Setting the correct pronunciation can be one of the most difficult tasks in the process of learning English. This is due to the fact that our speech apparatus is not adapted to the characteristic sounds and intonations of foreign speech. It is necessary to reconfigure, and this requires effort, constant practice and correction of results. The correct pronunciation of words in English can be learned through knowledge of the basic conditions, work on phonetics and by simulating the pronunciation of native speakers during speech. Separate sounds, intonation and emphasis are the three main stages of classes. The correct pronunciation will cease to be an unattainable task when the head "puzzle" of how to achieve the desired result.
Pronunciation skills components
Starting to learn English, from the first lessons it is worth paying attention to the correct pronunciation of characteristic sounds. You should not be afraid of mistakes. They will certainly be, therefore it is better to concentrate on the desire to speak and remove the psychological barrier. Often it is connected with the fact that from the side you hear yourself “in a new way”, not like usual. This is what prevents us from freely pronouncing sounds and words unusual for the Russian language, and preserves the intonation of our native speech.
Starting to learn a new language, people are faced with the need to learn to read. For this, letters and sounds are studied. The first pronunciation lessons begin with them. Then comes the stage of words, reading syllables, and accentuation. While working on reading sentences, it is very important to work out intonation, imitating the speech of native speakers. Without this, the meaning of some statements may be misunderstood by the interlocutor. The correct pronunciation of English words, especially unfamiliar ones, must be checked in an audio dictionary or by verification with transcription. This will avoid incorrect memorization and additional correction work in the future.
Transcription
One of the main and most common ways to learn the correct pronunciation of a word in a foreign language is through transcription. This is an internationally accepted alphanumeric code. It will let you know how the word is read and pronounced, without being able to hear it from the side. The rules of transcription should be learned already from the first lessons in order to intensify the process of expanding the vocabulary, remove fear of unfamiliar vocabulary, and also have the opportunity to work on pronunciation. You can figure it out on your own, or by resorting to the help of a Russian-speaking teacher. The correct pronunciation of words in English should be one of the priorities in the learning process, since it is in the future that it guarantees comfortable and effective communication, as well as an understanding of what you have said by native speakers. Transcription will make any unfamiliar word accessible for study and recognizable in speech.
Effective Pronunciation Techniques
There are several simple and effective methods that can be used both independently and in class with the teacher to deliver the correct pronunciation. They come down to reading out loud, listening to speaking, phonetic exercises for setting specific sounds and types of intonation, as well as working with tongue twisters.
The correct pronunciation of words largely depends on the training and the correct "basic position" of the speech apparatus. If it is difficult to figure it out on your own, it is better to contact the teacher. Some recommend that beginners grip a pencil between their teeth and read individual words with it, moving on to sentences and texts as vocabulary volumes increase.
Error handling
It is important to receive feedback in the early stages of developing pronunciation skills to correct possible errors. To do this, you can resort to the help of a teacher, make a friend in a linguistic social resource and ask him for help with complex words, write down yourself while reading and listen, comparing with the speech of the carriers. The correct pronunciation of English words is a really achievable task with the right approach to the process of study and systematic practice. Pay attention to the sounds that are most difficult for you, and find additional reading and phonetic exercises that will make it possible to achieve good results. Constantly monitor your progress through audio recordings. The correct pronunciation should be worked out, starting with slow speech, only then approaching the pace of real everyday communication.
Useful resources
While working on the pronunciation skill, it is important to constantly receive feedback, check yourself with the original. Even if there is no way to ask for advice, you can turn to online audio dictionaries for help, listen to the necessary word in Google translator, visit a special resource where you can check your pronunciation. A word or sentence is read, and then its reproduction in the original is turned on to compare the two options and identify errors.
Useful resources will also be videos, films, podcasts, where the audio track goes along with the text one, you can immediately note the pronunciation features of certain words, comparing with the printed one. This technique is especially good for visuals. The correct pronunciation of words is remembered on the machine, especially if the topic is close to your interests and emotionally.
Practice, practice, and again practice, together with theoretical knowledge, will give inspiring results after a week of classes. Tongue twisters, phonetic exercises, reading aloud, error correction by checking the audio recordings of your speech will provide the opportunity to put the correct pronunciation and instill confidence in your skills while communicating with native speakers. Do not be afraid of mistakes, they are only stages on the way to perfect results.