In this episode, Saam (my son) and I are narrating the wonderful story of Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang (in Farsi and English).  Hope you enjoy! 

Farsi with Zubin 

Episode 3: Grumpy Monkey 🐒 کی گفته من بد اخلاقم؟ 

My main emphasis is on getting people to read fiction to open their minds and Imaginations.

English for IT Pros

The Importance of Reading

Here, I go deeper into what will help you get the American sound.

The Realities of Accent

There is actually a small subset of sounds, both consonants and vowels, that make up the Russian accent. Once you learn what these few things are, it will go a long way towards helping you create a more American sound.

Accent Reduction for Russian Speakers

This description will really help you with this difficult sound!

How to Pronounce the "ng" in an "ing" word in English

Pronouncing the "ng" sound in "ing" words can be a bit tricky for learners of English, but with practice, it can become second nature. The "ng" sound is a nasal consonant, represented by the phonetic symbol /ŋ/. It is produced by the back of the tongue making contact with the soft part of the roof of the mouth (the velum), while the sound resonates in the nasal cavity.

Here are some tips to help you pronounce the "ng" sound correctly in "ing" words:

1. **Positioning the Tongue**: Start by positioning the back of your tongue against the soft part of your upper mouth, as if you are about to say the sound "k." However, instead of releasing the "k" sound, let the air pass through your nose.

2. **Relax the Tongue**: Keep the tongue relaxed to allow for a smooth nasal sound. Tensing the tongue can make the sound come out more like a "g."

3. **Nasal Resonance**: Focus on directing the airflow through your nose. You should feel a slight vibration in your nasal passages.

4. **Avoid a Hard "g" Sound**: Be careful not to add a hard "g" sound at the end. The "ng" sound is a single, continuous sound rather than a combination of "n" and "g."

Here are ten examples for practice:

1. **Sing**: /sɪŋ/
   - "She loves to sing in the choir."

2. **Ring**: /rɪŋ/
   - "The phone began to ring loudly."

3. **Long**: /lɒŋ/
   - "It's going to be a long day."

4. **King**: /kɪŋ/
   - "The king ruled the land wisely."

5. **Bring**: /brɪŋ/
   - "Please bring your book to class."

6. **Thing**: /θɪŋ/
   - "What's that strange thing over there?"

7. **Going**: /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/
   - "Are you going to the party?"

8. **Swimming**: /ˈswɪmɪŋ/
   - "Swimming is my favorite sport."

9. **Running**: /ˈrʌnɪŋ/
   - "He has been running every morning."

10. **Morning**: /ˈmɔrnɪŋ/
    - "I enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning."



How to Pronounce the ng Consonant in English

Creating conversation is really quite easy. All you have to do is learn how to ask questions and be interested in the answers.