How to Learn English Through Intonation & Stress

Reading will improve your grasp of English.

English may be the world's most recognized language, but people often find it difficult to learn. As the British Empire was dominant, English books came to predominate literature. Philip Seymour and his team at Dundee University carried out a study that found German and English were the most difficult European languages for children to learn and that English children took two and a half years to master basic literacy, compared to one year for children in other countries. However, you can take steps to make it easier.

Instructions

1. Read as many English books, magazines and newspapers as you can. Write down words that confuse you. There are many words such as "wood" and "would" that sound the same, but have different meanings. The stress on different words in a sentence can convey a subtly different meeting. Say the sentence; "I must finish that assignment." By putting the emphasis on each of the words in turn, you change the meaning.

2. Watch Hollywood and British films. This helps you to become familiar with different intonation, such as questioning, anger or excitement. Listen to the BBC World Service. The spoken word with no visual distractions can be very helpful. Attend English conversation classes, if possible. Practice your English language on anyone who will listen and give you feedback.

3. Listen to music. English lyrics are prevalent in the world of music. This is a useful way to familiarize yourself with words and the meanings of language. Borrow or buy English language audio books. Try to alternate reading a chapter of a book with listening to it on tape. This will help you to combine the spoken word with how it looks on the page.

References

• New Scientist Life: English is Toughest European Language to Read
• How to Learn English: Understanding Intonation and Stress in Speech