Learning to speak and communicate clearly in English is essential for international students. Many classes revolve around peer interaction and necessitate being able to communicate with professors or student teachers if you have questions or concerns. Having a firm understanding of English is so important to American Universities and colleges that the Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL for short, was developed to measure English proficiency of non-native students and has become a admission requirement for any international students wishing to enroll in United States universities. If you’re planning on applying to study in the United States, here are four ways you can improve your American English pronunciation before taking the TOEFL exam.
#1 Don’t Be Afraid To Practice
One of the main problems non-native speakers face is finding the confidence to practice speaking in English. Some of the most common reasons were having fear of saying a word incorrectly, or being judged based on the amount of English they know. If you’re not afraid to practice speaking English though, you’ll be able to learn where you need to improve and will help secure English pronunciation into your long term memory.
#2 Think In English
When communicating in English it can be easy to mispronounce words using your native accent rather than learning how to speak English like an American. Studies have shown that it’s easier to learn English pronunciation correctly the first time than trying to relearn correct English pronunciation after making a habit of communicating with your native accent. If you want to learn proper English correctly the first time, start thinking in English. By paying extra attention to how words should sound, rather than how you think they should be pronounced, you’ll be more likely to learn proper English pronunciation and will save yourself time of relearning words down the road.
#3 Use The Media
Watching English news, television shows and movies are beneficial to helping non-native students pick up on word association and proper English pronunciation. The more you hear, the more exposure you get to new words and the more familiar you become to the pronunciation and intonation of different words. Choosing American English movies, preferably with subtitles can help you pick up on how to use words in a sentence, and where to place stress on specific words.
#4 Use Online Pronunciation Help
One of the best and most efficient ways to learn a new language is with the help of a teacher. Online Speech Pathologists are available to work with non-native English students in a one-on-one basis to find areas of improvement, and help ensure that you can speak English like an American. Working with an ASHA certified Speech Pathologist could ensure that you get the specific attention and help that you need, in a time that’s easy and convenient for you. For students that work better with motivation, working with an online speech pathologist can help significantly improve your American English pronunciation in as little as 12 weeks and can help keep you on schedule to be prepared for the TOEFL exam before your test date.
In practicing on your own and with a Speech Pathologist, you can feel confident in your ability to learn a new language and stay motivated to keep up with your goals to study internationally.
