Incorrectly pronounced sounds strain communication, sometimes even changing a phrase's meaning. Songs can help to remedy students' problems with this.

Intonation is crucial for communication but many teachers don't feel confident about tackling it in the classroom.

Photo: Watching their Ps and Qs: Intermediate ESOL students at City and Islington College

The two most frequent reasons learners give for wanting to improve their pronunciation are to be taken seriously at work and to be better understood.  These learners are well-educated in their own countries but feel their English accents alone are holding them back.  In this article, Shweta Otiv looks at some activities to help learners improve their pronunciation.