English pronunciation course in Singapore: how to choose the right option

If people often ask you to repeat yourself, you are not alone.

In Singapore, English is the language of most meetings, calls, emails, and daily life. When your pronunciation is not clear, you can feel tired. You may also feel shy to speak up.

This guide helps you choose an English pronunciation course that fits your goal, schedule, and budget. It also helps you avoid the common trap of chasing an accent.

What do we mean by “pronunciation” in this guide?

Pronunciation is about being understood.

It is how clearly you say sounds, stress, and rhythm. It is not the same as having a British or American accent.

This matches the idea of intelligibility in the [CEFR phonological competence] .

Here is how we explain it in class:

“pronunciation is like articulation, being understood, and it doesn’t mean accent”

Many people start by saying they want to “learn an American English accent”. Often, what they really need to get understood is to improve their pronunciation.

If your goal is to work and live well in Singapore, clarity usually matters more than sounding “native-like”.

Who this guide is for

This article is for working adults in Singapore who:

I

get asked to repeat themselves

I

want feedback that helps in real conversations

I

sometimes see others react with confusion on Zoom / Teams calls

I

want to sound clearer in meetings and presentations

This article is not for you if your only goal is to copy a specific accent.

If you mainly want to work on accent, read this instead: How to improve your English accent

What an English pronunciation course usually covers

Most pronunciation courses work on a few core areas. A good course does not only teach “one sound”. It helps you speak clearly in real speech.

Sounds (vowels and consonants)

You practise key sounds that change meaning.

For example, one vowel can change a word from “ship” to “sheep”. One consonant can change “rice” and “lice”.

If you use a dictionary to self-check, Cambridge explains [pronunciation symbols (IPA)] (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/help/phonetics.html).

End sounds (the sounds people miss)

Many adults speak fast. They drop final sounds without noticing.

This can affect grammar and meaning, such as:

plural -s (work / works)
past tense -ed (talk / talked)
final consonants (cold / coal)

Word stress

English words have a “strong” part.

If stress is wrong, the listener may not recognise the word, even if every sound is “almost” right.

Sentence stress and rhythm

In real English, you do not stress every word the same.

You stress the key words. This helps your listener follow your meaning.

Pronunciation vs accent

You can improve pronunciation without copying an accent.

Chasing an accent can backfire.

You may spend a lot of time copying a sound pattern. In the end, it can sound unnatural. You may work very hard to sound like an American, but chances are you end up sounding like someone who tries very hard to sound like an American. There is no shame in having your mother tongue shine through when you speak English. It’s a reason to be proud: you mastered another language!

Now, let’s focus on pronunciation and course choices.

What are the main ways to improve pronunciation in Singapore?

There is no single “best” option for everyone. What works depends on your goal, time, and how much feedback you need.

Here are the common routes:



Small-group speaking classes with pronunciation feedback



Workshops or short pronunciation courses



1-to-1 coaching (speech / voice / pronunciation)



AI apps and self-study tools

A good way to decide is to look at the factors below.

What should you look for in an English pronunciation course?

1) Do you get real feedback, or only drills?

Pronunciation is physical. It is about how you use your tongue, lips, jaw, and breath.

Drills help, but drills alone are not enough.

Good signs in a course:

the teacher shows you how to form a sound (mouth position)
you get correction while you speak, not only after you repeat a word
you learn the reason, not just “right / wrong”

If you only repeat sounds, you may speak well in class but go back to old habits in real meetings.

2) Human teacher vs AI feedback (and how to use both)

AI pronunciation apps can be useful. They give you quick feedback and lots of repetition.

But they also have limits. AI tools are trained to be very precise and only follow one format.

Research also shows that speech recognition systems can be less accurate for some accents and speaker groups: [speech recognition bias with accents] In reality, no one speaks so precisely – each person’s speech has its own flavour to it.

In Singapore, you also hear many accents every day. Singaporeans speak with an accent, but so do Germans, Chinese, Japanese. In fact, even British and Americans have different accents based on where they grew up.

So what can go wrong with AI-only learning?

You can become overly focused on “perfect” sounds.
You may lose confidence.
You may feel judged for sounding Singaporean, even when your speech is perfectly clear, correct and understandable.

So what should you do instead?

Use AI as a tool, not a coach.

Use AI for daily drills and awareness.
Use a human teacher for real conversation, meaning, and confidence.

A human teacher does more than tick boxes. They also react to how you sound in the moment. The context and things like facial expressions also influence how well you are understood.

If your job needs spoken English (meetings, clients, presentations), this human feedback will help you to become easier to understand for English speakers.

If your main goal is workplace communication, you may also want a [business English course].

3) How much speaking time do you get?

Small classes help you improve faster.

Why? Because you are paying for chances to speak and be corrected.

When you compare courses, ask:

What is the maximum class size?
How much do you speak each lesson?
Does the teacher correct you during speaking, or only at the end?

