Simple Ways to Master English Pronunciation

You can watch a video version of this post on YouTube, Facebook or Instagram. It’s 2 minutes.

So you want to get better at pronunciation?

Improving your English pronunciation isn’t easy. It takes time and effort. It’s like exercising. If you exercise often you will get stronger.

The same is true with pronunciation. If you practice your English pronunciation often, you will get better at it. When you’re born the first words you hear are from your mother. This is called your “mother tongue”. You hear the sounds from your mother and you copy them. Your tongue, lips and mouth shape around your first language as you grow.

When you want to master the pronunciation of a second language, you have to learn how to make the sounds of that language. To make those sounds you have to move your tongue, lips and mouth in new ways to make the sounds correctly. They have to move in uncomfortable ways at first. When you practice enough you will be able to make the sounds correctly.

Rachel’s English has a great YouTube playlist about mastering pronunciation.

Listening is important for pronunciation.

Can you hear the difference between three and tree? If you can then you can pronounce each word correctly. The TH sound is required to pronounce the word three correctly. To check if you’re making the TH sound correctly, put your finger to your lips like you are shushing someone. After you say three, take your finger away. Is it wet? If it’s not, then you didn’t say the TH sound correctly. Your tongue has to come out a little in between your teeth so the tip touches your finger.

You can use the dictionary in the ELSA Speak app. This app is like having an English teacher in your pocket 24x7. You can search for a word in the dictionary. You will say the word and the app will grade your pronunciation.

So remember. Exercising and improving your pronunciation is the same. You have to do it often to see results.