1. Decide what “reducing your accent” really means for you
“No accent” is not realistic — and not necessary. A better goal is: people understand me easily, even if they hear where I’m from. This mindset keeps you motivated and protects your identity.
2. Focus on intelligibility, not perfection
Research on accent training shows that listeners care most about a few key features:
- Clear vowels (not mixing up words like “ship” and “sheep”).
- Final consonants (not dropping the last sound in a word).
- Word stress (which syllable is strong) and sentence rhythm.
Use the AI Pronunciation Trainer to measure how these features affect your score.
3. Use AI feedback to find your “biggest wins”
When you practice a batch of sentences, look for patterns:
- Do words with r or th always score lower?
- Are long words with stress near the end (e.g., “understand”) harder?
- Do your scores drop when you speak too fast?
These are your high-impact targets. Improving them will reduce your accent more than changing every tiny detail.
4. Slow down 10–20% and finish your words
Many strong accents become much easier to understand when the speaker:
- Speaks just a little slower — not “teacher slow,” just calmer.
- Finishes the last consonant in each key word.
- Leaves a micro-pause between phrases instead of blending everything.
Try this in the trainer: speak at 80–90% of your usual speed and watch how your scores change.
5. Copy rhythm and stress, not just individual sounds
Accent is rhythm. In your new language:
- Some syllables are strong; others are weak.
- Questions may rise at the end; statements may fall.
- Important words in the sentence get extra energy.
When you listen to the model audio, try humming the sentence first, then add the words on top of that melody.
6. Build a “clarity playlist” of phrases
Use the trainer to find 10–20 phrases that:
- Are common in your real life (work, school, friends).
- Cover your hardest sounds and rhythms.
- Feel powerful when you say them clearly.
Practice that mini playlist every day for a week. These phrases become your “accent business card” — the ones people hear most often.
7. Practice with real listeners
AI can tell you how close you are to a reference recording. Only real people can tell you how it feels to listen to you. After a week of AI practice:
- Use your clarity phrases with a friend, teacher, or conversation partner.
- Ask: “Is this easier to understand than before?”
- Notice where they still ask “What?” — those are your next trainer targets.