If you speak for only a few minutes, progress is slow. Each time you get to speak and get feedback, you will have a chance to improve. So when choosing a class, ask yourself how much opportunity it will give you to practice.

4) Does the course practise real workplace speaking?

Pronunciation improves fastest when you use it in real tasks.

In Singapore, common tasks include:

giving updates in meetings
joining discussions and disagreeing politely
handling customer calls
presenting a proposal

A course should help you practise these tasks with feedback.

If a course only trains single words, you may not transfer the skill to real speech.

5) Is it personalised to your problem sounds?

Different learners have different issues.

A good teacher listens and finds your patterns.

Common patterns include:

unclear end sounds
mixing /r/ and /l/
vowel length
speaking too fast with no pauses

Be careful with programmes that give you a “one size fits all” plan. During classes, you may waste time on learning aspects of pronunciation that you have already mastered.

If you want to improve on a specific aspect, you want specific training and it may be worth considering one-to-one training.

6) Does the class schedule fit your life in Singapore?

If you are working, your English pronunciation course must fit your routine.

Check:

evening and weekend slots
[online English courses] (https://www.englishexpress.com.sg/courses/online) vs in-person
how often you can realistically attend

Also check the homework load.

A small amount, done often, will still get you there. It is better than a big amount you never do.

7) How should you compare cost fairly?

Prices vary a lot across Singapore.

A simple way to compare is:

cost per teaching hour
class size (smaller is more valuable)
how many weeks you can keep it up

Do not compare only the headline price.

A cheaper course that you can attend for 2–3 months may help you more than an expensive one you stop after 2 weeks.

A simple plan that works for most people

Many adults improve faster when they follow a simple routine. You do not need 10 goals at the same time.

Here is a practical 4-step plan:

Record yourself in a real situation (a short self-intro, a meeting update, a call)
Pick 2–3 priority issues (for example: end sounds + pace). If you’re unsure contact us on WhatsApp for an intake
Train in short bursts (10–15 minutes, 3–5 days a week)
Use it in real speech every week (meetings, small talk, calls)

A workplace example:

You have a weekly meeting. You often rush.

This week, your focus is only:

slow down slightly
add clear pauses at full stops
finish key end sounds (like “worked”, “tasks”, “next”)

This is small, but it is realistic. Keep paying attention to it until you’ve build a new habit.

In short: which route fits you best?

There is no one best course for everyone. Use this checklist with any provider you are considering.

If you want more speaking time and live correction, choose a small-group class.
If you have one specific issue and want targeted work, choose 1-to-1 coaching.
If you want a short intro and quick awareness, a workshop can help.
If you are shy and need daily repetition first, start with an AI app, but be sure to not only rely on AI feedback.
If your schedule is tight, choose the option you can keep up for 8–12 weeks.

Improving your spoken English at English Express

English Express is one option for pronunciation classes in Singapore.

Our adult classes focus on practical speaking. You get feedback during real conversation tasks, not only drills. Many learners also like small groups because you get more chances to speak.

If you want a group option, see: English speaking class

If you prefer 1-to-1 support, see: Private English lessons

If you want broader speaking advice (not only pronunciation), you can also read: Learning English speaking

FAQ

How long does it take to improve pronunciation?

You can feel small changes in a few weeks, especially with pace, pauses, and clear end sounds.

Bigger changes take longer. Most adults need steady practice for a few months. The exact time depends on how often you practise and your starting point.

Can I improve pronunciation without changing my accent?

Yes.

You can keep your accent and still speak clearly. In fact, you do not need to erase your identity to be respected. We feel happy when our students start speaking English confidently and clearly, while some of their identity still shines though.

The goal is to be understood.

What is the best English accent to learn in Singapore?

For pronunciation, you do not need to choose one “best” accent.

English is spoken in many valid ways. You can follow British, American, Australian, or a mix, as long English speakers can understand you. Most English speakers worldwide speak it as a second language, just like you.

If you want a deeper guide on accent choices, read: How to improve your English accent

Do pronunciation apps work?

They can help with daily drills.

But apps cannot fully replace human feedback in real conversation. They can also be overly strict and hurt confidence.

A good approach is: AI for practice + a teacher for real speaking and correction.

What should I practise between lessons?

Keep it simple.

10–15 minutes of focused practice
2–3 target issues only
one short real speaking task each week (meeting update, self-intro, call practice)

What’s next?

If you want help choosing the right route, talk to a real person.

You can contact English Express to share your goal (work meetings, calls, presentations) and your main challenge (for example, end sounds or speaking too fast). We will suggest a practical next step based on your situation.

Use the WhatsApp button on the site, or contact us here: Contact us

At English Express and other Crystal Learning language schools, we see language, first of all, as a tool. It is a tool to understand courses you plan to take or to communicate with your colleagues well.

Many students spend money to take the WPLN test but don't do well because they are not at the correct level.

Over here, we spent years perfecting a test to determine your level. Instead of spending money to do it elsewhere, do it here first for free to quickly find out where you are at now.