Many learners want a perfect accent. Most people never get one, and that is fine. The real goal is clear English: sounds that other people understand without asking you to repeat.
Start with the sounds you need
English has sounds your language may not have. Find three that are hard for you, and practise only those.
Think, this, three.
Do not practise every sound. Three is enough for now.
Watch the mouth
Look at a video of a person saying the word. Copy the lips and the tongue, not only the sound.
Put your tongue between your teeth for "think".
Use short words first
Practise one word, then a short phrase. Long sentences come later.
Thank you. I think so. Three o'clock.
Record yourself
Record ten seconds. Listen. Record again. You will hear the difference faster than you can feel it.
Stress matters more than accent
English words have a strong beat. Put the beat in the right place, and people understand you even with an accent.
comPUter, TEAcher, hoTEL.
Words to remember
- pronunciation — the way you say words
- accent — the sound of your speech from your country
- stress — the strong beat in a word
- clear — easy to understand
Questions & answers
Q: Can I change my accent as an adult?
You can make it clearer, but it may not sound native. Clear is enough.
Q: Which accent should I learn?
Choose one and stay with it for a while: British or American. Mixing them is confusing at first.
Q: How often should I practise?
Five minutes a day. Short and daily beats one long session.
Q: Is it bad to speak slowly?
No. Slow and clear is easy to understand. Speed comes later.
Q: Do I need a teacher for pronunciation?
Not at first. A recording of your own voice can teach you a lot.