472. Pronunciation practice in a song: Traitor by Olivia Rodrigo

472. Pronunciation practice in a song: Traitor by Olivia Rodrigo

Author: Hadar Shemesh August 5, 2025 Duration: 19:26

Have you ever used music to boost your English pronunciation? 🎶
In this week's video, I'm introducing you to Olivia Rodrigo's song Traitor to practice the different T sounds in American English… especially the Flap T!

I'll break down lines from the song, show you how to pronounce them, and I'm certain you won't be able to resist singing along with me 😉

Want to keep practicing prosody? Check out this playlist: https://bit.ly/4fx9j4t

Here are the lyrics of the part we did together:

Brown guilty eyes and little white lies
Yeah, I played dumb but I always knew
That you'd talk to her, maybe did even worse
I kept quiet so I could keep you
And ain't it funny
How you ran to her
The second that we called it quits?
And ain't it funny
How you said you were friends?
Now it sure as hell don't look like it
You betrayed me
And I know that you'll never feel sorry
For the way I hurt, yeah
You'd talk to her
When we were together
Loved you at your worst
But that didn't matter
It took you two weeks
To go off and date her
Guess you didn't cheat
But you're still a traitor

Listen to the full music video here: https://youtu.be/CRrf3h9vhp8


Hadar Shemesh hosts The InFluency Podcast, drawing from her own journey from an intermediate English speaker to a recognized pronunciation expert and fluency coach. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a practical, empathetic guide for anyone who feels stuck in their language learning. Hadar's conversations and solo episodes delve into the tangible strategies that actually work for acquiring an American accent, building unshakeable confidence, and moving beyond textbook English to authentic, fluid speech. You'll hear a blend of mindset shifts, technical pronunciation breakdowns, and stories from a global community of learners. The focus is always on the human side of fluency-how it connects to identity, courage, and communication. Each episode of this podcast feels like a direct coaching session, offering actionable steps that address the real frustrations and aspirations of students and teachers alike. Hadar's approach demystifies the process, making the path to speaking English with assurance feel not only possible but deeply personal. Tune in for a resource that understands the journey because the host has lived it, creating a space where progress is celebrated over perfection.
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