Feeling good about your skills

Remember that there are many kinds of native speakers of English and hundreds of native accents - Australian, Irish, American, Welsh etc. - but basic sounds and standards do exist.

• You should try to achieve relatively accurate pronunciation - you do not need to be perfect or aim for near-native speech!

• You give an impression about yourself partly through pronunciation. When your skills are good, you feel more confident and relaxed in different communication situations, as you can concentrate on what you say instead of how to pronounce it.

Getting your message across

A good command of vocabulary and grammar is the foundation of language skills, but you should not ignore the importance of fluent pronunciation - it is an integral part of communication skills

• Changes in articulation can be very small, but they can lead to misunderstandings and even to communication breakage. If the listener has to struggle constantly in order to understand what you are saying, he/she may give up and find someone else to talk to.

• Good pronunciation is part of your self-image and professional expertise. Your message will sound more convincing even if you say the exact same thing.

Understanding others

As surprising as it may sound, good pronunciation makes it easier for you to understand others.

• Native speakers of English do not pronounce all sounds and words separately, but use contracted forms, linking, reduction etc. If you are aware of these aspects of English, you will be able to understand normal (fast) speech better.