How can I improve my intonation and stress?
Pitch is very important in the English language. It is used to convey ideas, or even to change a statement to a question. Here are some simple things you can try to strengthen your skills in this field.
Listen to songs and film dialogues—and then mimic what you hear on your own.
Yes, this means practicing out loud. Talk to yourself in English, and remember to reflect what you mean through your pitch. Will your friends think you’re crazy? Maybe. But don’t worry, I’ve been talking to myself for 38 years and haven’t been committed yet.
Learn the stress of a new word.
Every English word has its own stress. For example, the word believe has two syllables, but only the second syllable is stressed. We say: beLIEVE. Dictionaries will usually show which syllable in a word is stressed by using an apostrophe before that syllable.
Work out which sounds give you the most trouble, and then practice them.
Sometimes it’s the “b” and “v” sound, other times it’s “p” and “f”. For help with this, try what is commonly known as the “minimal pair exercise”. In other words, practice with words that sound alike, except for the pronunciation of these letters, such as: Pill and fill. Or robe and rove.
If you’re not certain, there’s no harm in asking.
When you don’t understand certain expressions or slang in conversation, whether it be due to intonation or not, don’t be shy about asking. You can say something like: “I didn’t catch that, what does it mean?” People will be happy to explain it to you.
