Accent or Pronunciation – Which One Does Matter?

Let us first understand the difference between accent and pronunciation! 

The capacity to pronounce a word correctly with the appropriate sound is known as pronunciation. Your score on the IELTS speaking test is based on how well you pronounce the term. An accent, on the other hand, is a unique manner of speaking a language, particularly one connected to a specific country, region, or social class.

Enhancing your pronunciation abilities is more important than trying to fascinate the examiner with an accent. This will help you get a decent band score in the IELTS speaking test.

4 indicators are used to measure your performance in the IELTS Speaking test

• Fluency: The ease with which you can express your ideas and thoughts.
• Grammatical Accuracy: The degree of grammatical correctness in your responses.
• Lexical Resources: How well you select words to convey your ideas through language.
• Pronunciation: The way the words are pronounced.

Pronunciation is an integral part of the marking criterion. It accounts for 25 percent of your test score, and candidates frequently mix up pronunciation and accent.

Techniques that can improve your pronunciation:

• In English, words are pronounced differently. Americans pronounce phrases differently than British people. American pronunciation of car is ‘ka: r,’ while British pronunciation is ‘ka.’ Thus, do not be confused by multiple pronunciations. 
• Watch country-specific movies or TV shows to improve your pronunciation by focusing on how the actors say the words. Imitate the pronunciation, not the accent.
• Practice basic English sounds daily. Make some noises. Divide words into syllables for easy pronunciation. After practicing syllables, try saying the whole word and utilizing it in a phrase. This will easily improve your pronunciation.
• Be mindful of how words are pronounced when conversing with other people. You may learn pronunciation quickly with it. Also, watch for mispronunciation. It will improve your pronunciation.
• Test takers fear making mistakes, therefore pronunciation issues continue. They avoid certain words whenever possible. Success requires practice. Do not worry about your pronunciation; practice till you get it perfect.
• Recognizing your mistakes and areas for improvement is vital. Record your replies, listen closely to your pronunciation, compare it to a professional English speaker, and actively work on improving it.
• To improve your pronunciation, you must get feedback from an expert. Other individuals will be able to notice errors that you are unaware of. Talk to professionals or show them your tape to help you detect and correct pronunciation errors.
• Speak clearly and naturally with significant words. Try not to focus on accent. Your pronunciation affects how you say words and sounds. To avoid confusing the examiner with similar-sounding words, tell them correctly.

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