Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

mora · Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 7

Help Wanted! I have a bad pronunciation and I don�t know how to improve it. What would you suggest?

Thanks,
Mora

iitimone7 · Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 400 Location: Indiana, USA

hi mora! that is a very good question and you write very well!! i would say that one of the best ways to improve your pronuncuation, besides lots and lots of practice, would be to look how words are pronounced in a dictionary. english is difficult because the vowels not pronounced the same in most words - i'm not aware of a vowel chart that can help you with that. many words have the same characteristics of pronunciation, but there are exceptions to everything! Confused

in many other languages, vowels are always pronounced the same no matter what the word is, but in english, unfortunately, it's just not so.

anyone else have a suggestion for mora? iitimone7

tri · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 53

watch movies/TV programs in English, print out songs lyrics and listen to the song or listen and then write down the lyrics that you hear, get some English language tapes or something like that..

stellara · Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 583 Location: germany

if you don't know how to pronounce a word there are some online dictionnaries which also pronounce a word if necessary.

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionnary

is one of them but on my computer it didn't work.. maybe on yours it does Wink

good luck! Very Happy

_________________
Don't cry because it's over - smile because it happened!

MOKEY ROCKS!!!

iitimone7 · Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 400 Location: Indiana, USA

Merriam-Webster Dictionary (only one n in dictionary)...iitimone7

advoca · Joined: 09 Oct 2003 Posts: 422 Location: Beijing

The English firms of Collins and Macmillan both produce and sell dictionaries on discs that work well on a computer. They both have American versions too so you can choose the English or the American pronunciation.

There is also a mind-map dictionary of synyonyms that pronounces the words. That works well too.

PS

I have no difficulty with the Merriam Webster on-line Dictionary. It works well. Their Dictionnary works well too.

swimsean · Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 4

Hi Mora, i have a suggestion for you that from my own experience. it is probably you just need read more article as you read it keep attention on its prounciation, then you'll know more how to put a pronunciation in sentences. maybe it will help you, i hope, and good luck Razz

mora · Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 7

Hi everybody! Thanks for your help. I will follow your suggestions. I will let you know about my improvements. See you around. Have a good Halloween.

Mora

arriz · Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 7

Hi mora,

I made some videos with music and the letter on them. It can help you. Contact me if you want a copy of them.

Best regards,

Guillermo

haoren · Joined: 01 Nov 2005 Posts: 48 Location: china

Merriam-Webster Dictionary .....my pronounce is poor,too.i have difficulty in pronouncing and reading a sentence .thank you .i am very happy to get it,Merriam-Webster Dictionary .it works very well on my computer.[/b]

mora · Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 7

Hi,

To those of you that are taking classes with me. Could you please bring me the materials or references that you were talking about? I would appreciate your help in this matter.

Thanks,
Mora

haoren · Joined: 01 Nov 2005 Posts: 48 Location: china

hi

read some books or arcles with tapes.you can listen to the tape first and pay more attention to pronuciation and intonation,then try your best to imitate it.practise more!!!!

would you give me some advice about pronuciation?[url][/url]

T12 · Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 2

American Accent Training

The American Accent Guide

I found these two books and audios quite helpful.