Use three separate controls: lip shape for W vs V, tongue and airflow for TH, and syllable prominence for word stress.
These features may need extra attention for some Persian-speaking learners, but they are not universal problems. Diagnose your own speech first.
Quick diagnostic
W vs V: lip shape
For English /w/, round the lips without lip-to-teeth contact and move into the vowel. For /v/, the upper teeth make light contact with the lower lip while voiced friction continues.
| Sound | Cue | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| W | rounded lips, no lip-to-teeth contact | west, wine, away |
| V | light lip-to-teeth contact + voiced friction | vest, vine, avoid |
Practise slowly first, then alternate the pair without exaggerating either sound.
TH: tongue and continuous airflow
For /θ/ as in think and /ð/ as in this, place the tongue at or lightly between the teeth and keep the airflow continuous. Add voicing for /ð/. Different learners may use different substitutions, so the useful target is the movement itself.
Word stress: one syllable carries the spotlight
Persian has its own word-stress system; the useful contrast is not “Persian has no stress.” English lexical stress uses several cues, including vowel quality, duration, pitch and relative prominence. Neighbouring unstressed syllables can be lighter.
- Say the word once naturally.
- Identify the primary stressed syllable.
- Give it a clear vowel and slightly stronger duration/pitch prominence.
- Let surrounding syllables remain lighter.
Focused repetition can help learners stabilise lexical-stress patterns. For background, see research on word stress in Persian and word-stress learning through repetition.
Hear English word stress
This BBC Learning English lesson gives an audible demonstration of English word stress before you return to your own recording.
90-second integration drill
What should I listen for?
For W/V, listen for a stable contrast. For TH, listen for continuous friction. For word stress, listen for one clear prominence peak rather than equal weight on every syllable.
Record one short sentence before and after practice. Compare only the selected feature instead of judging your entire accent.
Transfer it to real English
After the controlled drill, choose a speaking-practice path in FunFluen and put the target into ordinary sentences. This is general English speaking practice; this exact Persian-specific lesson is not preloaded.
For practice built around shows and videos, see FunFluen’s media-based language learning hub.
Keep the job small
Think lip shape, tongue and airflow, syllable prominence. Improve one signal at a time. The goal is clearer, more controllable English—not replacing your identity or forcing every learner toward one accent.