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Better English Pronunciation: Advanced English Pronunciation Material

In the previous article, Prep provided a detailed review of "Mastering the American Accent," a specialized book on American English pronunciation. In today's article, PREP continues to introduce a book that helps improve English speaking skills, titled "Better English Pronunciation." Keep reading the following content to learn more about the structure, strengths, weaknesses, and how to use this book!

Better English Pronunciation: Advanced English Pronunciation Material
Better English Pronunciation: Advanced English Pronunciation Material

I. General Information about Better English Pronunciation

First, let's explore some general information about the Better English Pronunciation book!

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General Information about Better English Pronunciation

1. Brief Introduction to Better English Pronunciation

Better English Pronunciation is a resource that helps improve English pronunciation, written by J. D. O'Connor, the former Head of the British Council's English Language Institute from 1965 to 1975. The book has become an important reference material in teaching English pronunciation and is highly regarded by both teachers and students.

Better English Pronunciation PDF emphasizes teaching learners to pronounce English accurately, correctly, and fluently. It focuses not only on specific sounds but also explains the underlying principles of sound formation in English and common pronunciation errors. The Better English Pronunciation PDF provides numerous examples and practice exercises to help readers understand how to pronounce words and use them in context.

The content of Better English Pronunciation Cambridge PDF is divided into different sections, starting from pronouncing individual sounds, then progressing to sound groups and basic pronunciation rules.

2. Targeted learners of Better English Pronunciation

The Better English Pronunciation is suitable for various users, including:

  • English language students: Better English Pronunciation PDF is a useful resource for students who want to enhance their speaking skills. It helps them improve their pronunciation and gain confidence in communication within educational and social settings.
  • English teachers: Better English Pronunciation PDF helps teachers gain a better understanding of common pronunciation issues faced by students and provides exercises and activities for effective teaching of speaking skills.
  • Intermediate to advanced English learners: Better English Pronunciation PDF is suitable for English learners at all levels, from beginners to intermediate and advanced learners.
  • Language education professionals: For those working in the field of language education, Better English Pronunciation can offer new ideas and teaching methods for English pronunciation.

II. Structure and Content of Better English Pronunciation

Better English Pronunciation is divided into 7 main sections, excluding additional appendices. Below, PREP will help you understand the details of the contents in the book!

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Structure and Content of Better English Pronunciation

Chapter

Lesson content

Acknowledgements

  • Introduction section that introduces the book and the collaborative contributors.
  • Predictions of the content in the Better English Pronunciation 2nd Edition.

Foreword to the second edition

Main content

Chapter 1: Problems in pronunciation

Chapter 1 discusses pronunciation issues and common errors encountered in the process of practicing English speaking.

Chapter 2: How the speech organs work in English

Chapter 2 analyzes how the speech organs in the mouth work when speaking English. Mouth articulation plays an important role in accurate pronunciation, so pay attention to this chapter!

Chapter 3: The consonants of English

Chapter 3 focuses on how to pronounce and identify consonants.

Chapter 4: Consonant sequences

Chapter 4 provides information about consonant clusters in English, helping you grasp common consonant combinations in English.

Chapter 5: The vowels of English

Chapter 5 provides information about English vowels, and how to recognize and pronounce them accurately.

Chapter 6: Words in company

Chapter 6 focuses on providing knowledge about stress and how to place stress on words.

Chapter 7: Intonation

Chapter 7 provides knowledge about intonation in English, how to rise and fall within a sentence, as well as how to use intonation appropriately.

Conversational passages for practice

This section provides passages for you to practice fluent reading and apply the knowledge learned in the chapters.

Answer to exercises

This section includes the answers to the practice exercises in the chapters.

Appendix 1, 2

  • The final appendices include special characters and sounds mentioned in the book.
  • List of exceptional words.

Glossary

III. Advantages and Disadvantages of Better English Pronunciation

To provide you with a more objective view of this book, PREP will present the advantages and disadvantages of Better English Pronunciation. Take a look!

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Better English Pronunciation

1. Advantages

Advantages of Better English Pronunciation:

  • Solid theoretical foundation: Better English Pronunciation PDF provides a solid theoretical foundation on how sounds are formed in English, helping readers understand the principles of pronunciation and why it is important to pronounce accurately.
  • Diverse exercises: Better English Pronunciation PDF offers numerous practice exercises and examples that help learners grasp how to pronounce words and the contexts in which they are used.
  • Easy accessibility: The author's clear and engaging writing style allows readers to access information naturally and easily.
  • Suitable for intermediate to advanced learners: Better English Pronunciation PDF is a useful resource for learners at all levels, from beginners to those who want to enhance their pronunciation skills further.

