Many international students learning English as a second language frequently neglect to pay appropriate attention to the pronunciation of words. One of the most challenging aspects of learning English can be learning how to pronounce things correctly. This is especially true if your native language lacks certain sounds or if you frequently stumble over difficult vowel pronunciations. To help you overcome this, FITA Academy provides the best Spoken English Classes in Chennai that offers expert trainers who guide you to become proficient and fluent speakers.
In this article, we will take a look at a few tips and tricks that will help in perfecting your pronunciation. Before that, let us take a quick look at why having perfect pronunciation is essential.
What is the importance of pronunciation?
Pronunciation is essential to effective communication since poor pronunciation invariably results in the recipient misinterpreting the message. The way letter sounds are pronounced in words and how syllable emphasis is applied to word parts will almost always substantially affect the meaning and context of the words, permanently changing the meaning of the phrase being transmitted. The ability to have correct vocabulary pronunciation will always be more important for individuals who want to be excellent at the English language. If they want to be acknowledged as proficient communicators, they need also make an effort to master this component of the English language more thoroughly.
Let us take a look at a few tips to gain flawless pronunciation.
How to perfect your pronunciation in English?
Listen and improve
You must first improve your listening skills before learning to talk. It can be challenging to distinguish some sounds when you're listening. Because you are focused on speaking and not on the sound you are generating, it might be challenging to recognise pronunciation problems in your own speech. It's difficult to correct your pronunciation issues if you can't hear them. Consider using your computer or phone to record your speech while noting the particular things you need to work on. You can also improve your listening skills by taking the IELTS Coaching in Chennai which provides extensive knowledge on becoming proficient in English.
Pay attention to the movements of your lips and mouth
A word's pronunciation is influenced by the way your mouth is moved. You must first become aware of and pay more attention to your mouth shape in order to change it. There are several strategies pronunciation to determine whether your lips and mouth are in the proper shape. Making use of a mirror is the obvious strategy. The simplest approach is to determine how your mouth is moving when you speak. Another way is to pay attention to the movement of the mouths and lips when others speak. You can also watch your preferred TV series or movie and try to copy them. Take note of the mouth and lip movements they make when pronouncing particular consonants in words. Perhaps their lips are spread wide, or perhaps they are rounded. Observing how their lips are formed will help you pronounce words correctly. Then, while facing a mirror, practise your words and sounds. Our experts in Spoken English Classes in Bangalore also provide various tips on how to achieve the correct shape of mouth, lips and tongue positions to perfect your English pronunciation.
Position of tongue
One of the most difficult parts of English pronunciation is getting the “ r “, “ th” and “ l “ sound correctly.
- To make the “L” sound, your tongue should touch the back of your front teeth and the top of your mouth, just behind your teeth. Try it now: Say the word “light.” Say it a few times. Feel where your tongue is in your mouth. Make sure it touches the top of your mouth. For further practice, here’s a handy resource. Our experts conduct Best Spoken English Courses Online and provide worksheets for various sounds, sentences and phrases. They offer practical tips on how to pronounce sentence that you can apply right away to improve your “L” sound pronunciation.
- Your tongue shouldn't contact the roof of your mouth when making the "R" sound. Reposition your tongue such that it is close to where it would normally be if you were not speaking. Your lips should be slightly rounded when you make the sound. Try it right away: Repeat "right" several times. As you speak, there should be airflow between the roof of your mouth and your tongue. When you create the sound, you should also notice a slight rounding of your lips.
- If your native tongue doesn't contain a sound that sounds like the "th," it can feel unusual to you. Put your tongue in the space created between your top and bottom teeth to create this sound. The sound is created by letting some air flow between your teeth and tongue as you exhale. Your tongue should protrude slightly between your teeth.
Certain sounds should be exaggerated
If your pronunciation is extremely exaggerated, you'll become increasingly conscious of the structure of your mouth and the position of your tongue when you utter a particular sound. Contrary to popular belief, making these sounds more forceful will probably help native speakers comprehend you. Because you aren't accustomed to making these noises, you could think you sound cheesy. But compared to a foreigner who is self-conscious about these sounds, you will sound much more natural to a native speaker.
Look at the theatre performers who perform in plays and dramas. They always overdo their speeches. Does anyone in the country think it's strange? No. They always pronounce things clearly, and the meaning is conveyed, even if it is greatly exaggerated. Contrarily, delivering exaggerated sounds with confidence while speaking loudly and firmly earns you bonus points. Furthermore, locals won't even notice because they will consider it natural.
Words should be broken down into syllables.
