What you can do to get a British accent.
Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast1
Become a Level Up Member - https://levelupenglish.school
Transcript - https://levelupenglish.school/transcripts (Members Only)
How to Learn British Pronunciation
Introduction
- There are countless British accents in England, let alone in the whole world.
- Don’t worry too much about accents. Everyone has one (even native speakers) and it should be a badge of pride to show where you come from.
- However: Reasons to want a British accent:
- To be more respected at work
- To stop being treated like an outsider
- To impress your friends!
British accents have a few things in common which we’ll look at later
General Advice
- Get the foundations right when you start so you don’t cement your mistakes, but change will come over time.
- Watch lots of British TV shows, movies, and of course podcasts
- Talk with native speakers and try to mimic their pronunciation
- Getting a teacher would be even better because they can correct your mistakes
- It takes a long time, and many people don’t begin to develop their accent fully until they reach an advanced level, don’t give up!
Specific Advice
- Shadowing - repeat words from phrases you hear. Pay attention to vowel sounds.
- Watch your mouth in a mirror
- Pay attention to your tongue position
- L - tongue touches top teeth
- R - tongue moves back in mouth, not touching
Learn stress
I recommend https://forvo.com/ for pronunciation and https://www.merriam-webster.com/ for a dictionary.
- PreSENT / PREsent
- SUSpect / susPECT
- Record yourself and listen back
Specific Sounds
- T sound - Very strong
- Butter, Better
- R sound - Not so strong
- Car, Park, Hair, Hard, Ear
American vs British
- AdvertIZEment (USA) / AdverTISSment (UK)
- The ILE sound is different. MoBLE (USA) / MoBILE (UK)
- Words ending in "ation". Organisation
I recommend this poem called The Chaos by Gerard Nolst Trenité
This poem shows the irregularities in English pronunciation. Try it for fun! It's very difficult though.
Recap: Having an imperfect accent isn’t the end of the world. We each have our own and should be proud of it. However, there's nothing wrong with wanting to improve, so I hope this helped.
Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessons
Join Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.school
By becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.
04/24/19 • 22 min
5 Listeners
The Level Up English Podcast - #1 How to Get a British Accent
Transcript
Hello and welcome to the English with
Speaker 1Michael Podcast, the best place to come to study English as a second language as well as to practice the British accent with me,
Speaker 1Michael Lavers, as your teacher.
Speaker 1Hello English learners. Thank you for coming back to the second episode of the English w
#1 How to Get a British Accent Top Questions Answered
How can I improve my English pronunciation?
To improve your English pronunciation, you can focus on tongue position, practice using websites like Forvo.com, and pay attention to stress in words. Additionally, watching British TV shows, finding a teacher for real-time correction, and practicing shadowing can be helpful techniques.
What are the differences between British and American English pronunciations?
British and American English have differences in pronunciations for certain sounds, such as the "t" and "r" sounds. Additionally, stress patterns and pronunciations of words ending in "-ile" and "-ation" may vary between the two accents.
What is the poem "The Chaos" about?
"The Chaos" is a poem mentioned in the podcast episode that demonstrates the irregularities in English pronunciation. It emphasizes the complexity of English pronunciation and the challenges it presents.
How important is it to have a native accent in English?
Having a native accent in English is not necessary. All accents are amazing, and it is more important to strive for clear and effective communication. However, learning a native accent can offer advantages like being more respected at work and impressing friends.
What are some tips for learning a British accent?
The podcast episode provides several tips for learning a British accent. These include practicing the basic sounds of English, exposing oneself to British TV shows, films, and podcasts, mimicking native speakers, finding a teacher for corrective feedback, and using techniques like shadowing and self-recording.
How can I identify and correct unnatural pronunciations?
To identify and correct unnatural pronunciations, you can record your voice and listen to it, paying attention to any discrepancies from the desired pronunciation. Additionally, watching your mouth in a mirror while speaking can help in reproducing correct sound positions.
Are there different accents within England?
Yes, there are many different accents within England. Each region and even individual cities may have their own distinctive accents and dialects.
Is tongue position important for English pronunciation?
Yes, tongue position plays a crucial role in English pronunciation. It is especially important for sounds like "l" and "r." Correct tongue placement helps in producing accurate and clear pronunciation.
What is the recommended website for practicing pronunciation in different languages?
Forvo.com is a recommended website for practicing pronunciation not only in English but also in various languages and dialects. It provides audio recordings from native speakers, aiding learners in improving their pronunciation skills.
How long does it take to develop a native-like accent in a language?
Developing a native-like accent in a language takes time and a deep understanding of the language. The duration varies depending on factors such as personal aptitude, practice, exposure to native speakers, and the complexity of the accent itself.
Show more Questions
Show more Questions
Featured in these lists
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/the-level-up-english-podcast-44680/1-how-to-get-a-british-accent-2152952"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to #1 how to get a british accent on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy