I'm going to post some recommendations for the ESL students on this site. Anyone can feel free to post additional tips, or ask specific questions.
Pronunciation: One way to practice your pronunciation is to use the Google search engine. Here's how:
1.) Choose a word, or even a sentence, that you want to practice.
2.) Go to google.com/ncr , which is one of Google's English sites. *GOOGLE.VN DOES NOT HAVE THE FUNCTION YOU NEED!*
3.) Inside the text box, to the right, you will see a microphone. Click on it.
4.) A box will appear that has "Speak now" written in it.
5.) Say the word, or sentence, into your computers microphone.
6.) If the target language appears in the box you have said it good enough to be understood.
This method isn't perfect. I have an exercise/tongue twister that I made up to practice the "th" sound. It's:
"My mother and father went to the theatre to pick up my brother and grandmother." Google understood me even when I used a "d" sound, instead of the "th" sound.
More later!