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Are you just starting to learn English and find it difficult to read correctly? Are you struggling with new words, not knowing how to pronounce correctly, or afraid of saying something wrong and making the listener not understand? Reading English correctly requires a combination of listening and pronunciation, which makes many beginners feel confused. Don't worry, ETEST English for Study Abroad will guide you how to read english standard for beginners
Common mistakes beginners make when reading English
Repeat after the speaker
This is one of the most common mistakes made by beginners in reading English. They are often advised to repeat words over and over again to remember them, to get used to them and to master them. However, the problem is that they repeat the way they hear them, but the sounds they produce are not accurate, they just sound similar.
Look at the word – guess how to read it
This mistake is also very common, especially among students. Some people rely on looking at the letters and guessing the pronunciation based on their vocabulary. vocabulary they already know. While this method can sometimes work, it has a high error rate, especially for beginners. This mistake can easily become a habit and can be very difficult to correct later.
The above mistakes are what many people who are new to reading English have made or are making.
- To overcome these mistakes, you need to immediately stop the above two habits. As people often say, it is easier to draw on a blank sheet of paper than on a piece of paper that has been smudged with ink. Be a blank sheet of paper to start writing precise strokes to the millimeter.
- One important thing you need to know is phonetics. For beginners, phonetics may be a foreign concept, but it is the key to helping you read English accurately.
Standard English reading roadmap for beginners
Introducing the standard IPA alphabet
The IPA alphabet includes 24 consonants and 20 vowels, which are the most basic sounds to combine to read a complete word.
English phonetics is understood as Latin characters put together to form words, based on which we can read a word correctly when looking it up in the dictionary.
44 standard IPA sounds
- Consonants: /b/, /d/, /f/, /g/, /h/, /j/, /k/, /l/, /m/, /n/, /ŋ/, /p/, /r/, /s/, /ʃ/, /t/, /tʃ/, /θ/, /ð/, /v/, /w/, /z/, /ʒ/, /dʒ/
- Vowels are divided into 12 single vowels and 8 double vowels:
- Simple vowels: /ʌ/, /ɑ:/, /æ/, /e/, /ə/, /ɜ:/, /ɪ/, /i:/, /ɒ/, /ɔ:/, /ʊ/, /u:/.
- Diphthongs: /aɪ/, /aʊ/, /eɪ/, /oʊ/, /ɔɪ/, /eə/, /ɪə/, /ʊə/.
If you want to learn more about how to read the English phonetic table, you can refer to the article: English phonetic chart
How to read standard UK English transcription
| Sound Set | Describe | Mouth/Lips Shape | Tongue | Length of breath |
| /ɪ/ | The short i sound is similar to the Vietnamese "i" sound but is pronounced very short (= 1/2 the i sound). | Lips slightly open to the sides. | Lowered tongue. | Short |
| /i:/ | Long i sound, prolong the “i” sound, sound produced in the mouth and no air blown out. | Lips open to both sides as if smiling. | The tongue is raised. | Long |
| / ʊ / | The short "u" sound, similar to the Vietnamese "ư" sound, is not read with the lips but with a very short exhalation from the throat. | Slightly rounded lips. | Lowered tongue. | Short |
| /u:/ | Long "u" sound, prolong the "u" sound, sound produced in the mouth, no air blown out. | Round mouth shape. | The tongue is raised high. | Long |
| /e/ | Similar to the Vietnamese "e" sound but pronounced very short. | More extended than when reading the sound /ɪ/. | The tongue is lowered for the /ɪ/ sound. | Long |
| /ə/ | Similar to the Vietnamese "ơ" sound but pronounced very short and light. | Lips slightly open. | Relaxed tongue. | Short |
| /ɜ:/ | The sound "ơ" curls the tongue, say the sound /ɘ/ then curl the tongue up, the sound is produced in the mouth. | Lips slightly open. | Curl up, touching the upper palate at the end of the sound. | Long |
| /ɒ/ | The sound “o” is short, similar to the Vietnamese o sound but pronounced very short. | Slightly rounded lips. | Lowered tongue. | Short |
| /ɔ:/ | The sound "o" curls the tongue, read the sound o like in Vietnamese then curl the tongue up, the sound is produced in the mouth. | Round lips. | Curl up, touching the upper palate at the end of the sound. | Long |
| /æ/ | Flat a sound, a bit of a hybrid between “a” and “e”, feels like the sound is pressed down. | Mouth wide open, lower lip lowered. | The tongue is lowered very low. | Long |
| / ʌ / | Similar to the Vietnamese "ă" sound, a bit of a hybrid between the "ă" and "ơ" sounds, requiring aspiration. | Narrow mouth. | The tongue is slightly raised. | Short |
| /ɑ:/ | The sound "a" is prolonged, the sound is produced in the mouth. | Mouth open wide. | Lowered tongue. | Long |
