Change is affected by how much responsibility the student takes, how much the student practices outside of class, and how ready the student is. Definition of Progress Progress in pronunciation happens in stages and does not proceed linearly. Some of the early changes, such as improved listening or increased pronunciation awareness, may not be immediately evident in speech, but they prepare students for future pronunciation changes. Errors are a natural part of the process, and being able to recognize and correct one's own errors is a major advance. Changes in conversational speech are inconsistent and vary with the circumstances.
Speech intelligibility improves gradually.
Teachers should motivate students as they move toward their goals and brainstorm with the students about the progress they have made by highlighting important areas of improvement. As teachers assess their students' pronunciation skills, they need to look at the components of the students' progress rather than limit judgment of pronunciation to an absolute speech standard. Teachers can help students feel a sense of accomplishment and realize that they are on track by acknowledging their tangible steps toward improved everyday speech. Sue Miller, a licensed speech pathologist, coaches pronunciation privately and teaches at the University of California, Los Angeles Extension, in the United States.