Summer Course in English Phonetics

The Summer Course this year will be in two parts: a 5-day Online Module 12-16 August, followed by a 5-day In-Person Module, live at UCL, 19-23 August. For more detail, please see the provisional timetable.

Online Module 12-16 August

The Online Module may be taken as a self-contained introductory course. No previous knowledge of English Phonetics is required, though more advanced applicants are welcome. 

In-Person Module 19-23 August

The In-Person Module is for those who have taken the Online Module, and builds on the work in the Online Module. Therefore we strongly advise that applicants for the In-Person Module should either have taken the Online Module in the previous week, or have already taken SCEP or VSCEP in a previous year. It is not recommended to apply for the In-Person Module alone if you are new to SCEP. 

Both Modules contain lectures, small-group practical classes and ear training sessions. The Online Module in week 1 is an introductory course to English Phonetics, with two lectures and one practical class per day. The In-Person Module in week 2 will build on this, with one lecture and two practical classes per day. So the second week will focus on developing your practical skills, with the opportunity to socialize and enjoy London!

You can now book online:

online booking for Online Module, 12-16 August

online booking for In-Person Module at UCL, 19-23 August

Whether you're a teacher, a student or a fan of English, whatever your native language (including English), here is an opportunity to study English phonetics virtually and in-person at University College London!

You can brush up your knowledge of the theoretical side of phonetics and bring yourself up-to-date on new developments. You may want to do ear-training and listening practice. Or you may just want to improve your own English pronunciation. It's all available in UCL's famous Summer Course in English Phonetics, founded over a century ago by the great Daniel Jones.

Our course covers all the main aspects of English phonetics:

• phonemic system (vowels and consonants)
• segmental analysis (allophonic processes)
• connected speech processes
• sentence stress (tonicity, accentuation)
• intonation (nuclear tones and prenuclear patterns)

These topics are investigated both in lectures and in practical classes. Practical groups are kept small and are organised according to your prior knowledge of English and your English proficiency. For example, we may have groups consisting of 

• teachers of English as a foreign language
• undergraduate students of English
• university academics and postgraduates

The course covers with both speaking and listening skills. You get plenty of practice in pronunciation performance and in auditory discrimination in special ear-training sessions.

Here is the timetable for SCEP 2024 (subject to change).