2 Key Skills to Improve Your English Accent

First of all, you need to know what to listen out for when a native speaker is saying a word or sentence and then mimic it (which means to copy) and produce the same sound. Sounds simple right? But this generally is something that you need to practise.  

Here are 2 really important points to practise listening for: word stress and the rhythm of words and sentences.

Take for example the noun a ‘permit’. The word has 2 syllables, so which syllable do you stress? In most 2 syllable nouns, we stress the first, meaning we pronounce the word as PER-mit. This is really important so that you sound correct and because you need to differentiate between the verb ‘to permit’. So how do we say the verb? We pronounce it as per-MIT. We hit or stress the second syllable. This indicates to the listener that you mean the verb and not the noun.

But what about 3 syllable words? Of course, there isn’t a rule that fits every 3-syllable word in the English language, but generally we stress the first syllable. For example, in words like: NOIS-i-ly, PRO-ba-bly and LI-mi-ted. But, note there are a few exceptions in words like: im-POR-tant, fi-NAN-cial and re-MEM-ber.

Another simple rule that can help you is: when words end in ‘tion’ ‘sion’ or ‘ic’, then we usually stress the penultimate syllable. For example: Co-MMI-ssion, ge-o-GRA-phic, for-MA-tion or per-FEC-tion. Actually, this rule also applies to many 4 syllable words as well. For example, I already slipped in ge-o-GRA-phic which of course is a 4-syllable word!

So, what about those longer 4 syllable words? Usually (but not always) we stress the second syllable. For example: Ca-PA-ci-ty, De-MO-cracy, Pho-TO-gra-phy, ge-O-gra-phy. But, don’t forget those words we mentioned before that end in ‘tion’ ‘sion’ and ‘ic’ where we stress the penultimate syllable. For example: 

O-pe-RA-tion, E-du-CA-tion, Sim-bi-O-tic etc.

Now, if you search this topic on the internet, you will find other rules that apply, but the key to learning languages is not in learning a long list of rules and then trying to remember them. The key is to really learn what to listen out for and then copying and producing the same sound yourself.

So, now you know 2 key things to listen out for: how native speakers stress certain syllables in words and the rhythm of words and sentences.

If you would like to learn please check out my latest video here: 

https://www.tiktok.com/@samsenglishworkshop/video/7458397335324740870

If you would like to have classes with me (a native British English accent reduction coach) then please, take a look at my website and contact me about having a free British English Accent reduction trial class. I look forward to seeing you soon.