i. Observe the mouth movements of those who speak English well and try
to imitate them.

When you are watching television, observe the mouth movements of the
speakers. Repeat what they are saying, while imitating the intonation
and rhythm of their speech.


ii. Until you learn the correct intonation and rhythm of English, slow
your speech down.

If you speak too quickly, and with the wrong intonation and rhythm,
native speakers will have a hard time understanding you.
Don't worry about your listener getting impatient with your slow
speech -- it is more important that everything you say be understood.


iii. Listen to the 'music' of English.

Do not use the 'music' of your native language when you speak English.
Each language has its own way of 'singing'.


iv. Use the dictionary.

Try and familiarise yourself with the phonetic symbols of your
dictionary. Look up the correct pronunciation of words that are hard
for you to say.


v. Make a list of frequently used words that you find difficult to
pronounce and ask someone who speaks the language well to pronounce
them for you.

Record these words, listen to them and practice saying them. Listen
and read at the same time.


vi. Buy books on tape.

Record yourself reading some sections of the book. Compare the sound
of your English with that of the person reading the book on the tape.


vii. Pronounce the ending of each word.

Pay special attention to 'S' and 'ED' endings. This will help you
strengthen the mouth muscles that you use when you speak English.


viii. Read aloud in English for 15-20 minutes every day.

Research has shown it takes about three months of daily practice to
develop strong mouth muscles for speaking a new language.


ix. Record your own voice and listen for pronunciation mistakes.

Many people hate to hear the sound of their voice and avoid listening
to themselves speak. However, this is a very important exercise
because doing it will help you become conscious of the mistakes you
are making.


x. Be patient.

You can change the way you speak but it won't happen overnight. People
often expect instant results and give up too soon. You can change the
way you sound if you are willing to put some effort into it.