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5 Easy Exercises to Improve English Pronunciation

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1.   Slow down 

It is a common misconception among English students that the faster you speak, the more ‘fluent’ you appear – but this isn’t the case. If anything, speaking fast leads to slurring and gives the impression that you are nervous or unsure, making it even harder for others to understand you. On the other hand, speaking slowly gives you time to think about what you are saying and how you are saying it. Breaking difficult words into syllables, instead of rushing through it in one go, is a great way to improve your pronunciation. 

2.   Listen to English content

The ability to pronounce words correctly relies first on the ability to hear the differences between various types of pronunciation. Depending on what your mother tongue is, discerning “ch” sounds from “sh” sounds, or “l” sounds from “r” sounds can be tricky. Get better at hearing the difference by surrounding yourself with as much English video and audio as possible, such as radio programmes, TV shows, movies and podcasts. Websites like YouTube also allow you to listen at half-speed, which is a great opportunity to focus on the speech patterns and accents of native speakers - even if you’re not sure what they’re saying yet! 

3.   Record yourself 

Few people enjoy the sound of their own voice. Once you get over that initial discomfort, however, recording yourself speaking and playing it back is an effective tool for improving your pronunciation. A handy exercise to try is called ‘shadowing’. This involves listening to chunks of an audio or video clip, hitting the pause button, then repeating it right after. Notice any sounds that you are pronouncing differently and keep practicing until it matches the native speaker’s version. Some people also find it helpful to record in front of a mirror where they can compare how their mouth moves. Alternatively, you can make up everyday scenarios (e.g., meeting someone for the first time, ordering at a restaurant or asking for directions), then act out the conversation by yourself.

4.   Sing a song

 Whether you have the voice of an angel or can’t hold a tune, singing along to your favourite English songs can do wonders for your pronunciation. Repeating song lyrics out loud is a useful method not only for mastering new words and grammar patterns, but also honing your sentence rhythm, pitch, stress and intonation. This helps to develop muscle memory in your mouth and tongue so that ‘normal’ speech feels more natural. As you get better over time, switch to karaoke versions of those songs to lessen your reliance on the original vocals. 

5.   Practice talking native speakers 

Pronunciation problems persist because we’re afraid to make mistakes in front of others. By far the most efficient way to minimize your accent is by actually conversing with native speakers. You would be surprised by how quickly and effortlessly you’re able to pick up their speech patterns and make it your own. If you find asking for pronunciation help from a friend embarrassing, try booking a free trial lesson with a For You Education English tutor. They will have guided other students through the same errors before and can help you identity slip-ups that you can’t hear yourself.

 

Seek for help? www.foryouedu.com.hk

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