Secret #1: LEARN ABOUT WORD STRESS

 Word Stress is golden key number one for speaking and
 understanding English. Word Stress is *very important*.
 You can try to learn about Word Stress. This is one of
 the *best* ways for you to understand spoken English -
 especially English spoken fast.

 What is Word Stress?

 Take 3 words: photograph, photographer and photographic,
 for example. Do they sound the same when spoken? No!
 They sound different, because *one* syllable in each
 word is "stressed" (stronger than the others).

 PHOtograph

 phoTOgrapher

 photoGRAPHic

 This happens in ALL words with 2 or more syllables:
 TEACHer, JaPAN, CHINa, aBOVE, converSAtion, INteresting,
 imPORtant, deMAND, etCETera, etCETera, etCETera

 The syllables that are not stressed are 'weak' or
 'small' or 'quiet'. Native speakers of English listen
 for the stressed syllables, not the weak syllables. If
 you use Word Stress in your speech, you will instantly
 and automatically improve your pronunciation and
 your comprehension.

 If you have an English teacher, ask her to help you
 understand Word Stress. Try to hear the stress in words
 each time you listen to English - on the radio, or in
 films for example. Your first step is to *hear* and
 recognise it. After that, you can *use* it!

From Josef Essberger, Founder
 EnglishClub