Pronunciation is essential for speaking English well and improving in the PTE exam, especially the PTE speaking sections. Little did you know: mastering this skill is also a way to proceed in listening, as you can’t figure out what they are saying with the wrong pronunciation.
How to improve pronunciation in PTE and boost your score? Dig in to explore easy techniques and strategies to help you make sounds correctly and use the right tone and stress in words.
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Why Is Pronunciation Important In PTE?
Fluency impact
Accurate pronunciation directly influences your fluency in English. Clear enunciation enables smoother communication and helps you express your thoughts effectively during speaking tasks.
Intonation and rhythm
Proper use of intonation and rhythm in English contributes to natural-sounding speech. Deviating too much from standard English intonation patterns may lead to difficulty understanding and be marked as an error.
Task-specific skills
Many question types in the PTE, such as Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, and Re-tell Lecture, specifically assess pronunciation skills. Mispronunciations can affect your scores in these tasks.
Comprehensibility
While you don’t need native-like pronunciation, you must be understood by regular English speakers. Clear pronunciation ensures your responses are understandable to the PTE examiners, leading to better evaluation.
Sentence stress and meaning
Correctly using sentence stress is vital for conveying meaning in spoken English. Proper emphasis on certain words can significantly impact the message you convey.
10 Tips To Improve Your PTE Pronunciation Skills
Watch TV And Use It Effectively
Watching TV can expose you to various accents and speech patterns. It helps you familiarize yourself with different pronunciations. You can choose shows or channels that match your interests.
Listen closely to the pronunciation of specific words. It’s best to use this chance to listen to how native speakers stress certain words and phrases and try to mimic their intonation.
Immerse yourself in English language content as much as possible. This exposure will help you improve your listening skills and adapt to different accents and speaking styles.
Integrate And Interact
Expand your social circle by actively engaging with English speakers in your local environment. Join language clubs, community events, meetup groups with English-speaking participants, you name it.
Participating in conversations and practising your English communication skills will help you become more comfortable with spoken English, gain confidence, and adapt to different speaking styles and accents.
Slow Down On The Phone
Speaking slowly on the phone allows you to focus on the movement of sounds and improve pronunciation. Practice articulating words clearly and at a slower pace.
You can work with a speech pathologist to learn how to modify your speech rate for maximum clarity and effectiveness.
If you are rushing or stumbling over words, take a breath and slow down to ensure your speech is clear.
Utilize Local Library
A local library provides access to various study materials, including audiobooks read by native English speakers.
Listen to the recordings and try to replicate the speaker’s pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. It’s best to pause and repeat back sentences to improve your speech flow and pronunciation.
For example, if you can access English-language audiobooks, choose genres that interest you, such as mystery, romance, or self-help. Listen to the narrators and notice how they speak and express emotions in their readings.
Tongue Twisters Practice
Tongue twisters are phrases that are hard to roll off the tongue and challenge your pronunciation skills. Practice them regularly to improve your ability to articulate sounds accurately. Start by saying them slowly and focus on pronouncing each syllable clearly.
For example, you can try saying the tongue twister, “She sells seashells by the seashore,” repeatedly. Gradually increase your speed while maintaining clarity.
Work On Pace
Maintaining a steady pace while speaking is essential for oral fluency. Avoid talking too fast or slow, as both can affect how well your words are understood. Listen to native speakers in conversation and notice their speaking pace.
For instance, practice reading passages or news articles aloud steadily. Record yourself and listen back to identify areas where you need to adjust your speed for better pronunciation and fluency.
Reduce Fillers
Fillers like “um,” “uh,” and “you know” can disrupt the flow of your speech and reduce your score in the PTE exam. Be conscious of using fillers and try to minimize them.
A case in point: instead of saying, “Um, I think the answer is, uh, option B,” practice saying, “I believe the answer is option B.” It can help to convey your response more confidently and fluently.
Take PTE Mock Tests
Regularly practice with PTE mock tests to become familiar with the exam format and timing. Mock tests allow you to identify areas of improvement and adjust your strategies accordingly.
Timing yourself while practicing speaking tasks will ensure you stay within the allotted time limits during the exam. Then, review your responses and identify any pronunciation or fluency issues that need improvement.
Raise Your Pitch
Raising your pitch when speaking contrasting words can help emphasize and clarify your speech. It can improve your overall communication and pronunciation skills.
You can convey your message more engagingly. Besides, listeners can understand the relationship between your words or ideas.
More specifically, you can raise your pitch on the first word and then lower it on the second word to highlight their differences. For example:
“He is TALL, but she is SHORT.”
“The weather is HOT, not COLD.”
Practice Thinking In English
Developing the habit of thinking in English is essential for improving pronunciation and fluency. Rather than translating thoughts from your native language to English, try to think directly in English.
Minimize translating new words and use English in practical situations instead. Thinking in English will save time during the PTE exam and improve language skills since you spit out the words more quickly and naturally.
Conclusion
Learning how to improve pronunciation in PTE will help you do well in the exam. To achieve this, surround yourself with English materials, engage with English-speaking people, and think in this language as much as possible. Besides, practicing tongue twisters and speaking slowly at first can also help.
It’s best to pronounce words accurately and emphasize differences in contrasting words. They will enhance your communication during the exam. With consistent practice and effort, you can boost your PTE pronunciation skills and succeed in the test.
