How can I improve my pronunciation?

How to improve my pronunciation

This is a topic that divides language learners. Some strive to have perfect pronunciation, some say it’s enough if people understand them. Some even think accents are charming.

Even though I do agree that an accent can be attractive, and being understandable is enough, this post is for those who strive for perfection.

The first thing you have to keep in mind:

You have to start with a blank page. It doesn’t matter what your target language and your native language are, they have evolved separately therefore they use a very different set of sounds.  If you want perfect pronunciation, you have to start from zero and learn a whole new set of sounds.

1. Listen to the target language: It is also crucial to listen to your target language a LOT even before you can understand it so you can get familiar with the pronunciation. Avoid listening to non-native speakers! You might pick up their errors and mispronounce words without knowing it. Listen to native speakers carefully. Learn the intonation, if it rises or falls in the sentences. Make sure to check where they produce the sounds. Most Americans, for example, speak with a very nasal voice while most French speak at a higher note. Observe these nuances when you are listening to the language.
2. Repeat and evaluate: Search : <your target language> simple phrases (for example: Hebrew simple phrases) on Youtube. First, listen to the video and repeat the phrases one by one. Then, as a next step, take your phone and record the phrase in the video and you repeating it.  This shows you how it’s supposed to sound and how you say it, so it gives you good feedback and helps you to check your development. Later you can upgrade to recording whole video blogs or stories.
3. Read out loud: This is a great way to practice continuous speaking without the pressure of having to talk to someone. Make sure you read very slowly. If you can find the audiobook of a book that you already have in the language you are learning, that’s even better! Read a chapter, listen to it carefully, especially to the words you are not sure how to pronounce then read the chapter again to correct the mistakes. If you can’t find the audiobook but know a helpful native speaker, ask them to read a page from the book, and record it.
4. Talk to native speakers: Usually, when you start learning a language, you are practicing amongst beginners and only hear their pronunciation. Again, the worry here is that you start picking up their errors. To have more exposure to native pronunciation, I recommend that you try tandem language practicing ( It’s when two people want to practice the other’s native language so they help each other out, usually for free. It is also called language exchange.) I also advise that you invest in a language course with a native teacher so that you hear the authentic way of saying things from the beginning. It really makes a huge difference!

I was affirmed in my belief that you are absolutely capable producing the sounds of any language when I listened to a presentation given a dialect coach, Eliza Simpson (https://www.dialectsnow.com/) where she broke it down, that there is no physical reason (normally) why you wouldn’t be able to produce a sound in any language. If a native speaker can produce that sound you are so sure you will never be able to get the grips of, yeah, you can too!

It takes practice, focus, and muscle work. You are going to have to activate muscles you might have never used before, and just like with any muscle in your body it might not come naturally at first, but by repeating you establish muscle memory and it gets easier. Yes, for some it may be easier but we all are capable of it, so don’t convince yourself that you just weren’t born with that ‘gene’. Have fun, practice, and be patient with yourself.

Bonus fun practice: Tongue twisters! They can help a lot, especially when dealing with a language that has very unusual sounds, like Dutch or Arabic, or where intonation can make a huge difference, like in Chinese.

Also, if you aim to pass as a native even for native speakers, you have to pay attention and copy their body language as well. Take a look at how they use hand gestures. It can be tricky because you might not have a resource that lists all the different gestures but there is a way, to learn them. (although looking up: “<your target language> gestures” on Youtube might give you some results) Take a look at videos. When you repeat a sentence from the video, don’t just repeat the sentence, act it out! Repeat every mannerism, eye, head, hand movement… Native speakers don’t realize it, but there are some very common non-verbal language signs that they all use.

Have fun practicing,

Zsófi

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