About
このページでは、私のプロフィール、指導内容、そして日本人女性が英国英語の発音を洗練させるために私がどのようにサポートしているかをご紹介します。
Hello 👋🏻
Do you:
- Care about your English pronunciation? ✔️
- Believe having a clear English accent helps you sound more professional? ✔️
- Feel frustrated when people don’t understand you - even if your grammar's perfect? ✔️
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these, you’re in the right place.
I specialise in helping ambitious women from Japan (along with China, Korea and Taiwan) refine their British English pronunciation - whether you’re preparing for a big presentation, aiming for a PhD, or just tired of miscommunication in professional life.
Looking for clearer English? You’ll find two great starting points below.
Quick overview
Who this is for: higher intermediate and advanced learners from Japan (as well as China, Korea and Taiwan) who want to refine their British English pronunciation for professional clarity and confidence.
What you'll gain: familiarity with the IPA alphabet (your secret weapon!) and actionable techniques to improve sounds like /th/, /l/, /r/ - helping you speak more naturally, clearly, and confidently.
Why it's effective: you’ll learn modern RP British English pronunciation using body-based cues, expert breakdowns, and cultural insight tailored to your language background.
How it works: start with the 4-week self-paced Intro Course, or subscribe to the Fortnightly Training for pronunciation insights with international phonetic alphabet (IPA) support.
Achieve greater clarity and confidence in modern British English pronunciation
Helping higher intermediate and advanced learners refine their British English pronunciation so they can speak clearly, confidently, and professionally.
Why advanced learners from East Asia struggle with British English pronunciation
Do you feel like your pronunciation is holding you back, even after years of study?
You’ve worked hard to master English. You feel comfortable in daily conversations - but in corporate, professional or academic situations, something still feels off. You’re not sure what you’re doing wrong, and no one corrects you anymore (you're too good!). You want to sound clear and confident, but without guidance, it feels out of reach.
Here are some things you may be struggling with:
- /th/ is just tricky to produce. So few languages have it, and yours definitely doesn’t. It's especially challenging when you're speaking quickly, or combining consonants. The word "athlete" is a classic example.
- /l/ and /r/ can feel like they’re plotting against you. Why is "cleverly" so hard to say?!
- Consonant clusters like “fifths” or “results” can feel awkward or even impossible. Or you may get them right while speaking sloooooowly, but at conversational speed they just disappear.
- Long vs short vowel contrasts - like “ship” and “sheep” - well, what even is the difference 🤷🏼♀️?
These challenges are especially common for learners from Japan, China, Korea, and Taiwan - even at higher-intermediate and advanced levels. Despite your effort, a lack of targeted feedback can leave you stuck.
You’re ready to sound like you want to sound - always. You want to speak clearly, naturally and confidently - in meetings, interviews and everyday conversations.
Let’s get you winning at life 🤩
Refining your British English pronunciation
Most English courses - especially online or app-based - focus on grammar and vocabulary. But they offer little help with pronunciation. I understand how frustrating that lack can be.
You’ve already achieved so much: high-level English and a fantastic IELTS or TOEIC score (congrats!). But now, you’re aiming for more - clarity, precision and professional control when you speak.
Many learners from East Asia find it difficult to refine their pronunciation because the sounds they need to master often don’t exist in their native languages. And at higher levels, pronunciation is rarely corrected - even by teachers.
This isn’t about starting again. It’s about fine-tuning the details that make a big difference - so your spoken English sounds as confident as the ideas you’re expressing.
Your path to clear British English pronunciation in professional settings
When I began teaching advanced learners from Japan, China, Korea and Taiwan, I noticed a pattern: many felt stuck. They were confident in daily conversation - but in professional settings, they didn’t know how they sounded to native speakers. YouTube videos and general English lessons rarely gave them the pronunciation feedback they needed.
That’s why I developed Pronunciation with Ellie (or "PwE") - a structured learning system designed to help ambitious learners refine their British English pronunciation through expert phoneme training, physical awareness and perceptual control.
Signing up to Pronunciation with Ellie, you’ll build confidence not just during the courses, but in your ability to keep improving long after it ends. My approach focuses on phonetic precision, rhythm, and real-world intelligibility - helping you succeed in presentations, interviews and everyday communication.
Yui, one of my students on Cambly, used the same pronunciation techniques and clear explanations I now teach in my courses. Through steady practice, she developed greater sound awareness and clearer, more confident speech in professional settings - enough that, in a recent interview, a native speaker asked whether she had spent time living in the UK.
→ You can read Yui’s full testimonial here.
These changes open real opportunities - academic, professional, and personal. My courses are built to help you move beyond feeling uncertain if you've been understood and making sure your pronunciation reflects your skill, intelligence and professionalism.
Backstory: so, how did I end up here?
My journey into teaching British English pronunciation is shaped by a unique combination of academic achievement, language experience, personal challenges and a deep belief in clear communication.
I grew up - and went to school - in the south west of England, where my love of language and communication first began. That upbringing shaped my modern Received Pronunciation (RP) accent - clear, professional, and unmistakably British.
At the University of Cambridge, I studied Classics, mastering Latin and Ancient Greek.
This rigorous academic training taught me the mechanics of language, and I learnt how to how to break down complex linguistic patterns.
I later lived and worked in Berlin, immersing myself in the German language and culture. Living exclusively with native German speakers, I worked hard to refine my fluency and accent. I was proud to reach a level where my German was strong enough for university-level study AND where native speakers no longer switched to English on hearing me speak.
