Listen and Repeat Mastery
Perfect your pronunciation with the new sentence repetition task
How Listen and Repeat Works
This is a pure pronunciation task. You hear a sentence once, then immediately repeat it. No preparation time, no thinking about content—just listen and speak.
1. Listen
Audio plays once (3-8 seconds)
2. Recording Starts
Immediately after audio ends
3. Repeat
Match the pace and flow
What's Tested
- Pronunciation accuracy (40%)
- Fluency and smoothness (30%)
- Intonation and rhythm (30%)
What's NOT Tested
- Content creation or ideas
- Memorization ability
- Grammar knowledge
The 7-Sentence Progression
Sentences get progressively longer and more complex. Here's what to expect at each level:
Basic SVO sentences with common vocabulary.
"The library closes at ten tonight."
"She enjoys reading mystery novels."
Focus: Clear consonants and vowels. Warm-up sentences—get comfortable.
Sentences with clauses, academic vocabulary.
"Although the assignment was challenging, most students completed it successfully."
"The professor emphasized the significance of empirical research in scientific studies."
Focus: Connected speech, linking words smoothly, natural pausing at clause boundaries.
Embedded clauses, relative pronouns, sophisticated structures.
"Students who participate actively in class discussions often demonstrate a deeper understanding of the course material than those who don't."
Focus: Maintaining flow through long sentences, stress on content words, reducing function words.
Complex academic language, sophisticated vocabulary.
"The implications of this research extend far beyond the initial hypothesis, suggesting potential applications in fields that were previously considered unrelated."
Focus: Pronouncing multi-syllable academic words, maintaining natural rhythm despite length.
Pronunciation Fundamentals
Focus on these core areas to improve your Listen and Repeat score. You don't need perfect pronunciation— you need intelligible, natural speech.
Sounds That Trip Most Students
TH Sounds
think, through (voiceless)
the, this, that (voiced)
Don't say /s/, /z/, /t/, or /d/
R vs L
right, research
light, literature
Keep distinct—especially word-initial
V vs W
very, visit (teeth on lip)
well, with (rounded lips)
Different mouth positions
Connected Speech (Most Important!)
Natural English speakers don't say each word separately. They link, reduce, and blend sounds together.
Linking
Consonant → Vowel connection
- "turn it on" → "turniton"
- "look at" → "lookat"
- "an idea" → "anidea"
Reduction
Function words become weak
- "to" → /tə/ (not "too")
- "and" → /ən/ or /n/
- "of" → /əv/ (not "ov")
Word-by-word (robotic):
"The • students • completed • their • assignment."
Connected speech (natural):
"The-students-completed-their-assignment." (flows as one phrase)
Stress: stuDENTS, comPLEted, asSIGNment. Function words (the, their) are reduced.
Stress and Rhythm
Word Stress
Academic words have specific stress patterns:
- emPIRical (not EMpirical)
- signiFIcance (not SIGnificance)
- hypOTHesis (not HYpothesis)
Sentence Rhythm
Content words are stressed, function words are not:
- STRESS: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs
- REDUCE: the, a, of, to, and, is, are
Your 4-Step Strategy
Use this approach for every sentence to maximize your pronunciation score.
Listen for the Melody
Don't focus on individual words—hear the overall rhythm and intonation pattern. Where does the voice rise? Where does it fall? Where are the pauses?
Match the Pace
Start speaking at roughly the same speed as the original. Don't slow down trying to be "careful"— natural pace sounds more fluent than slow, hesitant speech.
Keep Going
If you stumble on a word, don't stop or restart. Keep the flow going—fluency matters more than getting every word perfect. A small error mid-sentence is better than a big pause.
Finish Strong
Match the final intonation—falling for statements, rising for questions. Don't trail off at the end. Complete the sentence with confidence.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Speaking Word-by-Word
Pronouncing each word separately sounds robotic and unnatural. The AI is trained on natural connected speech—word-by-word delivery will score lower on fluency.
Slowing Down to Be "Careful"
Speaking slowly doesn't help—it often makes pronunciation worse because you lose natural rhythm. Match the original pace. Natural speed sounds more fluent.
Stopping to Self-Correct
Saying "wait, let me start again" or pausing mid-sentence hurts your fluency score more than the original error would have. Keep going.
Stressing Every Word Equally
English is a stress-timed language. Function words (the, a, to, and) should be reduced. Stressing everything equally sounds flat and unnatural.
Trailing Off at the End
Many students lose energy at the end of longer sentences, mumbling the final words. Maintain clarity and volume all the way through.
Your Listen and Repeat Practice Plan
This task rewards consistent practice. Focus on building automatic pronunciation patterns.
Days 1-3: Build Awareness
- Practice sentences 1-4 (easy/medium) only
- Listen 2-3 times before attempting (study mode)
- Record yourself, compare to original
- Identify your weakest sounds (th? r? word stress?)
Days 4-6: Build Speed
- Practice full sets (sentences 1-7)
- Listen only once before repeating (test mode)
- Focus on connected speech and flow
- Time yourself—should feel comfortable within limits
Day 7: Full Simulation
- Complete 2-3 full sets back-to-back
- No pausing between sentences
- Review feedback on pronunciation and fluency
- Note improvement areas for next week
Ready to Practice?
Our Listen and Repeat practice gives you instant pronunciation feedback.
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