The rewarding part is practising and getting better at pronouncing words. Breaking down each word into its sounds and syllables is a great place to start. Instead of learning how to pronounce phrase in its entirety, which can result in mumbling if it is long, split each word into different parts and memorise the sounds that each syllable makes. One at a time, repeat the same method for every sentence, word and sound you have learned. Then try saying the entire word aloud once more. As with everything else in life, breaking up big objectives or tasks into shorter, more achievable steps is a strategy that can help you succeed. Pay close attention to any words or sounds that you have problems pronouncing. You can get help from our expert trainers of IELTS Coaching in Coimbatore, who will guide you in breaking down these sounds and syllables.
Take it easy and slow
Many English language learners believe that speaking quickly is necessary for fluency. This is not true. It's challenging to communicate in a language different from your mother tongue, and conversing fast can soon overwhelm you. Your body will also feel less comfortable the less calm your mind is. As a result, your muscles will be tight and rigid. Speaking too quickly fosters negative habits and gives the impression that the speaker is uncertain and uneasy. You'll have more time to breathe deeply and consider your next words if you speak slowly. You'll feel more at ease and be better able to focus on producing excellent English because it allows you to reflect while you talk. The brief pauses you take allow you to quickly refocus on both your message and your English pronunciation.
Use tongue twisters to practise
You don't have to have a strict, formal learning environment. You must include opportunities to enjoy yourself and the process. One of them is using the popular tongue twisters for English pronunciation practice. Tongue twisters are sentences that resemble poems but are challenging to pronounce since many of the syllables are similar. People use them in English-speaking nations simply because they find it amusing when you make mistakes and sound dumb.
But for non-native speakers, it gives us the opportunity to practise similar sounding words and helps to differentiate the variations of “r” and “ l ” sounds. You may have trouble pronouncing most of them because they have similar sounds crammed together. Additionally, some of them employ the so-called "minimum pairs," which are pairs of words that sound the same save for one syllable. As you get more comfortable and gain confidence, try repeating these tongue twisters by picking up the pace.
Take every opportunity to speak and practise
If you don't speak much, you could have anxiety when it's eventually time to speak in English. You should improve your English pronunciation in addition to overcoming your shyness in order to feel at ease speaking in front of others. Nervousness can cause many blunders, particularly when it comes to pronunciation. To start, try establishing a condition for yourself: When you are at home, you must use English. Simply describing what you do while preparing dinner or making your bed is a good place to start. Keep in mind that practice makes perfect.Make a commitment to speaking out loud for a minimum of 10 minutes each day.
If you've studied the characteristics pronunciation of a term you find challenging, try visualising it. When you close your eyes, imagine where your lips and tongue should be placed to produce the desired sound. For instance, if you've observed how native speakers enunciate the difficult phoneme "sh," as in the word "English," picture how your lips should be round and slightly forward. then make the motions while uttering the word. Keep in mind that building up your muscles is the key to success. It's crucial to pay attention to the motions and activities occurring inside your mouth. It might be more difficult to do it while your eyes are open since you are more susceptible to distraction from outside visual stimuli.
Read aloud
After you've perfected the basic guidelines, you can begin to broaden your reading practice. Choose your preferred English media page or online journal and begin reading the articles out loud. The most crucial thing you'll do is practise your pronunciation in a safe, private setting without any disturbances. Having said that, try not to be too strict with yourself. You must keep practising until you master each sound, even if you continue to make mistakes or have trouble with some of them. Identify each sound you have learned so far and continue english pronunciation practice mindfully. Try to read English texts out loud for 15 minutes each day as part of a routine.
Shadow method
Despite being a relatively new method, this activity is excellent. It is a method wherein you observe and listen to someone speak in English and immediately repeat what they say, similar to shadowing or echoing their words. You might find it amusing or ponder whether it actually works. This method does work, especially when it comes to pronunciation. Shadowing can also help you improve your overall English communication skills, including not only pronunciation but also accent, intonation, stress and tone. In order to speak English fluently and confidently, these factors are also crucial. Simply select a video that appeals to you that has English subtitles and a native English speaker. Try to keep up by repeating what they say as they speak.
Mastering your pronunciation in English is just as crucial as grammar and vocabulary. Just bear in mind that you will need to put in time and effort to make them successful since they are not quick cures. But if you do, they can be really effective. Always aim for normal pronunciation so that people can understand you and value your opinions. We share the same objective here at FITA Academy. Our Spoken English classes in Coimbatore aim to remove the language barrier in a welcoming, caring, and trusted atmosphere, enabling highly qualified non-native professionals to assert their rightful place in the workforce.