July Newsletter!

Continue Speaking with Confidence this Summer!🗽

Statue of Liberty - Liberty Island in New York Harbor

Hello Everyone,
Happy July! I hope you're having a great summer so far and making time for a little English every week 😊

In the U.S., July 4th is a big national holiday—Independence Day. It's a day when Americans celebrate the country's independence from Britain, declared in 1776. That’s why you’ll see a lot of red, white, and blue decorations around this time of year—as well as the American flag.

So, how do Americans celebrate the 4th of July?
People often spend the day with friends and family at barbecues, picnics, or parades. Then, at night, many cities and towns have fireworks shows. Some people also wear clothes with flags, enjoy ice cream, or just relax in the summer sun. 🇺🇸☀️🍉

🎇 4th of July Expressions & Idioms

Here are a few fun expressions you might hear around this time of year—and not just on July 4th!

• “Go out with a bang” – To end something in an exciting or impressive way
  Example: “We finished our lesson series with a bang—a live pronunciation game!”

• “Let freedom ring” – A patriotic phrase meaning to celebrate or call for freedom
  Example: “On the 4th of July, you’ll hear people say ‘Let freedom ring!’ during speeches.”

• “As American as apple pie” – Something seen as typically American
  Example: “Wearing red, white, and blue on the 4th is as American as apple pie.”

🔈 Pronunciation Tip of the Month: Fireworks, Flags, and Fun Sounds

Let’s look at a few tricky words you might hear this month:

• “Fireworks” → /ˈfaɪɚ.wɝks/
  Watch out for that "ire" sound—it’s like in “tire” or “inspire.” Practice slowly at first: FI–yer–works.

• “Independence” → /ˌɪn.dɪˈpen.dəns/
  The stress is on the third syllable: in–di–PEN–dence. You can clap it out if needed!

• “Celebrate” → /ˈsɛ.ləˌbreɪt/
  Some learners say "cell-a-brate" too quickly. Slow down and emphasize the first syllable.

Want to hear these examples? Just head to the pronunciation tip video in this month’s mini lesson! 🎧

🏅New! Earn Badges + Unlock Rewards

Exciting news! You can now earn badges when you complete modules in your courses! 🌟
It’s a fun way to track your progress—and even better—certain badges unlock extra content or surprise rewards.
So if you needed a little motivation to finish that last speech patterns lesson… now's the time 😉
(Just make sure you're logged in when you study!)

🎧 Next Episode:  Present Perfect, Part 2

In this next episode of the ESL Speech Connect podcast, I give more examples with present perfect and discuss 5 common ways we use the present perfect in our conversations: 

1. Experience
2. Change Over Time
3. Accomplishments
4. Uncompleted Action You are Expecting
5. Multiple Actions at Different Times

 Watch Episode

 

💬 One Final Thought…

If you ever feel stuck, just remember: small, consistent practice beats big, rare study sessions.
Even 10–15 minutes a day can help you feel more confident when speaking.
This month, try reading aloud, recording yourself, or reviewing your past pronunciation notes. You’re building skills that last a lifetime. 💪

Keep practicing, keep speaking, and keep connecting with English.

Happy Learning!🌟
Teacher Angela