Speech tips - start today!
Speechmatters Word List
Listen and learn to pronounce this list of some of the most commonly mispronounced words in English.
Download the word list here
Listen to the list here
See (and download) the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)
Improve your speech and prepare for speech lessons with the suggestions below.
You need to put some time into it.
For most people, their speech doesn't change with out working on
it. This explains why many people might have been in an English
speaking country for over 10 years and their language skills have improved
very much, but they still have similar pronunciation patterns to when they first arrived.
Some people wrongly assume that their speech will improve at the same rate
as their language and listening skills.
Some people have a "good ear" for language and have a
better chance at improving their speech without help. But for many
people, unless they focus specifically on particular areas of their
speech and work on changing those areas, their speech will stay
the same.
Listen to people speaking English on the radio or TV.
Listen to the rhythm of their speech and the rise and fall of their voice when they talk. Listen carefully to HOW they are speaking (the stress patterns and sounds) instead of just what they are talking about.
Watch the mouth movements of English speakers (on TV).
Look at the different shapes they make with their lips when they are speaking and how much they open their mouths. Take notice of people who speak clearly and how much they open their mouths when they're talking. How much do you move your mouth when you speak English?
Think about what your mouth is doing when you talk.
Become aware of the position and shape of your tongue and lips and how your mouth moves to make sounds. Have a look in the mirror to see what is happening when you make sounds.
Don’t speak too fast.
If you speak English
quickly with some incorrect sounds and the wrong stress and rhythm, people will
find it difficult to understand you. Some people are worried that
they will sound unnatural if they slow down. Remember that professional and effective
English speakers don't talk very fast and they use pauses and a
lot of syllable stress. What is more important – speaking
quickly or getting your message across clearly?
If you have difficulty controlling the speed of your speech try
to:
- pause more, especially between phrases and sentences.
- use more stress to highlight the key words of your message.
Make a list of words that are difficult for you.
Think about which sounds are making these words difficult for you. Look for similarities between the words. It is very useful to become familiar with the phonetic symbols in your dictionary. When you know the phonetic symbols you can use your dictionary to help with your pronunciation.
Record your own speech.
Most people don't like listening to the sound of their own voice but recording your speech is an excellent way of becoming more aware of the things that are difficult for you and the areas you need to improve.
Be patient.
You can change the way you speak but it won't happen overnight. People sometimes expect instant results and give up too soon. You can change the way you sound if you are willing to practice and put time and effort into it.