The first step to understanding and speaking English is being able to recognize and make the sounds of English. This is where you should begin.
If you want to be understood by English speakers, it is important to practise the sounds of English carefully and systematically. The videos that are linked from this page will give you a great start in hearing, and then pronouncing, the sounds of English.
The information here is broken up into small bits so you can look up the sounds you are having trouble with quickly and easily. The sounds are divided into videos differently for different situations. For example, the paired consonants are presented with their counterpart, rather than alone, because it’s basically a two-for-one deal.
Single consonants have no voiced-voiceless partner, so they are presented alone.
Likewise, vowels are presented one at a time. They should be studied and practised often, because making the wrong vowel sound can be very confusing for everybody. It is important to realize that vowels can sound different, depending on where you are.
For a great site to practice your North American sounds, try EnglishAccentCoach.com. It’s not the most exciting website on the Internet, but its method is based on research of what works, and that is what matter the most, right? Many of my students have found it very effective.