|
1. The key rule has to be "Speak clearly!" Failure to do this guarantees a low score for pronunciation. Some candidates mumble. If the examiner cannot understand what you are saying, he/she must also give you a low score for all four criteria, since there is no evidence of your ability. Chinese students should focus on vowel sounds in particular.
2. As you learn new words, make sure that you can pronounce them correctly. Many websites have sound to help with this. Many English books come with CDs or tapes.
3. Speaking a little slowly often helps improve pronunciation, because candidates focus more on saying words accurately than on saying lots of words as quickly as possible.
4. Speaking a little slowly can also help with stress. Say the important words in your sentences a little louder and a little slower than the others.
5. Don't forget about intonation. Don't speak in a boring, "flat" tone. If you do, it becomes hard for the listener (the examiner) to focus on your speech, with the result that you are more likely to get a lower score. Intonation makes your speech more interesting, with the result that you are more likely to get a higher score.
|
