English is not Phonetic

Always remember that English is not "phonetic". That means that we do not always say a word the same way that we spell it.

Some words can have the same spelling but different pronunciation, for example:

I like to read /ri:d/

I have read that book /red/

Some words have different spelling but the same pronunciation, for example:

I have read that book /red/

Red is my favourite colour /red/

Learn the Sounds of English
The English language may have 26 letters of the alphabet, but it has at least 44 sounds. Knowing and recognizing those sounds will help to give you good pronunciation. Of course, everybody knows that improving your pronunciation helps your speaking. But do you know that improving your pronunciation also helps your listening?