Here are some tips to follow that can help to improve your pronunciation
and reduce your accent:Tip 1: Speak more slowly
- A lot of English learners tend to speak quickly, which results in bad pronunciation. It is important to speak more slowly to improve your spoken English. Practice speaking more slowly, and try to incorporate it into your everyday speech.
Tip 2: Reduce the "filler" words
- If you don't already know what "filler" words are, they are words like "um", "well", "uh", "actually". "Filler" words can ruin the smoothness of our spoken English, thus ruining the pronunciation. Once you reduce the "filler" words in your speech, your speech will become much more smoother.
Tip 3: Pronounce the "b" and "v" sounds
- To make the "b" sound, just close your lips together, hold your breath, and then push out the sound. You will feel air build up in your throat and in your mouth.
- To make the "v" sound, just place your upper teeth on your lower lip, keeping your upper lip still, and push out the air making the "v" sound. Remember, don't press on your lower lip too hard.
Tip 4: Add stress to your sounds and words
- When speaking English, in the American accent, we stress our words or we push on our words. Remember to not talk lightly or else your pronunciation will be wrong.
Tip 5: Listen to natives
- Remember to pay close attention to how native English speakers form their words when listening or communicating with them. Watch the movement of their lips and mouth.
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