People who travel to other countries know how easy it is to make a little mistake in pronunciation that leads to a large communication problem. Whether they’re trying to remember their two years of Spanish classes or to pronounce the English word they don’t know like it’s spelled, travelers in any language can find that they’re getting into trouble when asking what they think are easy questions. If you’ve ever found yourself in hot water because you’ve asked for a banjo instead of a bain chaud, you’ll enjoy this BBC video of people describing some of the funny mistakes they’ve made in other languages.

Pronunciation is important in any language, and English is no exception. In order to improve your English skills, make sure that you’re practicing saying vocabulary words out loud, clearly and distinctly. Without making sure that vowel sounds are correctly pronounced, the words wonder and wander can get mixed up in the hearer’s mind. If you use an online dictionary, or software like Ultimate Vocabulary, you’ll have access to audio files that give you examples of how words are pronounced by native speakers. Listen closely and try to duplicate the sounds that you hear.

Many people tend to slur their words, which can cause problems for the listener. For example, someone speaking quickly might say the words ensure and onshore in a similar manner. When you’re working on your pronunciation, be sure to practice saying the words in context, keeping each word clear and separate as you speak. A good way to learn the rhythms of a spoken language is to listen to professional readers, such as those who record audiobooks. Listen to nonfiction audiobooks and you’ll get new information on a range of topics, and develop your English pronunciation skills at the same time.