Creating a personalized pronunciation practice plan

Clear and confident English pronunciation begins with understanding how words sound and how to practice them regularly. In this lesson, we’ll focus on pronouncing the phrase:

“Creating a personalized pronunciation practice plan.”

This sentence may seem long, but it’s a great way to master rhythm, stress, and clarity in English.

English Pronunciation Practice Session. Image by Englishconv

🔍 Step-by-Step Breakdown

Let’s break the sentence into manageable parts and learn how to pronounce each one naturally.

1. Creating /kriˈeɪ.tɪŋ/

• Syllables: 2 — kree-AY-ting

• Tips:

  • Stress the second syllable: AY

  • Avoid saying “cree-ah-ting.” Instead, blend smoothly into the AY sound.

2. A /ə/

• Pronounced as the schwa sound: a very short, relaxed “uh.”

• Think of it like a quick connector: kree-AY-ting uh...

3. Personalized /ˈpɜː.sən.əl.aɪzd/

• Syllables: 4 — PUR-sun-uh-lized

• Stress is on the first syllable: PUR

• Say it slowly first, then faster: PUR-sun-uh-lized

• Avoid over-pronouncing every syllable — keep it smooth.

4. Pronunciation /prəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/

• Syllables: 5 — pruh-NUN-see-AY-shun

• Common mistake: Many say “pro-noun-ciation” — this is incorrect.

• The correct middle syllable is NUN, not “noun.”

• Stress the third syllable: AY

5. Practice /ˈpræk.tɪs/

• Syllables: 2 — PRAK-tis

• Stress the first syllable

• The "c" sounds like /k/, not /s/

6. Plan /plæn/

• One syllable, with a short, flat vowel sound: æ as in “cat.”

• Avoid saying plehn or plawn.

🗣️ Sentence Rhythm and Intonation

Say it slowly with pauses:

Creating | a personalized | pronunciation | practice | plan

Now say it fluently:

Creating a personalized pronunciation practice plan.

🎧 Stress pattern:

CREAting a PERsonalized proNUNciation PRACtice PLAN

Notice how the stressed syllables create a natural rhythm.

✅ Practical Pronunciation Practice

Step 1: Listen & Repeat

Record yourself repeating each part:

Part A:

• “Creating a...”

• “Personalized pronunciation...”

• “Practice plan.”

Part B:

• Now try the whole sentence, slowly.

• Repeat 3 times, gradually speeding up.

Step 2: Shadowing Technique

Find a native speaker (or use TTS with natural speech like Google or YouTube videos). Play the audio and speak at the same time, imitating the rhythm and tone.

Step 3: Record & Compare

Use a voice recording app. Record yourself saying the sentence and compare it with a model pronunciation. Focus on:

• Vowel clarity

• Word stress

• Natural linking

🧠 Memory Tip

Chunk your practice.
Don't try to master the entire sentence at once. Break it into chunks, master them, and then blend everything together.

Example Practice Plan (15 minutes/day):

• Day 1–2: “Creating a personalized”

• Day 3–4: “Pronunciation practice plan”

• Day 5–6: Combine all and record

• Day 7: Review, adjust, and polish

🌟 Final Practice Challenge

Repeat the sentence three times:

“Creating a personalized pronunciation practice plan.”
“Creating a personalized pronunciation practice plan.”
“Creating a personalized pronunciation practice plan.”

Record yourself and listen back. Can you:

• Hear the stressed syllables clearly?

• Keep the rhythm smooth?

• Avoid mispronouncing “pronunciation”?

📌 Summary

Word	IPA	Key Stress
Creating	/kriˈeɪ.tɪŋ/	Second syllable (AY)
Personalized	/ˈpɜː.sən.əl.aɪzd/	First syllable (PUR)
Pronunciation	/prəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/	Third syllable (AY)
Practice	/ˈpræk.tɪs/	First syllable (PRAK)
Plan	/plæn/	One syllable