Choose a goal you can hear
‘Lose my accent’ is difficult to practise. ‘Make this word easier to understand on a call’ gives you something to test. Write down three words you often have to repeat and ask a listener which part is unclear.
If your goal is an RP accent rather than general clarity, say so. Those goals overlap, but they are not identical. A word can be completely understandable without matching RP.
Work from word to sentence
Listen to a model and repeat one word. Put it into a short phrase, then a sentence you use. Slow down just enough to make the movement comfortable; return to normal speed before finishing.
Try it aloud
- Choose a word from a recent conversation.
- Listen to a UK dictionary recording.
- Repeat the word, then a short phrase containing it.
- Record an answer to a real question using that phrase.
- Check whether the feature survives when you speak without reading.
Listen once, repeat the word, then use it in a sentence. Practise the dropped r.
Choose between an app and a teacher
An app gives you a repeatable place to listen and practise on your own. BritSpeech offers British pronunciation lessons and speech feedback on iPhone. It is a subscription app, not live one-to-one tuition.
A teacher can listen to a longer conversation, ask follow-up questions and decide whether the exercise suits you. Consider that route when automated feedback is confusing or you need detailed help for a particular speaking situation.
Judge progress with the same task
Record the same short answer before and after a period of practice. Listen for your chosen change. If you have someone helping you, ask a concrete question such as ‘Which word did you hear?’ rather than ‘Do I sound better?’
There is no fixed number of days that removes an accent. A consistent routine gives you more opportunities to practise; the result depends on the feature, your starting point and the feedback you receive.
Questions about this practice
Is accent modification different from accent reduction?
The terms are often used for similar work. Accent modification makes the goal clearer: you are choosing pronunciation changes, not trying to speak without any accent.
Does BritSpeech offer live accent coaching?
BritSpeech provides app-based lessons and feedback. It does not sell live one-to-one coaching through these guides.
Keep practising
References and listening
Written by BritSpeech. Practice routines are suggestions, not guaranteed learning outcomes. Where included, our audio examples use the app’s generated British voice.