Open your mouth while speaking. Thy not to mumble.
Pay special attention to the pronunciation of content words and key terms.
Stress each syllable correctly and accurately.
Smoothly link sounds between words within a phrase and in consonant clusters.
Change pitch between stressed and unstressed syllables.
Speak in sentences or phrases, not word by word.
Speak with appropriate speed, not too quickly.
Practice speaking by writing down every word you say and marking each place where you pause or vary intonation.
Examine this transcript of your speech and look for possible mistakes. Practice these parts again, focusing on correcting the previous mistakes.
Record and listen to your speech. Note any areas for improvement.🎙Â
Stress and intonation are very important in English. The rhythm of sentences spoken in English alerts listeners to the message presented. Words or phrases important to the content of the message tend to be stressed, whereas words or phrases that are not important tend to be reduced.
Certain words within a sentence are given importance because of the meaning they communicate. These words are referred to as content words. Words with little or no meaning outside their grammatical function are usually not stressed within the sentence.
→ Content words: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs
→ Function words: modal auxiliary verbs, “be” verbs, most pronouns, preposition, articles.
Stressed syllables are pronounced longer, pitched higher, and spoken slightly louder.
Listen
🎧 Listen to the sentences and underline the words that are stressed.Â
However, I would definitely like to go to the park on my new scooter.
After this annual seminar is over, please do not forget to sign up for the one next year.
The small child was uncertain as to whether or not he should raise his hand.
I think it is better to keep a calendar in order to remember important dates.
My grandparents significantly influenced my happiness as a child.
Although I would like to take Saturday off, I believe it is more important that I go to the tutoring session.
So far, my experiences with skydiving have been fun and exciting.
The professor must conduct lots of research in order to publish his findings.
🎧 Listen again and repeat the sentences.
🎧Listen to the paragraph. Write only the words you hear most clearly.Â
The normal pattern of sentence stress reduces function words. However, function words can be stressed when the speaker is expressing strong emotion, is disagreeing, or is clarifying mistaken information.
Ex. Don’t you agree that English is easy?
        I do not agree! (Non-contracted forms are often used to show stress)
🎧Listen to the following sentences and indicate whether each underlined word is reduced (R) or stressed (S).Â
However, Roger should know how to wash his own clothes.
Actually, I did guess many of the correct answers on yesterday’s test.
Fifty years ago, my grandparents were married in Hawaii.
I am ready to register for my classes next week.
Despite evidence to the contrary, Georgy is certain that he will get picked for the part.
He is not the one with the cold. I am.
I could participate in the game, but I really don’t want to play.
Should you decide to attend the seminar, you will need to present a report.
🎧Listen again and repeat the sentences.
🎧Listen to the following sentences. Highlight any underlined words that should be stressed. More than one word may be stressed in each sentence.Â
        Example: Even though he did not win the marathon, he did win a trophy for second place.
I know you think I cannot do it, but I really can handle an after-school job.
Last year, it both rained and snowed during the month of June.
Are you absolutely certain that you cannot make the meeting today?
She prefers cleaning her bedroom over cleaning her bathroom.
I have so much homework that I do not know where to start.
It is impossible to trust anything that my best friend says.
Marketing 413 is only for business majors.
The instructor taught the girl to play the piano beautifully.
🎧Listen again and repeat the sentences.