There’s more to learning English than just memorising grammar rules and expanding your vocabulary. Mastering the English language means getting your pronunciation and diction right. This can be difficult, especially if there are sounds that have no equivalent in your native language.
Additionally, the spelling and correct pronunciation of English words don’t always match, which can add to your confusion. For instance, “cough” and “dough” have mostly similar letters, but their pronunciation is very different.
You can learn proper English pronunciation through practice and the right techniques. Below are some tips on how to pronounce English words correctly.
1. Choose an English dialect to focus on
First, ask yourself which English dialect you want to learn. The pronunciation and stresses of some words can vary per dialect. So, your choice will greatly affect how you articulate words. British English, for example, pronounces “schedule” as shed-yool, whereas the Australian pronunciation is skedzh-ool.
The pronunciation of word sounds also differ per dialect. In American English, the “r” sound at the end of the word tends to be strong, unlike in the British/Australian dialect.
Your choice of English dialect will determine your practicing methods, tools, and materials.
2. Break down words into sounds
When you’re learning new or challenging words, breaking them up into syllables makes them easier to pronounce. Then, exaggerate each sound when you’re saying them. Doing so will help familiarise you with the exact sound of each syllable, and how your mouth, lips, and tongue move when you make those sounds.
If you practice this technique often, the proper pronunciation of the word will eventually become muscle memory. You’ll be able to say the word without being conscious of whether it sounds right or not.
3. Note the stress on sounds and words
English is a stressed language. This means that certain syllables and words are more emphasized than others. Take the word “ceremony” for example. The stress here is in the first syllable “cer”, so you pronounce it as “CER-e-mo-ny.”
There are rules for where the stress goes in each word. Here are some of them:
- Only vowels are stressed, never consonants
- Two-syllable nouns and adjectives are stressed on the first syllable, but verbs are stressed on the second
You don’t have to memorise these rules if you find the rules too complicated. The best way to learn English pronunciation is still through listening, mimicking and practicing.
4. Pay attention to the physical aspect of pronunciation
The way your mouth, lips, and tongue move determines how you pronounce words. You can learn the proper pronunciation of words by finding out the correct place of articulation of each sound. For instance, the letters K and G have velar sounds. This means when you pronounce “k” and “g” sounds, the back of your tongue touches the back part of the roof of your mouth.
Another example is the “th” sound, which is a common struggle among non-native English speakers. To make this sound, your tongue should be sticking out between your top and bottom teeth. Push air out of your mouth in the space between your tongue and teeth.
You don’t have to memorise the different places of articulation. The point is to pay extra attention to how the lips and tongue should move per sound. You can watch pronunciation videos, particularly ones where the host exaggerates the movement of their mouth. Mimic the way their mouth moves and watch yourself in a mirror to check if you’re doing it right.
5. Write out difficult words by their sounds
Another effective way to practice your English pronunciation is by writing out difficult words according to their sounds. Looking at a word’s spelling won’t always help you remember its correct pronunciation, since letters in the English language produce different sounds according to their context. This is why the letter “a” in “hand” doesn’t sound like the same letter in “far”.
Let’s say you’re struggling with the word “penguin.” Write it out as “PENG-gwen.” Be sure to note where the stress is to help you remember the intonation. If you’re not sure how to spell out the word’s pronunciation, you can use this transcription translator to convert words to their phonetic spellings.
You can practice with this method by creating flashcards. Write the word on one side and its pronunciation on the other.
6. Practice with tongue twisters
Tongue twisters are helpful if you’re struggling with sounds that are similar, like “t” and “th.” Say them out loud repeatedly. It helps to exaggerate each syllable for the first few times you say the sentence, just so you know how your mouth, tongue, and lips should move. Then try to say them conversationally while maintaining the proper pronunciation and intonation of each word.
Here’s an example of a tongue twister for short and long “e” sounds:
“He took a chilly dip six feet deep in the sea. He says it keeps him fit.”
Check out this list of tongue twisters to practice different sounds. You can also have a look at and listen to the audio of tongue twisters posted on the ESL Facebook page.
7. Consume English media
Finally, expose yourself to native English speakers as much as possible. Watch movies and TV shows in the English dialect you choose. It may sound silly, but watching children’s shows in English is a good place to start. Children’s educational TV programming provides numerous benefits for English learners, including: (1) the dialogue and conversations can be easy to understand and follow; (2) learners are exposed to simple conversations and real-life interactions; and (3) exposure to new words, leading to improved vocabulary.
Listen to audiobooks and pronunciation podcasts. It also helps to watch unscripted material, like interviews and blogs, so you can learn everyday phrases and expressions that native speakers use. You can repeat what they say to familiarise yourself with the intonations of casual English speaking. Try inserting some of the phrases they say into your day-to-day conversations whenever possible.
Remember, practice makes perfect. But the goal here isn’t to perfect your pronunciation, it’s just to improve. You just want to make sure that you’re saying words correctly so that people won’t mishear or misunderstand you.
If you’re the kind of learner who benefits from a classroom type of learning, hiring a private English tutor can greatly improve your pronunciation.
Master the English Language with ESL Tutoring
ESL Tutoring Services is Australia’s premier English tutoring service. We help you reach your desired fluency level by customising your learning path according to your preferences and needs.
We offer general English tutoring, as well as more specialised tutoring services, including Business and Corporate English, and IELTS preparation.
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Contact us to learn more about what we can offer. You can also email us on info@esltutoringservices.com or call 1300 137 186.
