Acquiring good pronunciation is the most difficult part of learning a new language. As you improve your articulation you have to learn to listen and imitate all over again. As with any activity you wish to do well, you have to practice, practice, practice, and then practice some more . Remember that you cannot accomplish good pronunciation overnight; improvement takes time. Some students may find it more difficult than others and will need more time than others to improve (Orion, 1989, pp. xxiii-iv).

音标

Vowels

Consonants

/   k   /

/   t r  /

/   t s  /

/   d r  /

/   d z  /

/     /

Practice the following tongue twisters:

Betty bought some butter, but the butter Betty bought was bitter, so Betty bought some better butter, and the better butter Betty bought was better than the bitter butter Betty bought before!

I wish to wish, I dream to dream, I try to try, and I live to live, and I'd die to die, and I cry to cry but I dont know why.

Elizabeth's birthday is on the third Thursday of this month.

英语连读规则

连读的条件：相邻的两词在意义上必须密切相关，同属一个意群。连读所构成的音节一般都不重读，只需顺其自然地一带而过，不可读得太重，也不可音。(连读符号：~)

(1)“辅音+元音”型连读

在同一个意群里，如果相邻两词中的前一个词是以辅音结尾，后一个词是以元音开头，这就要将辅音与元音拼起来连读。

I’m~an~English boy.

It~is~an~old book.

Let me have~a look~at~it.

Ms Black worked in~an~office last~yesterday.

I called~you half~an~hour~ago.

Put~it~on, please.

Not~at~all.

Please pick~it~up.

(2)“r/re+元音”型连读

如果前一个词是以-r或者-re结尾，后一个词是以元音开头，这时的r或re不但要发/r/，而且还要与后面的元音拼起来连读。

They’re my father~and mother.

I looked for~it here~and there.

There~is a football under~it.

There~are some books on the desk.

Here~is a letter for you.

Here~are four~eggs.

But where~is my cup?

Where~are your brother~and sister?

但是，如果一个音节的前后都有字母r，即使后面的词以元音开头，也不能连读。

The black clouds are coming nearer and nearer.（nearer与and不可连读）

(3)“辅音+半元音”型连读

英语语音中的/j/和/w/是半元音，如果前一个词是以辅音结尾，后一个词是以半元音，特别是/j/开头，此时也要连读。

Thank~you.

Nice to meet~you.

Did~you get there late~again?

Would~you like~a cup~of tea？

Could~you help me, please?

 “音的同化”

—常把/d/+/j/读成/dV/，did you听上成了/dIdVu/，would you成了/wudVu/，could you成了/kudVu/。

(4)“元音+元音”型连读如果前一个词以元音结尾，后一个词以元音开头，这两个音往往也要自然而不间断地连读到一起。

I~am Chinese.

He~is very friendly to me.

She wants to study~English.

How~and why did you come here?