Why do some students make more pronunciation progress than others? Do they just have a special talent for language learning? Natural ability is important, but there are other factors too. One factor is the mother tongue. In general, it takes less time to learn the pronunciation of a language that is similar to one's own. Another key factor is motivation. If students have a strong need to speak English clearly, they will usually make more progress. Closely related to motivation is attitude. Students who identify with a culture are more willing to sound like the speakers from that culture. A fourth factor is practice outside of the classroom. Students who have conversations with English speakers in everyday situations improve their pronunciation more quickly. Based on these points, what can students do to facilitate their own progress?
