10 Common Pronunciation Mistakes Every Student Makes

1. "Th" Sounds (θ/ð): Confusing the voiceless "th" (thin) and voiced "th" (this). Practice distinguishing between them.

2. Vowel Sounds: English has many vowel sounds that don't exist in other languages. Pay attention to minimal pairs like "ship/sheep," "bed/bad," and "hot/hat."

3. Consonant Clusters: Difficulty pronouncing groups of consonants together, such as in words like "strength," "texts," or "months." Practice breaking them down and gradually speeding up.

4. Silent Letters: Mispronouncing silent letters, like the "b" in "debt" or the "k" in "knife." Learn common silent letter patterns.

5. Word Stress: Incorrect stress on syllables can change the meaning of a word or make it difficult to understand. Pay attention to the stressed syllable in each word.

6. Intonation and Rhythm: Not using appropriate intonation (rise and fall of voice) and rhythm can make speech sound flat or unnatural.

7. Linking Sounds: Not linking words together smoothly can make speech sound choppy. Practice linking sounds between words, especially between consonants and vowels.

8. Weak Forms: Not using weak forms of function words like "and," "the," "a," and "of" can make speech sound overly formal or unnatural.

9. Confusing Similar Sounds: Mixing up similar sounds like /p/ and /b/, /t/ and /d/, or /f/ and /v/. Practice minimal pairs to distinguish between them.

10. Not Practicing Regularly: Consistent practice is key to improving pronunciation. Record yourself speaking, listen to native speakers, and get feedback from others.