English phonetics can be a particular challenge to students when they have to pronounce written material, as English spelling can differ significantly from its pronunciation. The many silent letters, inconsistencies in how letter combinations are pronounced (though, thought, through and rough) and variety of foreign words adopted into the English language make correctly spelling and pronouncing the language more difficult than some others. Reading while listening is helpful to train the ear for such inconsistencies, as is listening to a song as you read the lyrics or tuning into a podcast of a subject that interests you and reading the transcript as you listen along. In addition, you can watch a movie or television show in English and use English subtitles, which will allow you to see words as you hear how they are pronounced. You will also understand more of the language content within the context of a plot than you would with an exercise involving only listening.
English pronunciation can be difficult to hear and understand as well as to speak, as some sounds are not present in other languages. For example, there is no "P" in Arabic, so Arabic speakers often substitute it with "B." So listen to a native speaker pronouncing difficult sounds and write what you hear, then check your work. Determine which sounds give you the most trouble and focus on those (for example, beaches and peaches, and ban and pan).
Teachers of English as a foreign language certified in the Cambridge Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) usually do not ask their EFL students to read aloud in class. The CELTA method suggests that reading aloud is not beneficial for language learners, as they may be too focused on correctly pronouncing words at the expense of understanding the content of a passage.
Remember that there are many ways to properly pronounce English. Expose yourself to many accents. British English and American English are the most well-known varieties of the language, and most learning materials are available in these forms. Many countries count English as a national or official language. Indian, Caribbean, South African and Australian English are also acceptable forms of the tongue. In addition, with English being the international language, you will interact with those who also speak it as a foreign language. Even in you live in the U.S., many foreigners and students speak without clear pronunciation, so you must train your ear to distinguish their pronunciation idiosyncrasies as well.
There is no need to completely eradicate a foreign accent, and trying to do so will only cause frustration. The goal in speaking is to communicate, not imitate native speakers. Personalities in the arts and entertainment such as Antonio Banderas, Catherine Deneuve, Omar Sharif and Björk have enjoyed considerable success in the English-speaking world while retaining their accents.