| /ɪə/ | Read the sound /ɪ/ and then gradually move to the sound /ə/. | Lips gradually become rounder. | The tongue gradually retracts backwards. | Long |
| /ʊə/ | Read the sound /ʊ/ and then gradually move to the sound /ə/. | Lips gradually open, but do not widen. | The tongue gradually pushes forward. | Long |
| /eə/ | Read the sound /e/ and then gradually move to the sound /ə/. | Slightly narrow the lips. | The tongue gradually retracts backwards. | Long |
| /eɪ/ | Read the sound /e/ and then gradually move to the sound /ɪ/. | Lips flatten to the sides. | The tongue gradually points upwards. | Long |
| /ɔɪ/ | Read the sound /ɔ:/ then gradually move to the sound /ɪ/. | Lips flatten to the sides. | The tongue is raised and pushed forward. | Long |
| /aɪ/ | Read the sound /ɑ:/ then gradually move to the sound /ɪ/. | Lips flatten to the sides. | The tongue is raised and pushed slightly forward. | Long |
| /əʊ/ | Read the sound /ə/ and then gradually move to the sound /ʊ/. | Lips from slightly open to slightly rounded. | The tongue gradually recedes backwards. | Long |
| /aʊ/ | Read the sound /ɑ:/ then gradually move to the sound /ʊ/. | Lips gradually round. | The tongue is slightly retracted back. | Long |
Phonetics of 24 consonants in English
| Sound set | Position of articulation | Articulation method | Vocal cord characteristics |
| /p/ | The lips are pressed tightly together, and the air is pushed forward through the mouth. | Immediately after that, the lips opened quickly to let the air out. | When reading, the vocal cords do not vibrate. You can put your finger on your throat to check. Or: When you push the air out, hold a piece of paper in front of your mouth, the paper will vibrate. |
| /b/ | The lips are pressed tightly together, and the air is pushed forward through the mouth. | Open your lips quickly to let the air out. | When reading, the vocal cords vibrate. You can put your finger on your throat to check. Or: When you push the air out, hold a piece of paper in front of your mouth, the paper will not vibrate. |
| /f/ | The upper front teeth touch the lower lip. | Push the air out slowly through the space between your lips and teeth. | When reading, the vocal cords do not vibrate. You can put your finger on your throat to check. Or: When you push the air out, hold a piece of paper in front of your mouth, the paper will vibrate. |
| /v/ | The upper front teeth touch the lower lip. | Push the air out slowly through the space between your lips and teeth. | When reading, the vocal cords vibrate. You can put your finger on your throat to check. Or: When you push the air out, hold a piece of paper in front of your mouth, the paper will not vibrate. |
| /h/ | The tongue does not touch the upper palate of the mouth. | Quickly push out as much air as possible. | When reading, the vocal cords do not vibrate. You can put your finger on your throat to check. Or: When you push the air out, hold a piece of paper in front of your mouth, the paper will vibrate. |
| /j/ | Mouth opens to the sides, tongue forward, like when saying /i:/. | Immediately after that, slowly lower your tongue and chin and say /ə/. The tongue feels vibrating when reading. Be careful not to touch your tongue to the upper palate. | When reading, the vocal cords vibrate. You can place your finger on your throat to feel the vibration. |
| /k/ | The back of the tongue touches the inside of the upper palate, the air stream is pushed forward in the oral cavity. | The tongue drops down quickly to let the air out. | When reading, the vocal cords do not vibrate. You can put your finger on your throat to check. Or: When you push the air out, hold a piece of paper in front of your mouth, the paper will vibrate. |
| /g/ | The back of the tongue touches the inside of the upper palate, the air stream is pushed forward in the oral cavity. | The tongue drops down quickly to let the air out. | When reading, the vocal cords vibrate. You can put your finger on your throat to check. Or: If you hold a piece of paper in front of your mouth as you push the air out, the paper will not vibrate. |
| /l/ | The tip of the tongue is curled and touches the upper palate, just behind the front teeth. | The air flows around the surface of the tongue. | When reading, the vocal cords vibrate. Or place your finger on your throat to feel the vibration. |
| /m/ | Purse your lips to block the flow of air into your mouth. | The air flows out of the nose. | When reading. vocal cords vibrate. Or place your finger on your throat to feel the vibration. |
| /n/ | The tongue touches the upper palate, just behind the front teeth, to block the flow of air into the mouth. | The air flows out of the nose. | When reading, the vocal cords vibrate. Or place your finger on your throat to feel the vibration. |
| /ŋ/ | Mouth open, tongue tip touches upper palate to block air flow into mouth. | The air flows out of the nose. | When you read, your vocal cords vibrate. You can put your finger on your throat to feel the vibration. |
