Improving your pronunciation is a large task that can't possibly be tackled in a day. If you are really serious about improving, it will take some practice over time. Here are three fun ways you can improve your pronunciation and become a better speaker.

1. Watch TV

Yes, I'm really telling you to become a couch potato! The first step to improving your pronunciation is training your ear to hear the difference between different sounds. If you can't hear the difference between the vowel sound in man and the vowel sound in men, you will have a very tough time producing these sounds on your own.

It would be best to watch quality television like the news on BBC or CNN (depending on the accent you prefer) instead of sitcoms and movies, for example. Although not always perfect, this is about the closest you'll get to the most accepted standard pronunciation in British or American English.

As you watch TV, be sure that you pay very close attention to how the words are pronounced. If you watch both stations, see if you can pick up on some of the pronunciation differences between British and American English.

2. Get tongue-tied

Tongue twisters are a challenging and fun way to practice pronunciation and increase the clarity of your speech. It may just seem like play, but many stage actors, speakers and voice-over artists will attest to the power of warming up their lips, tongue and jaw by practicing these tricky twisters!

Here are just a few examples. Practice the tongue twisters that include sounds that are hard for you to pronounce. Start slowly, and then try to gradually speed up and add repetitions.

i & ee:

-I slit the sheet, the sheet I slit, and on the slitted sheet I sit.

s & sh:

-Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore.

-Shy Shelly says she shall sew sheets.

l & r:

-Red lorry, yellow lorry, red lorry, yellow lorry.

-There are four pilots on the flight deck.

-River Valley Road

-A flea and a fly flew up in a flue. Said the flea, "Let us fly!" Said the fly, "Let us flee!" So they flew through a flaw in the flue.

th, d & t:

-Lesser leather never weathered, wetter weather better.

-Thank the other three brothers on their father's mother's brother's side.

-Tim, the thin twin tinsmith.

3. Practice minimal pairs

Minimal pairs are words that are identical except for the one problem sound you are focused on practicing. For example, if you have trouble with the sounds /r/ and /l/ you might practice reading a list of words like read/lead, road/load, fry/fly, fright/flight, crutch/clutch and so on. Slowly say these words out loud and really focus on the sounds and the way you use your voice. Here are some helpful hints to practicing minimal pairs:

- Say the words in a mirror. Exaggerate your facial expressions. Watch your tongue, lips and jaw, and note the differences when you make the sounds. Don't worry if you look a little strange at first! As your mouth learns how to make the sounds correctly, you won't have to make such weird faces to produce the correct sound.

- Record yourself saying the pairs. Listen to the recording and see if you can hear a difference between how you pronounce the words.

- Choose one word from each pair and say them out loud to a friend. Have your friend write down the words he/she hears. See if your friend heard the words you were trying to say. (You can also do this on your own by noting the words you choose as you record yourself saying them. Listen to the recording a few days later and write down the words you hear. Compare your list to the list of words you recorded.)

Taking time to practice your pronunciation is vital if you are to reach your goal of improving the clarity of your speech. Be patient with yourself! This process takes time, but the pay-offs will definitely be worth it.

Heather Hansen, founder of Singapore-based Hansen Speech & Language Training, is an executive speech and language coach, writer and trainer. If you want to boost your linguistic abilities and become a powerful speaker, visit her website http://www.hansenslt.com now for free information on how to speak clearly, correctly and confidently! Join her mailing list to receive your free special report, Speak Clearly! and as a special bonus you'll also receive her monthly newsletter, Speak like a Star!