As a native Russian speaker, the first change you will feel is in your mouth. American English uses a more open, demonstrative shape. Specific English sounds need a different approach than Russian.
Mouth shape and softer English sounds
English is a little less forced from the palate. Syllables are lighter than the harder-edged sounds of Russian. For many Russian ESL students, fluency starts with slower, more deliberate speech so the diction can soften. The key is knowing when and how to ease a sound instead of driving it.
Sounds English has that Russian does not
Some English sounds are simply not used in Russian, and the reverse is also true. You will stop using a few Russian habits and learn new mouth positions for English words and phrases. A recording of your speech makes those spots easier to hear. For a wider view of first-language transfer, see why you have an accent.
Word stress and the up-and-down pitch
Word stress in English is different. Many Russian speakers start with an up-and-down pitch that hides the stressed syllable. Practice one sentence. Mark the word that should land. Say it three times, then say the whole line. Daily work like these pronunciation tips is enough to start.
If you want guided practice built for that first-language pattern, start a free trial at pronunciationpro.com/trial/.
