WARNING! Lazy language learners...

How much time do you actually devote to learning your target language?

Do you just focus on the target language skills memorizing grammar and vocabulary?

What you can do with the new language should be your biggest motivator, so do strive to transform each day into a creative language learning immersion experience, finding new and interesting ways to practice your pronunciation skills. Here’s some ways.

 

1. Active listening.

The first step towards figuring out how to pronounce something correctly is to hear it accurately. If you don’t, you are at a constant disadvantage when attempting to speak the language. Every language features diphthongs, vowel combinations, liaisons, and so forth that create unfamiliar and frustrating sounds. If you can’t hear those differences, then you’re stuck trying to memorize abstract facts. Thus to speak a language well, it is extremely important to do some “active listening” to train your ear to the sounds and the rhythms of the language. Pick out a couple of TV shows to watch and listen to, or rent films. By watching movies you will visually see their facial expressions, hand gestures, and body language, that are all a part of active communication in a language. You will also pick up how words are said, where the emphasis is placed on syllables, as well as slang, idioms, and colloquial speech.

2. Read out loud.

Another way to improve your language diction is to read out loud. Find an interesting book in your target language and start reciting away. When you read someone else’s words you are free to concentrate on style and inflection and not worry about relaying your own thoughts or ideas. You don’t have to speak fast to sound fluent, you just need to enunciate clearly and speak smoothly. As in all things, practice makes perfect and the repetition of spoken sounds will be more effectively retained in your long-term memory.

3. Talk to yourself.

Once you’re comfortable just speaking out loud, you can move on from books to just speaking freely. Sometimes the presence of others can make you self-conscious and seriously dampen your desire to practice. But, there are places you can escape to where you can unleash your inner language thespian. The car is one of these places. Somehow traffic and stop lights don’t seem so annoying when you are working on your pronunciation and responding to language exercises.

4. Record your voice.

To make a recording of yourself speaking in the target language can be quite effective and illuminating as you learn to self-correct your own speech reading from a book or newspaper.

5. Work with a Language Coach.

One setback for language learners is that when they speak, instead of sounding lyrical and lilting they sound stilted and disjointed. By learning good breath control, proper posture, and how to project from your diaphragm you will improve your vocal power and feel more confident. To help with these things, I suggest that you work with a private coach language. A private coach will also help with enunciation, word emphasis, and phonic recognition.

6. Find a language partner on Skype

Learning a language is all about making conversation. So go out there and find a language partner. It is the best way you can break through inhibitions and start feeling comfortable with speaking. Maybe your chat partners will become great friends.

7. Keep your “language radar” active

Wherever you go, your radar should be always active and functioning. Whether you are at the park, watching a soccer game, or shopping at the supermarket, stay tuned in and listening for spoken the target language around you, ready to introduce yourself and have a conversation. Keep your “language radar” up and running every day. It takes a little bit of courage but the payoff is wonderful. You will make friends with natives in your own town who are more than happy to speak to you in their own language.

8. Join a meet up group.

There are meet up groups that meet on weekly or monthly. Simply find a site and search for a location nearest you. There’s a million ways to get the word out there. Once a group is established, meet for discussions, movie nights all in the target language.

 9. Host an exchange student programme.

If you’re serious about practicing the language, hosting an exchange student is the way to go. You will have no excuse not to engage with a native speaker on a daily basis, and you get the added benefit of helping him or her improve in your native language as well. It is the most personalized, profound way to practice your pronunciation.

10. Travel to the target country.

Travelling to the target country is always a great way to get some practice in speaking the language. But think of the rewards of travelling with someone who has connections to locals and can get you off the beaten path. It’s on those adventures that you’ll get some authentic face time with native speakers. You will be amazed how much your pronunciation will improve when you are travelling with like-minded language learners. Laughter, wine, and camaraderie are wonderful catalysts for loosening up tongues, starting conversations and improving fluency.