Other Practice


Tailored Strategies

Whether you're working with a teacher or learning independently, there are many effective ways to practice U.S. English pronunciation.

Practice With or Without a Teacher

  1. Enroll in a Course at the Applied English Center (AEC)
    • Pronunciation Fundamentals: Ideal for beginners to learn key segmental sounds (vowels, consonants, diphthongs).
    • Intermediate Courses: Focus on both segmental and suprasegmental features like stress, rhythm, and intonation.
    • Advanced Courses: Combine all pronunciation skills through creative projects and real-world communication tasks.
  2. Use Feedback Loops
    • Ask your teacher to record your speech and compare it with a model.
    • Focus on one feature at a time (e.g., word stress or final consonants).
  3. Practice Pragmatics
    • Work on choosing the right tone and register for different situations (e.g., formal vs. casual speech). 
  1. Shadowing Exercises
  2. Minimal Pair Practice
    • Practice sound contrasts that are challenging based on your first language. For example:
      • Ship /ʃɪp/ vs. Sheep /ʃiːp/
      • Bet /bɛt/ vs. Bat /bæt/
  3. Use the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet)
    • Learn the symbols for US English sounds to improve your awareness and accuracy.
  4. Record Yourself
    • Use your phone or laptop to record and analyze your speech.
    • Compare your pronunciation to model recordings.
  5. Play Applied Improvisation Games
    • Practice stress-timed rhythm and fluency through games like:
      • "One Word at a Time Story”
      • "Yes, And…”
  6. Use Transcribed Video Content
    • Watch videos with subtitles and transcripts.
    • Pause and repeat phrases, focusing on linking and intonation. 

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