Speaking is one of the biggest challenges for English learners. To speak confidently and fluidly, you have to know what you want to say, know the words to use, and be able to pronounce them.
If you frequently practice pronunciation, you'll become more comfortable forming the words and the sounds in English. And when that's second nature, then you can spend all your brainpower in a conversation on finding the right words to say.
To help you practice your pronunciation, we have created a pronunciation exercise with each Story.
How it works
The Pronunciation exercise is an independent activity that helps you compare your pronunciation to a native speaker's.
You will record your voice reading a paragraph, listen to your voice, and then compare your voice to a native speaker's. This video shows you how:
Where to find it
Find the Pronunciation exercise next to any Story. (Click here to select a Story from the Stories Library.)
Click on the tab called "Activities." Then click on the line called "Pronunciation":
What to do
First, make sure your computer's speakers are on and that you can hear audio from your browser. Make sure you have a microphone connected to your computer, either from a USB headset, earbuds, or the computer's built-in microphone.
Next, click or tap the red "Record" button. Your browser may ask you for permission to use your microphone. Allow permission to use the microphone if requested. When your microphone is recording, read the selected paragraph:
After you have finished reading the paragraph, click "Done."
Now, you'll have a few things you can do:
Listen to your voice: In the gray audio player immediately below the recorder, you'll see a new audio player. This is your voice. Play that audio and listen to how you sound reading the paragraph.
Listen to a native speaker: In the dark audio player at the bottom, you can listen to a native speaker read the same paragraph. You can compare your own pronunciation to a native speaker.
💡 Tip: Notice the differences between your pronunciation and a native speaker's. Re-record yourself reading the paragraph and make adjustments to bring your pronunciation closer to that of a native speaker.
Having trouble?
If you're having trouble with the Pronunciation exercise, try the following:
Make sure your computer volume is unmuted and you can hear audio from your browser. (Open YouTube on a new tab to confirm you can hear audio.) Make sure you have a microphone connected to your browser. If you press "Record" click "Yes" or "Allow" if your browser asks permission to use the microphone.
The Pronunciation exercise works on multiple browsers, but users find it is most reliable on Chrome. If you are using another browser, try using Chrome.
iPhone/iPad users: iPhones and iPads often restrict access to the device's microphones. If you are on an iPhone or iPad, try the Pronunciation exercise on a laptop or desktop (Chrome browser is recommended).
Tips for doing the Pronunciation exercise
The paragraph is long enough for you to encounter some new words, practice your spacing between words and sentences, and speak for a few minutes.
If the paragraph is too much, just read the first sentence or two.
Focus on pronouncing each word correctly. Listen to the native-speaker recording and note how each complicated word is said out loud. Make sure you are saying them the same way.
If you are pronouncing each word correctly, focus on your accent and the ways that your words differ from the native-speaker recording.
Finally, note the emphasis and spacing in the native-speaker recording. How much did that differ from your pronunciation?
Finally, spend just a few minutes on each Pronunciation exercise. There's one by every Story, so after you finish one Pronunciation exercise, you can do another the same or the next day.