| /r/ | The tip of the tongue is pulled back into the mouth. The two sides of the tongue touch the two sides of the upper teeth. | The air flows through the mouth and the tongue feels vibrating when reading. Note that the tip of the tongue does not touch the upper palate. | When reading, the vocal cords vibrate. You can place your finger on your throat to feel the vibration. |
| /S/ | The tongue touches the inside of the upper front teeth, the tip of the tongue is extended out almost touching the upper palate. | Push the air out slowly through the gap between the tip of the tongue and the upper front teeth. | When reading, the vocal cords do not vibrate. You can put your finger on your throat to check. Or: When you push the air out, hold a piece of paper in front of your mouth, the paper will vibrate. |
| /z/ | The tongue touches the inside of the upper front teeth, the tip of the tongue is extended out almost touching the upper palate. | Push the air out slowly through the gap between the tip of the tongue and the upper front teeth. | When reading, the vocal cords vibrate. You can put your finger on your throat to check. Or: When you push the air out, hold a piece of paper in front of your mouth, the paper will not vibrate. |
| /ʃ/ | The surface of the tongue touches the upper teeth, the tip of the tongue is slightly curved and brought into the mouth a little. | Push the air out slowly through the space between the tip of the tongue and the upper teeth. | When reading, the vocal cords do not vibrate. You can put your finger on your throat to check. Or: When you push the air out, hold a piece of paper in front of your mouth, the paper will vibrate. |
| /ʒ/ | The surface of the tongue touches the upper teeth, the tip of the tongue is slightly curved and brought into the mouth a little. | Push the air out slowly through the space between the tip of the tongue and the upper teeth. | When reading, the vocal cords vibrate. You can put your finger on your throat to check. Or: When you push the air out, hold a piece of paper in front of your mouth, the paper will not vibrate. |
| /t/ | At the start, the tongue touches the inside of the upper teeth, the air stream is pushed forward in the oral cavity. | Immediately after that, the tongue drops down quickly to let the air escape. | When reading, the vocal cords do not vibrate. You can put your finger on your throat to check. Or: When you push the air out, hold a piece of paper in front of your mouth, the paper will vibrate. |
| /d/ | The tongue touches the inside of the upper teeth, the air stream is pushed forward in the mouth. | Lower your tongue quickly to let the air out. | When reading, the vocal cords vibrate. You can put your finger on your throat to check. Or: When you push the air out, hold a piece of paper in front of your mouth, the paper will not vibrate. |
| /tʃ/ | The tip of the tongue touches the upper palate, the air stream is pushed forward in the oral cavity. | Lower your tongue and slowly push the air out. | When reading, the vocal cords do not vibrate. You can put your finger on your throat to check. Or: When you push the air out, hold a piece of paper in front of your mouth, the paper vibrates. |
| /dʒ/ | The tip of the tongue touches the upper palate, the air stream is pushed forward in the oral cavity. | Lower your tongue and slowly push the air out. | When reading, the vocal cords vibrate. You can put your finger on your throat to check. Or: When you push the air out, hold a piece of paper in front of your mouth, the paper will not vibrate. |
| /θ/ | Place the tip of your tongue between your upper and lower front teeth. | Push the air out slowly through the gap between the tip of the tongue and the upper front teeth. | When reading, the vocal cords do not vibrate. You can put your finger on your throat to check. Or: When you push the air out, hold a piece of paper in front of your mouth, the paper will vibrate. |
| /ð/ | Place the tip of your tongue between your upper and lower front teeth. | Push the air out slowly through the gap between the tip of the tongue and the upper front teeth. | When reading, the vocal cords vibrate. You can put your finger on your throat to check. Or: When you push the air out, hold a piece of paper in front of your mouth, the paper will not vibrate. |
| /w/ | Lips open round, slightly outward, like when saying /u:/ | Slowly lower your lower jaw and say /ə/. Your tongue should vibrate as you say it. | When reading, the vocal cords vibrate. You put your finger on your throat to feel the vibration. |
Reading English correctly is not difficult if you know how to avoid common mistakes and apply the right methods. Be persistent, practice regularly and with the support of ETEST English for Study Abroad you will know how to read english standard more every day
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