This was genuinely a huge moment for me! When a German speaker clocks an English speaker, they will ALWAYS switch to English - and it's extremely frustrating 😭.
It's important to note that I didn't sound German - my accent wasn't perfect. They understood I was foreign (maybe Dutch, or Danish), but they could no longer place me as English, and it felt so good when they kept speaking to me in German!
Working in Berlin as an English-language walking tour guide, I led groups from around the world, honing my ability to communicate clearly with diverse audiences.
After returning to the UK, I trained as a yoga instructor and shiatsu practitioner, and I worked with Olympic gold medallists, helping athletes stay injury-free.
I continuously studied hard to understand intricate movement and I practised by yoga every day (I'm not as committed now, but I still practise several times a week). Working with high-level sports people taught me how to sequence learning, use physical cues, and deliver high-precision feedback - skills that now shape my approach to pronunciation coaching.
Living with M.E. (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) has shaped my teaching philosophy, along with my life, and I now prioritise balance and sustainability.
Managing a condition that requires careful pacing has given me a practical perspective on structuring learning to respect energy limits while maximising progress.
When COVID struck, I moved my teaching online and started working with students on Cambly. Over time, I became a Super Tutor - one of Cambly’s most experienced and highly rated teachers - and I noticed a clear pattern: so many higher intermediate and advanced learners felt stuck. They knew something was “off” in their pronunciation, but no one could explain what. That’s what inspired me to specialise in pronunciation coaching - helping ambitious learners find clarity and confidence in how they sound.
→ (I still occasionally open one-to-one lessons on Cambly — you can see my tutor profile here.)
My realisation sparked the creation of Pronunciation with Ellie: a course-based system designed to help learners speak clearly, confidently, and professionally in British English.
Why you can trust me to help improve your British English accent
When it comes to mastering British English pronunciation, I bring a distinctive combination of qualifications, experience and personal insights to my work. And a teaching style that’s rigorous, practical, and human.
- World-class academic training: my Classics degree from the University of Cambridge gave me a strong foundation in language mastery, including Latin and Ancient Greek.
- Precision in high-performance teaching: teaching yoga to Olympic gold medallists honed my ability to deliver tailored instruction with precision and focus.
- Balanced, sustainable learning: my experience with yoga and, later, M.E. (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), shapes my teaching philosophy.
I emphasise a culture of balance and respect for boundaries, creating a supportive and sustainable learning environment for every student.
- First-hand language mastery: living in Berlin, I refined my German pronunciation to the level where native speakers didn’t switch to English.
- Specialised pronunciation focus: since COVID I've taught online, helping learners from Japan, China, Korea and Taiwan overcome pronunciation challenges unique to their languages.
- Modern RP model: I teach in a clear, modern version of Received Pronunciation - a professional accent model that supports international communication.
- Cultural empathy: living abroad and working with learners from diverse backgrounds has deepened my understanding of the cultural and linguistic challenges involved in mastering a new language.
- Proven results: stories like Yui’s - including being asked in an interview if she’d lived in the UK - show how understanding the mechanics of English sounds can unlock clarity and confidence. Read her story →
Clear communication creates opportunity. My mission is to help you move beyond “just being understood” - so you can speak clearly and confidently, and thrive in any professional setting.
I typically work with focused, ambitious women from Japan (along with China, Korea and Taiwan) - learners who are highly skilled, deeply motivated and ready to level up. Honestly, you're my favourites: it's only a matter of time before you're running the world, and I’m here to help you sound the part with clarity, power, and presence.
When I'm not teaching ...
When I’m not helping students refine their pronunciation, you’ll usually find me outdoors with my dog, Dylan, exploring the beautiful surroundings of Glasgow, where I now live. Dylan’s a lurcher who loves a good chase, but is just as happy curled up beside me on the sofa as I unwind with a delicious coffee and some trashy TV.
And yes, he's in the PwE logo!
I’m passionate about floristry, especially working with beautiful British flowers, and I love spending time in my allotment or hiking through Scotland’s incredible landscapes. On an ideal day, you’d find me swimming in a cold loch before warming up with extra-hot hot chocolate and chips.
Yoga remains a part of my routine and I enjoy sewing and creative projects when I have a quiet moment. I also love to cook. My venison stew is a winter favourite.
A few fun facts about me - get to know your teacher
- My first love is ancient Greece. I grew up fascinated by its myths and later had the privilege of studying with some of the world’s leading experts at Cambridge.
- I’m a huge fan of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy and (separately) can never resist a bit of 90s pop music.
- I love karaoke and can balance on my hands - though not at the same time!
How to start improving your British English pronunciation today
When you’ve already worked hard to master English, the final step - refining your pronunciation - can feel unclear. But with the right support, even small changes in sound and rhythm can transform how natural and professional you feel when speaking.
Here are two great ways to get started:
1) 🎧 Start with the Intro Course
This 4-week self-paced course helps you build awareness of core English sounds - like /l/, /r/, /s/, /z/, and /ɜː/ - through physical cues and perceptual contrast. It’s the perfect low-pressure way to build clarity and confidence in your speech.
2) ✍️ Subscribe to the Twice-a-month Training
Get access to bi-monthly pronunciation tips for free ... and/or IPA-enhanced articles for just £9/month.
Ideal for learners who want regular, bite-sized insight without pressure.
→ Join the PwE training community
Both options are designed to help you move beyond “just being understood” - so you can speak clearly, confidently, and professionally in British English.