One of the best things about a podcast is that you can listen to exactly how a native speaker pronounces a word or phrase.

You can listen to their version, but can you pronounce it in exactly the same way?

Here’s how you can do it.

Instructions

1. Listen to a podcast (with a transcript). You don’t have to listen to the entire episode, you can choose a 2-3 minute section.
2. Listen out in particular for connected speech and linking words (see Linking words)
3. If there are words/expressions that you think will be difficult for you to pronounce, press pause and go back and listen to them again.
4. Practise repeating the individual words/phrases.
5. Now it’s your turn. Take the transcript, press record and start speaking.
6. When you’ve finished, press stop and listen back to your recording.

Note: it’s perfectly normal to dislike the sound of your own voice. Everyone does. Don’t worry, you sound great ✌️!

BONUS: You can even upload your version to an automation transcription service (as described in The Robot Dictator) and see where you made mistakes.

Related activities: It’s Time To Shadow, The Robot Dictator