Pronunciation is difficult, especially if you are mastering a new language from a completely different language family. The thought of using the wrong German tone or the wrong pronunciation of the French “R” can make you freeze in fear.
When you put words to paper, you may be proud of communicating like a native speaker. However, when it comes to opening your mouth, your accent gives you away. So, the most horrible part of learning a new language is actually speaking it.
For example, do you know how to say who in Thai? Yes, it ‘krai,’ but what tricks will actually make it sound like you as Thais? With the following tips, you can learn how to say who in Thai, and also you’ll start sounding more like a native speaker in no time.
Listen, Listen and Listen
To pronounce foreign words correctly, you need to learn their sound. And to find out how it sounds, you need to listen to everything you can at every opportunity.
It is because you must be able to pronounce sounds. Next, how exactly do you want to voice? Perhaps you want to be British, or you want to be American. Consider your goals.
The best way to get the idea of pronouncing correct sounds is to use a language learning app or watch the show. When you hear a sound, you can easily understand what you need to do to make the same sound.
Speak Every Day and Record
Pronunciation can be compared to some exercises. Your muscles take time to regain the skills if not practiced. It’s the same with pronunciation. Use any free moment to speak, even to yourself.
It’s much better than not talking at all. If you don’t have anyone to fix your mistakes, just use the recording app on your phone. Thus, record your speech. You will hear all the flaws and get points that need more attention.
Speak with Native Speakers, Online
Who can correct you in a foreign language better than a native speaker? So use online sites to gossip with these language masters already. This way, they will correct and explain your mistakes. And in return, they can benefit from your skills.
In addition, in some applications, all phrases and words you speak were recorded by native speakers. This way, you can memorize them along with their correct speech. You can also listen to them through advanced English courses. There are many online resources with a native speaker, you can check out like English with Lucy which can surely help you out in learning the correct pronunciations of various English words.
Focus on your Tone
One helpful tip is to think of language as a ladder. Each step is different in tone. Each time you learn a new word, create an image for that word and visualize that image on a rung of the appropriate tone.
It is because some languages, such as Chinese, add another element of complexity, which is tone. Technically, you can pronounce the correct phoneme, but the wrong tone can turn it into something completely different.
So learn whole phrases or sentences at once, so that tone and rhythm come naturally to you.
Do Tongue-Twisters
This tactic will work for you, too, just like actors use tongue twisters to warm their mouths. It helps them speak clearly enough that everyone in the audience can understand them before going on stage.
If you can learn to play through the most difficult sounds of the target language, then the rest of it will be easy. Besides, tongue twisters are just fun! To track your progress over time, record your voice.
Imitate others to Reproduce the Audio
Listen to native speakers and have fun imitating the way they pronunciation a word or phrase. If you enjoy watching movies, have fun memorizing and repeating the lines of your favorite actors.
Also, sing your favorite songs while trying to make the same sounds as your favorite artist. Hence, keep reading the passage until it cools down. Also, continue this process until you get to the end of the part.
You will undoubtedly face challenges, but these activities will make it much more fun to make regular progress.
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