How to Learn Spanish Pronunciation
Whether you have been studying Spanish for years or have just begun to learn the language, you may still find that native speakers do not understand you because of your pronunciation. Various letters are pronounced differently in Spanish than they are in English, making words that can be difficult for native Anglophones to pronounce. This can present problems, whether you need the language for school, for work, or for travel. To make your Spanish more understandable, work on your pronunciation of the language.
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Instructions
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Learn the alphabet in Spanish. Various websites, such as Don Quijote, offer interactive language files that demonstrate proper pronunciation of these letters if you do not know a native speaker who can pronounce them for you. Once you have mastered the pronunciation of letters, it will be easier to break each word down into its component parts.
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Master the vowels and Spanish-specific characters. Non-native speakers have particular trouble with Spanish vowels and specific characters, such as the double "r". By listening to audio files of these sounds, practicing them on your own, and applying the knowledge you gain to specific words, you will improve your Spanish pronunciation.
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Speak as much as possible and welcome corrections. You can enroll in Spanish language courses at local community colleges, continuing education programs, and language schools; however, if this is not possible because of your location or class times, you can find native speakers who can talk to you over the phone or on the Internet by posting ads on websites like Craigslist or using tutoring sites that have postings around the world.
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Learn the international phonetic alphabet. This alphabet, which breaks down pronunciation into universal sounds, is useful for understanding dictionaries, which describe words' pronunciations in this format. After you understand the alphabet, you can apply your knowledge to any Spanish-language dictionary you have on hand to learn how to pronounce any words contained in it.
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References
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