, we'll practice pronouncing words, phrases and sentences without dropping any sounds! Want more pronunciation practice? Join my 14-day pronunciation plan! https://bit.ly/3YAWcJ5

Today, we're stepping into the world of just how confusing English spelling can be! In this video, we're going to analyze words that even advanced speakers mispronounce.  Want to keep practicing your pronunciation? Get the free 14-day pronunciation plan! https://bit.ly/3YAWcJ5

Do you ever feel like you speak monotone in English? In this episode, Aubrey from the amazing All Ears English podcast is here to talk about how monotone speech can affect your IELTS speaking score (and the other ways it can impact you!) In this conversation, we talk about: Why sounding monotone can lower your IELTS pronunciation score What examiners actually listen for in the speaking test Why monotone speech makes people tune out in real conversations How nerves and overthinking affect your voice Why feeling "fake" when you change your intonation is normal How to practice sounding more expressive  Whether you are preparing for IELTS or simply want to sound more confident and expressive in English, this episode will help you understand how to work on it! Find Aubrey and the All Ears English podcast here! https://www.allearsenglish.com/

Are you afraid of making mistakes when you speak English? In this episode, we're talking about something that silently blocks fluency for so many people: the fear of making mistakes. In today's episode, you'll learn 5 truths about mistakes in English that will completely change the way you speak, practice, and show up in real conversations. Because the goal is not to speak "perfectly." The goal is to speak clearly, confidently, and consistently, even when things are not 100 percent. Want more? Join us for the Start Strong Challenge! https://bit.ly/4qAqR5l  Join Beyond, my English practice community https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N

Today, we're learning 10 super common English expressions that will help you start the year with energy, confidence, and momentum. You might already recognize some of them, but today you'll learn what they really mean, how to say them more naturally, and how to use them in real sentences so they actually stick. Download the practice PDF (expressions + definitions + example sentences): https://bit.ly/3YMyA4n

As we wrap up 2025 and step into 2026, I want to invite you to leave a few things behind with me: the need to be perfect, the fear of judgment, habits that aren't working for you, comparison, and that old story you keep telling yourself about your English. Because here's the truth: you don't need "perfect" to be powerful. You just need practice, permission, and a new story. If you want a little extra support to start 2026 feeling clearer, freer, and more confident, I've got two free ways to do it: 👉 Join the free 7-Day Confidence Challenge https://bit.ly/3UmzZMY  A short daily email with a simple activity to help you build confidence in English, one step at a time. 👉  Get on the Start Strong Challenge list We're kicking off 2026 together with a free Start Strong Challenge so you can start the year with momentum and confidence. Click here to join https://bit.ly/498Lnmu  Let's make 2026 a year to remember!

Do you ever feel tired after speaking English even when you can speak for hours in your first language with no problem? In this episode, I'll explain why English feels more exhausting and what you can do to feel lighter, clearer, and more effortless when you speak. You'll learn practical strategies to reduce physical tension, stop overusing your muscles when pronouncing tricky sounds, ease voice strain, and manage the mental load that comes from overthinking and self editing. These small shifts can help you conserve energy, feel more confident, and enjoy speaking without ending the day completely drained. Learn more about your voice with these videos: https://bit.ly/48Z774o  Join my programs 👇 My English Mindset: https://bit.ly/47wXuYD  Beyond Community: https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N

Do you ever feel like you are "not a storyteller" or worry that your stories are too long, too messy, or "not interesting enough" in English? Join this conversation with us! In this episode, I talk with Bree from the podcast "Into the Story" about what storytelling really is and why you do not need perfect English, fancy vocabulary, or a big dramatic life to tell powerful stories that connect.  We also talk about confidence, perfectionism, and that little feeling of shame when you remember a tiny mistake you made in English hours later. If you are tired of waiting to "fix" your English before you share your story, this episode is for you. Connect with Bree: Into the Story podcast: https://intostory.com/ Bree's website: https://intostory.com/  TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking" by Chris Anderson: https://www.ted.com/read/ted-talks-the-official-ted-guide-to-public-speaking

One vowel sound, but so many spellings in English! English spelling is not phonetic, which means that just because it has one spelling, doesn't mean it always sounds the same way! In this video, we're going to talk about the 15 (!) different spellings that just ONE sound has in English. Crazy, right? For more information about this vowel, check out these episodes: How to pronounce 'water': https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/water/  /ah/ as in father (and coffee, job and office): https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/aa-as-in-father/  The 3 A's : cap-cup-cop: https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/cap-cup-cop/

In this lesson we'll practice together how the same text can sound happy, sad, serious, or excited, only by changing your voice! I'll read two paragraphs in different ways so you can hear how tone, pitch, and rhythm change the meaning. Then we'll shadow together and you can practice your own intonation. Shadow with me, repeat after me, and train your voice to tell the story you want! If you want more practice with intonation, pronunciation, and real speaking skills, check out my free 14-day pronunciation plan! https://bit.ly/3YAWcJ5

Unlock the parts of you that stay quiet in English and finally show up as your full self. In this episode, we talk about the habits and thoughts that limit your expression and how to break them so you can speak with clarity, confidence, and freedom. You will learn how to: • Notice the beliefs that hold you back • Shift from fear to curiosity • Practice in simple daily ways that build real confidence • Express yourself with more presence and ease Want to keep practicing and building your true voice in English? Check out my practice community, Beyond.  https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N

Struggling with prepositions in English? In this lesson, we'll discover the most common preposition mistakes and practice them together with clear drills so you can use them confidently in real life. Learn with me in my courses 🤝 https://bit.ly/4oBeZzC

Do you struggle to pronounce words like "girl," "term," "certain," and "earth"? In today's lesson, we're going to talk about how the American English R really sounds in these words! We'll also talk about spelling patterns, and how you can identify the pronunciation easily.  Download the R practice sheet here: https://bit.ly/3Alq9Eq  Get my 14-day Pronunciation Plan: https://bit.ly/3YAWcJ5

Do you want to stop translating, and start thinking in English? This episode will show you 5 steps you can do every day to build the connection in your brain in English, and make it yours.  Here are the resources mentioned in the episode: Join my membership, Beyond, and get access to HadarAI! https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N  Practice with daily Sprints: https://bit.ly/4qtZJ8P  Practice shadowing: https://bit.ly/4fx9j4t 

Want to improve your grammar, but you're not sure how? Chances are, you KNOW the grammar rules, but when it comes time to speak, you overthink which tense to use. That's why I created this Grammar Sprint, a series of drills I've developed, aimed at building pronunciation confidence in new tenses and common grammar structures.  The repetition builds muscle memory so it becomes easier to use these tenses and internalize the grammar used.  Want more Sprints just like this? Join The Grammar Master! https://bit.ly/4o1PPdb

Ready to put your authoritative tone to the test in English? In today's episode, we're shadowing an infamous scene from The Devil Wears Prada. We will focus on clarity, pace, stress, and that cool, contained confidence that makes every line land. 👠💙 Download the PDF to practice along here: https://bit.ly/4nT59Zy

Today we have a video where you'll get a chance to test your English skills with this test! I've collected a list of common mistakes that English speakers make, and your job is to discover what the mistake is, and then we'll practice the correct form together! Remember, mistakes aren't bad, but they CAN be annoying if we repeat them over and over, even when we know the correct form. So this video will help you discover common mistakes you might be making, and practice so you can retrain your brain to use the proper form.  Want more practice like this, with even more conversation groups, and live classes with coaches? Join my practice community, Beyond! https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N