English Pronunciation for German Speakers

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Die auf dieser Website verwendete Aussprache orientiert sich am britischen Englisch (RP / General British), wie es im internationalen Unterricht und in Prüfungen üblich ist.

Master Pronunciation Checklist

A Student Webpage (With Easy “How to Check” Tests)

 

This page helps you train pronunciation for any major English exam (TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge, PTE, DET, OET, Linguaskill, TOEIC, Trinity GESE, CELPIP, LanguageCert).

You do not need a special accent.
You need clear, consistent, easy-to-understand English.

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1. Pronunciation Model & Consistency

What to aim for

Choose one standard pronunciation model and stay consistent:

• British English (General British / RP)
  or

• American English (General American)

Why it matters

Exams don’t punish your accent. But they do punish unclear or unstable speech.

How to check (2-minute test)

1. Record yourself for 30–60 seconds.

2. Listen only for these words: car, hard, work, last (or similar words you used).

3. Ask: Do my R sound and my main vowels stay the same every time?
   If they change, simplify: pick one model and stick to it.

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2. Clarity & Intelligibility

What to aim for

Your speech should be understandable without effort.

Why it matters

If an examiner (or an AI system) has to “work” to understand, your score drops.

How to check (transcription test)

1. Record 20–30 seconds.

2. Wait 10 minutes.

3. Play it once and write down exactly what you said.
   If you struggle to recognise your own words, your clarity is not stable yet.

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3. Word Stress

What to aim for

Stress the correct syllable so words are recognised instantly.

Examples:

• PREsent (noun) / preSENT (verb)

• PHOtograph / phoTOgrapher / photoGRAPHic

Why it matters

Wrong stress can make a word sound like a different word.

How to check (stress clarity test)

1. Say a long word slowly.

2. Say it again naturally in a sentence.

3. Ask: Is one syllable clearly stronger (louder/longer/higher)?
   If every syllable sounds equal, stress needs training.

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4. Sentence Stress & Rhythm

What to aim for

English rhythm is stress-timed:

• important words are strong

• small grammar words are weaker

Example:

• “I NEED to FINish this TOday.”

Why it matters

Good rhythm makes you easier to follow and more natural.

How to check (tap test)

1. Speak a sentence.

2. Tap the table only on the important words.
   If you want to tap on every word, you’re speaking too syllable-by-syllable.

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5. Intonation

What to aim for

Your voice should move up and down naturally.

Example:

• “You finished the report.” (statement)

• “You finished the report?” (question)

Why it matters

Intonation shows meaning: questions, certainty, contrast, attitude.

How to check (humming test)

1. Take one sentence you said.

2. Hum the melody without words.
   If the hum is flat, or every sentence has the same melody, intonation needs work.

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6. Fluency & Pace

What to aim for

Fluency means smooth, controlled speech — not fast speech.

Why it matters

Rushing often destroys clarity and lowers your score.

How to check (last 15 seconds test)

1. Record a 60-second answer.

2. Listen to only the last 15 seconds.

3. Ask: Is my pronunciation still as clear as at the start?
   If it gets worse at the end, slow down and use clearer pauses.

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7. Technical Readiness (Computer-Based Exams)

What to aim for

For computer-based tests, you must be clear through a microphone.

Why it matters

Even good pronunciation can score lower if audio is unclear or inconsistent.

How to check (two-device test)

1. Record the same 20 seconds on your phone and your laptop.

2. Compare the clarity.
   If one version sounds much worse, adjust microphone distance and volume.

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One Simple Final Check

Ask yourself:

Would a tired stranger understand this without effort?

If yes, your pronunciation is working.

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What to Work on First (Simple Priority Rule)

If you feel overwhelmed, focus in this order:

1. Clarity (vowels + word endings)

2. Word stress

3. Sentence rhythm

4. Intonation

5. Fluency under time pressure

6. Microphone technique (if needed)

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Optional Weekly Practice Plan (Fast and Effective)

• 5 minutes: vowel minimal pairs

• 5 minutes: final consonants

• 5 minutes: word stress + one word family

• 5 minutes: sentence rhythm (tap the stress)

• 5–10 minutes: one recorded exam-style answer