When you start learning a new language, you may sometimes feel that pronunciation is an obstacle to developing your language skills. Even if you’ve long since started learning it, sometimes you may feel unable to pronounce well. If you’re in one of these situations and you’re looking for a remedy for it, don’t worry. With the tricks we’re going to give you next, you’ll improve your pronunciation and feel able to have a conversation without any problem.
Forget Spanish altogether
It seems like the most typical tip and probably one of what you’ve already been given, but it’s totally true. Generally, most people who have difficulty pronunciation of English have very in mind how it is spoken in their native language. So when they try to have a conversation in another language without straying from their own, they pronounce as they would in Spanish.
It is true that when you start learning a new language, at first it is difficult to get out of our comfort zone and that is why we hold on to what we already know. But it is a serious mistake, because the pronunciation in English is completely different from that of Spanish. Pronouncing incorrectly can cause us frustration and little by little, we will find it more difficult to let go when talking, so this trick is so important.
When searching for words in the dictionary, also be interested in pronunciation
In dictionaries not only the meanings of words appear, in many of them also appear the pronunciation of these.
It is one of the tricks that is less considered, but it can be very interesting and effective. A good way to start learning English is to be interested not only in the meaning of words, but also in their pronunciation when we look for them in the dictionary. In this way we not only learn how it is pronounced, but we will also begin to learn how the phonemes and sounds of English are represented and further enrich our knowledge
Listen to the pronunciation of each word and repeat it
Currently, there are hundreds of pages where you can write a word and hear its pronunciation. The best known of them all is Google’s own translator. This online tool allows us, not only to translate the words, but also gives us the option to listen to them at the click of a click.
In addition to listening to how it is pronounced, it is very beneficial to repeat as many times as you need that word. This will make it much easier to remember when you have to use it some other time.
Listen to music and watch series in English
It is one of the tips that is most repeated when someone starts studying English, and at the same time the one that is most ignored. The fear of not understanding what is said makes us think twice about whether to put the film, series or song, but if you don’t try you’ll never know if you’re capable.
Don’t worry if you think your English skills are still too low to know everything perfectly. Currently, thanks to platforms like Netflix or HBO,we have a lot of movies or series of different categories and degrees of difficulty to start watching them according to your level. Don’t worry if at first you don’t understand most of what you’re hearing, it happens to all of us. Subtitles will become your best ally!
And as for music, any English-speaking group is perfectly valid to start working with pronunciation. A very good idea, is to visualize the lyrics of the song while listening to it and repeat this process as many times as you need until you strengthen the pronunciation of the words a little.
Watch the score and intonation
Like pronunciation, English scoring and intonation is totally different from Spanish. Generally, in English the phrases are made much shorter than in Spanish and depending on the type of phrase (interrogative, affirmative, exclamative…) it is intones in one way or another.
The tricks we’ve shown you above will help you differentiate the variety of intonations that exist and how important they are if you want to have a perfect pronunciation.
Relate to English-speaking people.
The most useful advice we can give you: speak as much as you can in English and if possible with natives. You may be embarrassed at first or think you’re doing it wrong, but making a mistake is when we learn the most.
If you don’t know anyone who speaks English, don’t worry. In most of the city, there are cafes, bars and different establishments where language exchanges take out. This way both sides win: you teach your partner Spanish, while they teach you English.
And it’s not just about learning, it’s also about meeting people and making new friends,immersing yourself in different cultures.
Now that you know the tricks, it’s time to put them into practice!.. and there’s no better way to learn than to know a new country. That’s why in Ynsitu we offer you hundreds of possibilities to get to know other countries while learning a new language. Travel with us and enjoy our language courses abroad!