English Help Center

The topic helps SEC members to answer questions involved English. Please post here your worries, concerns, thoughts in terms of English, English study such as :
How to improve English skill?
Where can we find good and reliable dictionaries to study?
Sincerely,

Kitty2080:
Would anyone help tell me how to improve english skill ? actually i often make mistakes when i speak english expecially my pronunciation ! i feel nervous when i speak english with foreigner !
thanks
(quoted here: http://ttvnol.com/sec/483501.ttvn)
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My response:
Hi Kitty2080,
Following are some tips to practice pronunciation. Hope it will helpful for you. However, of all the tips we have, please keep in mind that PRACTICE is the most important one, day by day, step by step, you will find your pronunciation, intonation improved.
Pronunciation refers to the way you produce individual sounds and combinations of sounds, by moving the mouth in the correct way. It is most important for you to practise those sounds which do not occur in your own native language, as these will certainly be the most difficult for you to produce in English. All good dictionaries contain phonetic transcriptions of words to help you if you are not sure of the correct pronunciation.
õ? Don''t be afraid to repeat words and phrases you hear your teacher use in class.
õ? Of course, it is important to be aware of any problem areas you may have with pronunciation. If you are not sure about these, ask your teacher to help you work out which sounds you need to focus on.
õ? Borrow some cassettes and try to repeat words and phrases after the speaker.
õ? You could even try recording yourself on a cassette and playing back the recording. Does your pronunciation sound clear and accurate? Compare your pronunciation to that of native speakers on cassettes you have borrowed. Is it similar?
õ? You can also borrow books about pronunciation. These will show you how your mouth should move to pronounce different sounds. Try practising in front of a mirror!
If you have further concerns, feel free to let us know. We are pleased to share anything we know and are willing to study from you.
Talk to you later.
Cheers.