10 Tips for accent reduction and clear communication

What are some ways to reduce an accent? There are many ways to reduce an accent if English is not your first language. It’s good to use tools for structured and unstructured practice in English; There are many options for unstructured practice. Watching films and listening to podcasts in English will build your listening comprehension and give you models for pronunciation. Whenever possible, talking with native speakers is great practice.

What else gets in the way of clear communication? Sometimes, mistakes in syntax/grammar can cause miscommunication. This is true in spoken English as well as written English. For example, in the following sentence a mistake with the modal “would” makes the meaning unclear: “I would get back to you by the end of the business day.” The speaker meant, “I will get back to you by the end of the business day.” Targeting common mistakes in writing can translate to more effective communication in conversations and email.

What are some ways to improve syntax/grammar in English? It’s good to work with tools for structured and unstructured practice. An option for unstructured practice is reading for pleasure in English. It’s important to choose topics that interest you at a reading level that is not too difficult. Sometimes, people push to read material that is very challenging for them and then get frustrated and give up. Choosing reading material that is easier will keep you reading as it will be more enjoyable.

Here are 10 tips for accent reduction:

1. Observe the mouth movements of native speakers and try to imitate them.
When you are watching T.V. look at the mouth movements of the speakers. Repeat what they are saying, imitating the intonation and rhythm of their speech.

2. Listen to the “music” of English.
Don’t use the music of your native language when you are speaking English. Each language has its own way of “singing”.

3. Make a list of frequently used words that are difficult for you to pronounce and ask a native speaker to pronounce them for you.
Record these words, listen to them and practice saying them.

4. Pronounce the ending of each word.
Pay special attention to “s” and “ed” endings.

5. Record your own voice and listen for pronunciation mistakes.
Many people hate to hear the sound of their voice and avoid having to listen to themselves speaking. However, this is a very important exercise because doing it will help you become conscious of the mistakes that you are making.

6. Until you learn the correct intonation and rhythm of English, slow down your speech.
If you speak too quickly 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.

7. Use your dictionary.
Become familiar with the phonetic symbols of your dictionary and look up the correct pronunciation of words that are hard for you to say.

8. Buy books on tape.
Listen and read at the same time. Record yourself reading some sections of the book. Compare the sound of your English with that of the speaker from the book on tape.

9. Read aloud in English for fifteen to twenty minutes each day.
This will help you strengthen the mouth muscles that you use when you speak English. Research has shown that it takes about three months of daily practice to develop strong mouth muscles for speaking a new language.

10. Be patient.
You can change the way you speak but it won’t happen overnight. People often expect instant results and give up too soon. You can change the way you sound if you are willing to put some effort into it.

Source: amenglish.com | accurateenglish.com | Lisa Mojsin