Tips to improve your pronunciation

 

                                                                                              

Tips to improve your pronunciation:

1. Listen and Imitate
   - Podcasts & Audiobooks: Listen to English podcasts or audiobooks and mimic the speaker's pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm.
   - Movies & TV Shows: Watch English movies or TV shows with subtitles. Try to imitate the dialogue, paying attention to how words are pronounced.
   - YouTube Videos: Follow English language channels that focus on pronunciation and practice along with the instructor.

YouTube channels focused on pronunciation:

• Sounds American: https://www.youtube.com/@SoundsAmerican
• Rachel's English: https://www.youtube.com/@rachelsenglish
• English Language Club (British English): https://www.youtube.com/@EngLanguageClub

 

2. Shadowing Technique
   - Shadow Native Speakers: Choose a short audio clip from a podcast, video, or speech. Play the clip and repeat the words immediately after, trying to match the speaker's pace and pronunciation.

Examples:

-How to correctly use the shadowing technique (15:35 minutes): https://youtu.be/ljEP_ywBm7I?si=xmJXX-FaTst1UYsD

-Example of the shadowing technique (9:17 minutes): https://youtu.be/c9DjHuageIQ?si=JzlZaEDn8ehyi7wH

-Shadowing technique example (1:09 minutes): https://youtu.be/vGHd7rnIUzk?si=o6Dn1PxqjFRqi3nh

 

3. Use Pronunciation Apps
   - Language Learning Apps: Apps like Duolingo, Babbel, and Rosetta Stone offer pronunciation exercises with instant feedback.
   - Dedicated Pronunciation Apps: Use apps like Elsa Speak, Sounds: The Pronunciation App, or Forvo to focus specifically on pronunciation.

 

4. Record and Compare
   - Self-Recording: Record yourself reading a passage or repeating a word/phrase and compare it to a native speaker’s pronunciation.
   - Playback and Analyze: Listen to your recordings to identify areas for improvement and make adjustments.

 

5. Practice with Tongue Twisters
   - Daily Tongue Twisters: Practice tongue twisters that focus on specific sounds that are challenging for Spanish speakers (e.g., "The thirty-three thieves thought they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday").
   - Gradual Speed Increase: Start slowly and gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable with the pronunciation.

Examples:

https://byjus.com/english/tongue-twisters/

https://www.splashlearn.com/blog/best-tongue-twisters-for-kids/

https://www.engvid.com/english-resource/50-tongue-twisters-improve-pronunciation/

 

6. Phonetic Exercises
   - Study Phonetic Symbols: Learn the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbols for English sounds to better understand how words should be pronounced.

*Interactive IPA chart: https://americanipachart.com/ 

*IPA translator: https://tophonetics.com/

*IPA Keyboard: https://ipa.typeit.org/ 

*The Color Vowel Chart: https://americanenglish.state.gov/resources/color-vowel-chart   

   - Practice with Minimal Pairs: Focus on minimal pairs (e.g., "ship" vs. "sheep") to practice distinguishing and producing sounds that are easily confused.

Examples:

https://www.englishclub.com/pronunciation/minimal-pairs.php

https://preply.com/en/blog/minimal-pairs/

https://www.forbrain.com/speech-therapy-for-kids/activities/minimal-pairs/

 

 

7. Interactive Online Tools
   - Speech Recognition Tools: Use online speech recognition tools (like Google Docs voice typing or Siri) to practice pronunciation and receive feedback on accuracy.
   - Virtual Language Exchanges: Engage in virtual language exchange platforms like iTalki or Tandem, where you can practice pronunciation with native speakers. (Remember to be careful as you would be on any other social media and NOT to share personal or sensitive information)

 

8. Read Aloud Daily
   - Books and Articles: Choose a book, article, or any English text and read it aloud every day, focusing on clear pronunciation and intonation.
   - Choral Reading: Find recordings of the text and read along with the speaker, matching their pace and pronunciation.

Example:

https://librivox.org/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoYRBQSzkz5uFq_5xI1Ws7A

https://www.proofreadingservices.com/pages/audiobooks-in-the-public-domain

 

9. Mirror Practice
   - Watch Your Mouth Movements: Practice difficult sounds in front of a mirror to observe and correct your mouth, lip, and tongue positions.
   - Exaggerate Sounds: Exaggerate your pronunciation while looking in the mirror to make sure your mouth is forming the sounds correctly.

 

10. Flashcards for Pronunciation
   - Create Phonetic Flashcards: Make flashcards with challenging words, including their phonetic transcription, and practice them regularly.
   - Record Yourself with Flashcards: Say the words on the flashcards out loud, record yourself, and compare your pronunciation with a native speaker’s.

 

11. Practice with Music and Songs
   - Sing Along: Choose English songs and sing along to practice pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation.
   - Lyrics Focus: Focus on enunciating the lyrics clearly and try to mimic the singer's pronunciation.

 

12. Practice Conversations
   - Daily Conversations: Practice speaking English in everyday situations, even if it’s just talking to yourself, your pet, or describing what you’re doing.
   - Virtual Meetups: Join online English-speaking groups or meetups to engage in conversations and receive real-time feedback on your pronunciation.

 

13. Pronunciation Journals
   - Track Difficult Words: Keep a journal of words that are difficult to pronounce, along with their correct pronunciation and practice them regularly.
   - Progress Tracking: Record your progress over time to see how your pronunciation improves.

 

14. Use Language Learning Websites
   - Pronunciation-focused Websites: Utilize websites like BBC Learning English or EnglishClub, which offer pronunciation guides and exercises.
   - Interactive Exercises: Engage in interactive exercises that focus on specific sounds, stress patterns, and intonation.