Several websites record you saying a word or sentence. They they analyze it and give feedback in a score, and often a graph.. You must be on a computer to get this: in a software program, on the web, or in an app on a smart phone. The approach allows you to practice repeatedly and improve your accent. The programs work by comparing your recording to the model recording in the program, after adjusting for any basic difference in pitch. The programs vary widely in what they offer.
- Byki gives you an overall score on each word or phrase, and very helpful graphs to show if you fall short on vowels, consonants, pitch, etc. Learn to Speak also sounds good from reviews. Each of these only costs $20-$40 for permanent ownership of courses and scoring in up to 76 languages.
- Pronunciator is $50 per month, has good scoring, and is easier to use than Byki, though their graphs are not as detailed as Byki's. They do offer free samples of their pronunciation scoring, which Byki does not.
- Two more are expensive and hard to use, according to reviews: Tellmemore and Rosettastone. Tellmemore scores pronunciation generously. I got undeservedly high scores in Spanish. A graph shows volume and an extra line for pitch to help you learn intonation. This would be especially good for Mandarin, which is one of the languages they teach. Reviewers say that in sentences, you must speak each word separately to get a good score.
- Babbel gives you too little feedback about pronunciation and then moves on to reading and writing. It scores good pronunciation on a scale 50-100, but gives you no score or feedback on poor pronunciation and goes on to the next screen before you get the pronunciation right. They let you say each word just once each time through a lesson.
- Two others are free, but only teach intermediate English: EnglishCentral and GoEnglishMe.
- Berlitzonline is expensive, and no samples or reviews are available.
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