We know how difficult it is to achieve perfect English pronunciation when we're in the middle of learning.
We're also sure you've been afraid of speaking in public because you weren't sure how to pronounce a word correctly.
To help you improve your pronunciation, and to prevent something similar from happening to you again, our teachers decided to put together a list of must-know tips that will be very useful for you. Spoiler Alert: the best tip is at the end.
“There's no magic solution to learning pronunciation. There are exercises and techniques for very specific topics, but that depends on your exact pronunciation issues. It varies greatly from person to person.”
1. Explore different accents and choose one
Before we get started, it’s important to know there’s no magic trick to perfecting your English pronunciation. What really works is consistent practice—and with it, you’ll soon express your ideas more confidently and without fear.
The first tip is simple but essential: decide which accent you want to learn and stick with it.
Mastering American English is different from learning British English, and both differ from the Australian accent. Each has its own unique sounds and pronunciation patterns, so consistency is key.
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2. Pay attention to intonation
English intonation is extremely important, and we often ignore its relevance when we want to speak quickly or are inexperienced with the language.
Our teachers always recommend listening carefully to native speakers as they say the most frequently used English words. If you pay attention, you'll notice how different intonation can change the meaning of a sentence.
“Shadowing is an excellent exercise for improving pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. It involves listening to an audio clip in English and repeating it simultaneously or immediately afterward, trying to imitate the native speaker's pronunciation and intonation as closely as possible.”
3. Record yourself speaking English
If you have doubts about how you sound when speaking English, you can record yourself during your practice and listen to the audio afterward.
This practice will help you identify areas you need to work on to improve your pronunciation.
A good option is to record yourself reading a book you really like, so that it's a more natural process and you don't feel pressured.
4. Lose your fear of making mistakes
When we start speaking a new language, we struggle with simple things like describing a person in English.
This happens, among other reasons, because of the fear of making mistakes and having an awkward moment. Forget about that and simply enjoy the learning process. The most important thing is to communicate.
As you practice and perfect your pronunciation, you'll see how the fear disappears.
“Overcome the fear of making mistakes. Sometimes our heads get the better of us, and we need to know that we're in a safe learning space, and mistakes are welcome so we can learn to improve them.”
5. Practice with Native Speakers
If you're wondering how to improve your English, it's impossible not to include speaking with native speakers in our list of tips.
Listening to native speakers is a perfect way to get used to the authentic sound of the language and the specific accent you've decided to learn.
You can try imitating the sounds and idioms of native speakers. The more time you spend conversing with them, the better the results will be, especially if you're in one of the cities in the United States where Latinos can live.
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6. Dig Deeper into Phonetic Pronunciation
We all know how frustrating it can be when English words aren’t pronounced the way they’re spelled.
That’s why a dictionary is so useful—it shows the phonetics of each new word, helping you learn the correct pronunciation.
To take advantage of this, you’ll need to get familiar with the special symbols that represent specific sounds based on different letter combinations.
“Familiarize yourself with the phonetic sounds of English that don't exist in your native language. Tools like the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) can be very helpful for this.”
7. Consume content in English
An entertaining way to listen to English and practice your pronunciation is to consume as much English content as possible.
Find series or movies you like and watch them in English, preferably without subtitles so you can force your mind to understand the language.
Listen to music you enjoy in English and learn the lyrics, sing along if possible. Try to be in contact with English at all times.
8. Train your speech clarity
Practicing diction exercises is a great way to build confidence and fluency in English, as they help you improve both intonation and rhythm.
Try reading tongue twisters, pronouncing words phonetically, or simply reading texts aloud. These exercises don’t take much time and can easily fit into any free moment of your day. The key is to practice them consistently, every day.
9. Listen, watch, and imitate the language
Learning English through listening is one of the methods most recommended by our teachers, but they also emphasize the importance of trying to imitate native speakers as much as possible.
Just as there are sounds in English that are different, there are mouth movements that can seem unnatural when we speak the language.
Surround yourself with people who are fluent in English and try to imitate their pronunciation and the way their mouths move. Believe it or not, the results will be quick.
“Practice actively observing native speakers and how they use intonation so you can imitate them. Choose a native speaker or a character from a TV show, YouTuber, etc., and emulate their rhythm, intonation, and accent. Imitation is a powerful and fun technique for finding our own rhythm and achieving the desired naturalness.”
10. Study the sounds of English
English has some sounds that are difficult to imitate naturally if you speak Spanish. The only way to learn these sounds is with constant practice.
You can pronounce certain vowels and consonants separately until you master the sound and make it more natural.
A tip from our teachers is to try to make every practice or activity you do fun and motivate you to continue studying.
If you want to learn more about the pronunciation of vowels in English, you can read our article.
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11. Be consistent and patient
We all have the ability to learn and reach our goals with consistency and perseverance—and learning English is no different.
Patience is key. Improving your pronunciation takes time, and it’s an ongoing process. What matters most is enjoying the activities you do, so you can learn at your own pace without unnecessary pressure.
It also helps to know your current English level. Take our test and discover where you stand.
The best advice: Learn English with Papora
As promised, we’ve saved the best for last: Papora—an online platform with native-level teachers dedicated to helping you perfect your pronunciation.
With Papora, you’ll enjoy unlimited monthly classes at flexible times that fit your schedule, plus a self-guided course to keep practicing at your own pace.
Every activity is designed to make learning fun and effortless. Before long, you’ll overcome the fear of speaking and gain the confidence to hold conversations—even with native speakers.
This article was written in collaboration with Papora teachers to bring you the best content. Thanks to Natalia L | Racheeda R | Francisco P.
Frequently asked questions about improving English pronunciation
There are several different accents you can learn if you want to speak English, in addition to American and British. Choose the accent you prefer and be sure to practice it regularly.
To improve your pronunciation, you can do diction exercises, imitate native speakers and their pronunciation, consume content in English, study phonetics, and other methods. The most important thing is to be consistent and practice daily.
