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34 questions

Pronunciation & scores

Why does English spelling not show the sound?
Because the spelling was fixed before the vowels changed and then kept the spellings of words borrowed from Fr…
How do I pronounce a word I have never heard?
Find the stress first, split the word into syllables, apply the vowel rule to the stressed syllable, then mark…
what is the best way to learn english pronunciation
The best method gives you a check you can run alone: a dictionary transcription to compare against, a recordin…
how to pronounce english words correctly
Start from the last sound, not the spelling. Decide whether it is voiced or voiceless, then let the ending agr…
How do I practise connected speech with a transcript?
Work from the printout backwards. Choose thirty to sixty seconds of audio with a published transcript, print t…
Why can I understand slow English but not fast English?
Because slow English and fast English are two different codes, and only one of them is in your memory. Careful…
Why does 'clothes' sound like 'close' when native speakers say it?
Because the voiced th in clothes sits inside a cluster that is hard to finish at speed. The careful form keeps…
How do I pronounce the th sound in English without biting my tongue?
The bite is the problem, not the tongue. Rest the tip behind the top front teeth, or between the teeth without…
how to improve english pronunciation quickly
Quickly means one target at a time, not a new accent. Start with what costs money or time: the -teen and -ty p…
Which app can check and correct my English pronunciation?
Choose an app that returns a transcript as well as a score, because the transcript is the only part you can au…
what does shadowing in english actually train
Shadowing is speaking along with a recording, at the same time as you hear it, about one syllable behind. It c…
how to do shadowing in english step by step
Four passes over one clip. Listen once without speaking and stop where meaning slips. Then read a transcript s…
how to learn american accent free
Start with the five features above, not a course. Free dictionary audio that publishes American and British re…
Does English word stress follow fixed rules?
Only partly: the shifting suffixes are reliable enough to be worth memorising and the neutral endings usually …
Which minimal pairs should I test first?
Start with the pairs your own everyday speech already contains — names, numbers and work words — then test ten…
What if my colleagues say they understand me but still ask me to repeat numbers?
Numbers, names and dates are the items most often misheard on calls because they carry no context to recover f…
How long should I shadow the same clip?
Two sessions with one clip is usually enough: the first teaches the timing, the second confirms it. After that…
How do I speak English without an accent?
You do not need to. Every English speaker has an accent, including speakers from the United States and the Uni…
Is there an app to improve my English accent?
Yes, several apps described above include pronunciation feedback, and the ELSA Speak listing describes the mos…
Is English shadowing practice suitable for beginners?
It can be, if the clip is slow and clear enough for you to follow. Hamada's rule is to treat shadowing as list…
Should I read the transcript while shadowing?
Check the transcript before you start, then put it away. Hamada advises shadowing without it, because reading …
How many times should I shadow the same clip?
Research cited by Hamada suggests five or six repetitions of the same passage are enough, and the Hashizaki pa…
How do I do shadowing in English?
Choose a short clip, make sure you understand it, then play it without the transcript and speak along from the…
What is shadowing in English?
Shadowing is a practice in which you listen to English audio and repeat it almost at the same time. Unlike rep…
What should I do when two pronunciation tools disagree?
Keep both comments attached to their recordings and check whether the tools received the same task and wording…
Should I practice an app's example in a full sentence?
Use the word in a relevant sentence as well as checking it alone. A sentence lets you inspect the surrounding …
How do I compare dictionary audio with my own recording?
Check the correct meaning and pronunciation label, then listen to the reference and your attempt. Focus on a d…
Why does my pronunciation app accept a word that a person mishears?
The app's response and the person's response are different observations. Replay the passage and ask the person…
What should I save from a pronunciation app session?
Save enough to connect a comment to an actual attempt: the sentence, reference source, original recording, and…
Do I need to learn phonetic symbols?
Phonetic symbols can help you record a sound or compare dictionary entries, but you can begin an exercise by l…
How long does it take to improve one pronunciation target?
There is no single timeline that applies to every learner or target. Keep a recording and compare a later atte…
Which English sounds should I practice first?
Start with a specific word or phrase that was misunderstood or that you cannot yet compare confidently with a …
Do I need to remove my accent to speak clearly?
You can work on intelligibility while keeping features of your accent. Begin with a word, ending, or stress pa…
How can I check my English pronunciation online?
Compare a recording of your speech with a reliable audio model and identify a specific word or phrase to revie…

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