Choose a model and save a baseline
British English covers many accents. Pick one clear speaker or a consistent set of UK dictionary recordings. For the sound exercises on this site, BritSpeech uses Received Pronunciation as its reference. You do not need to imitate every detail of a speaker’s voice.
On the first day, record a thirty-second introduction before practising. Say what you do, where you live and something you enjoy. Save the file with a date. Use the same room and microphone when you repeat the task later so that background noise does not dominate the comparison.
Days 1–2: introduce yourself and make a request
Start with an introduction you could use outside a classroom. Choose one word that feels awkward, check its pronunciation, and say the introduction again. On day two, ask for something in a café, shop or meeting. Change an item so that you are speaking rather than reciting one fixed line.
Try it aloud
- Day 1: I’m … I work in … At the weekend, I like …
- Choose one word from your introduction and check its main stress.
- Day 2: Could I have some water, please?
- Replace water with an item you actually order. Record both requests.
Listen once, repeat the word, then use it in a sentence. Practise the crisp t.
Days 3–4: give directions and explain a plan
Build a short route using familiar places. You can practise an RP R contrast with ‘car park’ and ‘car entrance’, then explain a real route without reading. Accuracy in one phrase is useful, but check whether it survives when you think about meaning.
For day four, explain tomorrow’s plan. Ask a friend to interrupt with ‘When?’ or ‘Who with?’ Answer the question naturally. If you are practising alone, write three questions first and turn them over one at a time.
Try it aloud
- Day 3: The car park is near the station. The entrance is on the left.
- Now explain the route from your home to a familiar place.
- Day 4: Tomorrow, I’m going to …
- Answer: When? Who with? Why? Keep each answer short.
Listen once, repeat the word, then use it in a sentence. Practise the dropped r.
Days 5–7: correct, retell and compare
On day five, make a correction using emphasis: ‘I said Friday, not Thursday.’ On day six, retell something that happened today in three sentences. Choose one sound or word-stress pattern to notice, leaving the rest of your attention on the story.
On day seven, repeat your original introduction without listening to the first take. Compare the recordings afterwards. Write one observation you can actually hear, such as a more consistent stress pattern, and one task for next week. ‘I sound better’ is less useful than naming the feature.
Try it aloud
- Day 5: Correct a date, a name or a colour in a short answer.
- Day 6: Tell a three-sentence story without reading.
- Day 7: Repeat your introduction and compare it with day one.
- Choose the task that was hardest to use naturally and repeat it next week.
Questions about this practice
Can I do these exercises without a speaking partner?
Yes. Use a voice recorder and questions written on separate cards. A partner can add a valuable check of what a listener actually understands.
How long should each session be?
Try five to ten minutes as a manageable starting routine. Adjust it to your attention and schedule; more repetitions are not useful if you have stopped listening.
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.