5 Ways to Improve Your Pronunciation

Do native speakers of English understand you?

Is your pronunciation clear?

Is your voice strong?

A common challenge with learning a new language is learning how to be understood when you say something – how to have clear pronunciation!

Unclear pronunciation makes you “in-comprehensible”. That means you are not understood. And then, of course, you lose confidence…

Incomprehensible pronunciation can stop you from having successful conversations. But don’t worry, with good strategies and daily practice it is possible to make great improvements. Here are 5 tips for improving your English pronunciation fast:

1. Listen and Mimic.

To improve your English pronunciation it is important to listen to a little bit of English every day. This can include listening to English radio programs, songs, television, or movies. If there is a subtitle option on the video you are watching, that can also help. As you listen, pay attention to the sound. Try to mimic — try to repeat some words and phrases.

2. Speak in Front of a Mirror.

While practicing your pronunciation in front of a mirror might sound strange, it is actually quiet helpful. The sounds we make in speaking come from the shape of our mouths and the placement of our tongue and lips. Seeing the shape of our mouthas we pronounce certain words can be useful feedback. “Mirror practice” will help us become more conscious and thus better remember the correct pronunciation of words. Learn the correct mouth positions for certain English sounds at Rachel’s English, then practice the mouth positions in front of a mirror a few minutes everyday.

3. Use “Reverse Accent” Mimicry. 

While you may have never heard of this technique, it’s one that many gifted language learners swear by. It’s the idea of speaking your native language with an English accent . The better your English accent gets in your native language, so will your English pronunciation. So let’s say your native language is Portuguese. You would try to speak in Portuguese with the best English accent possible. (It’s okay to make fun of non-native speakers in this way!) In other words, imitate a typical English speaker speaking your language. This will demonstrate for you the pronunciation differences between English and your native language.

4. Read Out Loud.

Reading out loud is recommended for English students with moderate to high-level speaking skills. This is not recommended for English learners with elementary language skills. The benefit of reading out loud is it allows you to hear yourself speak, build facility with speaking, and build confidence of your speaking ability. You can use audio books to give you a model of good pronunciation. Try Cambridge English readers.

5. Practice with a Native Speaker.

Practice makes perfect. Practice with a native speaker or with a friend who’s fluent in English. Don’t know anyone? Then hire an English teacher or find a language speaking partner on iTalki. You can do both on iTalki – hire a pro or find a free conversation partner. The way iTalki’s free language partner system works is you exchange your native language expertise in exchange for an English teacher’s expertise.