2. Disadvantages

Disadvantages of Better English Pronunciation:

  • Lack of audio support: Learners may feel a lack of audio support when studying pronunciation, especially when they need to hear sample sounds to become familiar with correct pronunciation.
  • Bias towards British English pronunciation: As the author is British, the book tends to focus on British English pronunciation, which may not fully reflect the pronunciation differences in American English or other English-speaking countries.
  • Possibly slightly outdated: Better English Pronunciation was written and published some time ago, so some information may no longer be relevant to modern language or new trends in pronunciation teaching.
  • Lack of contextual analysis: Some readers feel that the book may lack deeper contextual analysis in using pronunciation for real-life communication situations.

However, the advantages of Better English Pronunciation still make it stand out as a useful resource for improving English pronunciation and helping learners become more fluent and confident in language usage.

IV. Effective Ways to Study Better English Pronunciation

Better English Pronunciation primarily helps you improve and enhance your pronunciation skills. However, how can you effectively study this book? Let's find out below with PREP!

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Effective Ways to Study Better English Pronunciation

1. Master the pronunciation symbols and characters of vowels and consonants

In English, the pronunciation symbols and characters of sounds are slightly different from Latin letters. Therefore, you need to make an effort to recognize these symbols to grasp the lessons more quickly. 

In addition to vowel and consonant characters, you need to determine the intonation marks to practice rising and falling intonation in appropriate positions.

2. Allocate regular time for pronunciation practice every day

To develop your speaking skills, you must schedule regular daily pronunciation practice. Maintaining speaking practice can help you establish a habit and improve your pronunciation abilities. Below is a suggested weekly study schedule for Better English Pronunciation:

Day

Lesson content

Monday

Read about common pronunciation issues

Tuesday

Learn about the mouth parts most commonly used in English

Wednesday

Learn about the first two consonant groups in the book:

  • Fiction consonants
  • Stop consonants

Read aloud words and example sentences containing those sounds.

Thursday

Review the two sounds from Wednesday's lesson and continue with the next two consonant groups:

  • Nasal consonants
  • Lateral consonants

Read aloud words and example sentences containing those sounds.

Friday

Review the sounds from Wednesday and Thursday and continue with the next consonant group:

  • Gliding consonants.
  • Read aloud words and example sentences containing those sounds.
  • Complete exercises for all the sounds learned.

Saturday

  • Practice listening to supplement your speaking practice.
  • Watch English-language movies or shows:
    • Toy story
    • Dexter’s Laboratory
    • Adventure time
    • Teen Titans/ Young Justice
    • Martha Speaks
    • Regular Show
    • The Simpsons

Sunday

This is just the suggested schedule from PREP. You can customize your own schedule based on your daily routine!

3. Combine with other learning resources

Although Better English Pronunciation is a comprehensive and detailed book on English pronunciation, it's beneficial to combine it with other learning resources to diversify your knowledge, vocabulary, and supplement any information that may not be covered or updated in the book. Here is a list of suggested speaking skill learning materials:

For the Speaking skill, it is crucial to have a study partner to practice with, receive feedback, and improve together. If you haven't found a suitable partner, you can visit PREP's Virtual Speaking Room (VSR). 

In VSR, you can receive guidance on speaking practice, pronunciation, and using appropriate vocabulary. Instead of spending time looking for a practice partner, simply click on the provided link to experience the excellent services offered by VSR.

PRACTICE SPEAKING WITH VSR FROM PREP!

V. Where to purchase Better English Pronunciation?

To help you save time, PREP has compiled a list of reputable online bookstores where you can purchase the PDF version of Better English Pronunciation. The list also includes links to download the free PDF and audio versions of the book. Please refer to the information below.

Purchase link

Fahasa

Download link

Download Better English Pronunciation PDF & Audio

Hopefully, this review of Better English Pronunciation has helped you understand the structure and content of the book. If you would like PREP to review any other materials, please don't hesitate to leave a comment. PREP will respond as soon as possible!

Master Tu Pham
Master Tu Pham
Founder/CEO at Prep
Founder of Prep Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of experience in teaching and test preparation, Mr. Tú has helped thousands of students achieve high scores in the IELTS exam. In addition, Mr. Tú Phạm is also a consulting expert in British Council programs and a speaker at many leading educational events, programs, and conferences.
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