Pronounciation

[les]

Hi guys,

how can I improve my pronounciation without going in an english-speaking country?

Thx

[Duckduck (Contributor)]

Hi guys,

how can I improve my pronounciation without going to/visiting an English-speaking country?

Thx

Hi les and welcome to the forum!

I'd recommend
- watching and of course listening to English/American films - depends on the accent you want to acquire,
- listening to audio books,
- listening to your favourite English music, preferably not Rap or some such thing...

and repeating phrases or even whole sentences until they sound OK to you.

Good luck says
Duckduck

[kölscheklüngel]

Hi les,

read an english newspaper loud. You don't need a English teacher for that, you find the mistakes yourself for sure. You can recording your reading and hear how it sounds. When your read the same text for the second time you avoid your mistakes and improve your pronunciation.

[choccy_hobnob]

Hi les,

Try reading an English newspaper out loud. You don't need a English teacher for that; you'll notice the mistakes yourself for sure. You can also try recording yourself reading and hear how it sounds. When your read the same text for the second time, you avoid your mistakes and improve your pronunciation.

Some excellent suggestions, kölscheklüngel! I hope you don't mind a few minor corrections (oo-err, I'm coming over all megalomaniac here!) from me.

Hi guys,

how can I improve my pronounciation without going in an english-speaking country?

Thx

Hello les!

OK, this is going to sound completely mad, but bear with me on this one: have you tried talking to yourself? (Um, in English, that is!)

(I did say it was going to sound completely mad! )

Obviously I don't advise doing this in public (or in front of any men in white coats ), but I found that it really helped my German pronunciation (and general fluency) to just chat away to myself in German when I was pottering around my house. If you happen to have any pets, they also make good conversation partners (much less judgemental than people!). The more you chatter away, the more the shape of the words will feel natural in your mouth and - hey presto! - the better your pronunciation will become! I used to wander around narrating everything I was doing ("Right, I'm walking into the kitchen now! I'm opening the fridge! I'm getting out a chocolate bar! I'm eating the - chomp chomp chomp - chocolate bar!", although in German, naturally) and it honestly helped.

Er... the suggestions the others have given are clearly also completely valid and useful and a lot less insane than mine, but give mine a shot, go on!

[kölscheklüngel]

Hi choccy_hobnob,

thanks for your correction. I try to get better. Where are you from? From UK or USA?

To use the word "to try" I have never used it in school and it is new for me. I read it very often in interviews but when I used it in write a text I forget it. Now, I never forget it.

Bye kölscheklüngel

[tiorthan]

Er... the suggestions the others have given are clearly also completely valid and useful and a lot less insane than mine, but give mine a shot, go on!

I do that all the time and judging by the looks I get when I do it in public I must be either demented or posessed. The former when I use English and the latter when I speak Irish. But it does help for real. Not only with your pronounciation but also with fluency.

Having said that, there are some things most people cannot learn without feedback. For example, many Germans pronounce bed, bet and bad exactly the same because they don't hear the difference.

[choccy_hobnob]

Hi choccy_hobnob,

Thanks for your correction. I am trying to get better (or: "improve"). Where are you from? From the UK or the USA?

Hi again! No problem whatsoever. Remember that (unlike in German), you need to use a capital letter to start an English sentence even when it's following on from a greeting.

I'm from the south of England and therefore speak proper English - don't listen to any Americans who try to tell you otherwise!

I will try ( ) to use the word "to try". I have never used it in school and it is new for me. I read it very often in interviews, but whenever I used it in write a text, I forget it. Now, I will never forget it.

The verb "to try" really works in many of the same contexts as "versuchen". It's a handy little word!

[Duckduck (Contributor)]

@choccy_hobnob,

from the Southwest, by any chance? I used to spend the summer holidays in Cornwall with my parents and brothers. And from that time on I've been a great fan of Cornwall. It all started many many years before the Rosamunde Pilcher-hype, though. First time I went there I was about to turn 4. And then returned for the following 25 years or so. Just love it! It feels like home.

And Hobnobs are really tasty - though I also liked Digestive Cookies ... Ok, not quite soooo nice for a name...

Cheers
Duckduck

[choccy_hobnob]

Hello Duckduck!

Am I from the South West? Not technically, no.

...actually, scratch that - in no sense of the word am I from the South West (I was born in Dorset and I live in Surrey, for a start), but I did live in Devon (in a small town very near Dartmoor) for a few years when I was younger! I've also been to Cornwall many a time (although the majority of my holiday memories are marked by my brother threatening to throw up for (seemingly!) five hundred hours straight on the journey down ) - I'm just like you, absolutely love the whole area (a lot of poverty there, though, which is a shame). I can't say I'm a particularly big fan of (read: have ever heard of ) Rosamunde Pilcher though, and had no idea there was a hype!

I am quaking in my boots a bit at the thought of correcting the mighty Duckduck... but it had to be done:

And Hobnobs are really tasty - though I also liked Digestive Cookies BISCUITS! BISCUITS! A MILLION TIMES BISCUITS!

I've never encountered a Digestive Cookie, and I never want to

Hobnobs are delish - digestives are OK, but they've got to be the chocolate ones (better still, the chocolate caramel ones... drool)

(Oh dear, don't mind me, I appear to be having a bit of a moment!)

[Delfino]

Looking at a pack of Digestives here in Southampton, (South East) England. I can confirm they are described as digestive biscuits.

[Duckduck (Contributor)]

Thanks boys,

I believe you! It must be about 15 years ago I tasted the last one *shesniffed* and if I'm not mistaken, I seldom took the time to read what was on the wrapping, I just crammed them into the duck's bill.


Love,
Duckduck