This is the first step to learn any other accent, be it American
or British or Australian.
Lisa Mojsin, head trainer, director and founder of the Accurate
English Training Company in Los Angeles, offers these tips to help 'neutralise'
your accent or rather do away with the local twang, as you speak.
1. Observe the
mouth movements of those who speak English well and try to imitate them.When
you are watching television, observe the mouth movements of the speakers.
Repeat what they are saying, while imitating the intonation and rhythm of their
speech.
2. Until you learn
the correct intonation and rhythm of English, slow your speech down. If you
speak too quickly, and with the wrong intonation and rhythm, native speakers
will have a hard time understanding you.
Don't worry about your listener getting impatient with your slow speech
-- it is more important that everything you say be understood.
3. Listen to the
'music' of English. Do not use the 'music' of your native language when you
speak English. Each language has its own way of 'singing'.
4. Use the
dictionary. Try and familiarise yourself with the phonetic symbols of your
dictionary. Look up the correct pronunciation of words that are hard for you to
say.
5. Make a list of
frequently used words that you find difficult to pronounce and ask someone who
speaks the language well to pronounce them for you. Record these words, listen
to them and practice saying them. Listen and read at the same time.
6. Buy books on
tape. Record yourself reading some sections of the book. Compare the sound of
your English with that of the person reading the book on the tape.
7. Pronounce the
ending of each word. Pay special attention to 'S' and 'ED' endings. This will
help you strengthen the mouth muscles that you use when you speak English.
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