Improving Pronunciation

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Selene
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Posts: 13
Joined: Fri Jan 21, 2005 1:47 am

Improving Pronunciation

Post by Selene »

Hi,
English is my second language. I think I am pretty good .I can write and read understanding it all.
Here is my huge problem and I really do not know what to do. My accent is thick, and I am unable to reproduce some American sounds. I really try but it goes beyond me.
I have recorded my self and try some teaching pronunciation but nothing seems to work. .Nothing seems to work. Please someone could give me a tip? I would mean a lot to me.
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Dixie
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Posts: 3836
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2004 2:08 pm
Status: Teacher of English
Location: Catalunya

Post by Dixie »

I don't know where you are from, so I have no idea about your mother tongue pronunciation system.

The advice I can give you, though, will be very poor. If you still want to take it, it's here...

Listen to as much English as you can. Watch TV and listen to the radio IN ENGLISH ONLY and pay attention to pronunciation, word stress, rhythm and intonation.

Download the 7 secrets EC provides you in order to help you. I'm copying some about Word Stress.

LEARN ABOUT WORD STRESS

Word Stress is golden key number one for speaking and
understanding English. Word Stress is *very important*.
You can try to learn about Word Stress. This is one of
the *best* ways for you to understand spoken English -
especially English spoken fast.

What is Word Stress?

Take 3 words: photograph, photographer and photographic,
for example. Do they sound the same when spoken? No!
They sound different, because *one* syllable in each
word is "stressed" (stronger than the others).

PHOtograph

phoTOgrapher

photoGRAPHic


This happens in ALL words with 2 or more syllables:
TEACHer, JaPAN, CHINa, aBOVE, converSAtion, INteresting,
imPORtant, deMAND, etCETera, etCETera, etCETera

The syllables that are not stressed are 'weak' or
'small' or 'quiet'. Native speakers of English listen
for the stressed syllables, not the weak syllables. If
you use Word Stress in your speech, you will instantly
and automatically improve your pronunciation and
your comprehension.

If you have an English teacher, ask her to help you
understand Word Stress. Try to hear the stress in words
each time you listen to English - on the radio, or in
films for example. Your first step is to *hear* and
recognise it. After that, you can *use* it!

More about Word Stress (with audio files):
http://pronunciation.englishclub.com
Selene
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Posts: 13
Joined: Fri Jan 21, 2005 1:47 am

Post by Selene »

Thanks for the advice.I will try that.
Maybe it is a matter of time and perseverance.There is an article that teaches when to use your lips , throut or teeth to produce a sound.I think that is very interesting.
One more time thanks for the tip.
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Trantrung
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Posts: 30
Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2004 1:25 am
Status: Other
Location: VN

Post by Trantrung »

I also learn English as a foreign language . I think you should try your best to speak as much as possible then you correct day by day your speech!!!!!!
I wander'd lonely as a cloud
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sunshine81
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Posts: 64
Joined: Thu Feb 03, 2005 7:43 pm
Location: Wuppertal

Post by sunshine81 »

You could also try the "Pronunciation Power" which you can purchase at EC. You can practice every single sound that exists in english. It shows with pictures how to form the sound and it has a lot of vocabulary to practice. You can also record your voice and compare with the one from the tutor...I have it myself and i like it very much 'cause you can record and hear your own voice so that u know how it sounds like what you say :P :R:
BLACK DEATH
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Posts: 48
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2005 9:36 am
Location: oman

Post by BLACK DEATH »

hi .. engl. is also my second lang.
:arrow: you have to watch news on tv .. listen to bbc .. watch english programmes without translation ... gooooooood luck. :R:
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