What Is Proprioception? The Hidden Skill That Improves Your Accent
Hi, I’m Esther Bruhl—speech therapist and founder of Speak More Clearly. Today I want to share something that often surprises people, even those who’ve been working on their English pronunciation for a while. It’s a skill most of us aren’t even aware we have… but it’s absolutely essential for speaking clearly and confidently with a new accent. It’s called proprioception.
I know—it’s a bit of a mouthful! But don’t worry. By the end of this post, you’ll not only understand what proprioception is, you’ll also know how to use it to improve your accent faster and more naturally.
So, what exactly is proprioception?
Proprioception is your body’s ability to sense where it is in space. It’s what helps you touch your nose with your eyes closed, or walk down stairs without watching your feet. But here’s the exciting part: proprioception doesn’t just apply to your arms and legs—it also applies to your tongue, lips, and jaw.
And that’s where it becomes a game-changer for accent training.
Why does it matter for your accent?
When you’re learning a new accent—whether it’s Australian, American, or British—it’s not enough to just hear the difference in sounds. You also need to feel what your mouth is doing. That’s where proprioception comes in. It helps you become aware of how your tongue moves, where it touches, how wide your mouth opens, and how much tension you use when speaking.
So instead of guessing, you start to know what the correct movement feels like—and that leads to much faster, more lasting improvement.
How can you activate this “hidden” sense?
In the video, I guide you through some simple ways to start developing proprioception. One of my favorites is to close your eyes and focus on how your mouth moves when you make a certain sound—like the “th” sound in “think.” Where is your tongue? Is it sticking out a little? Is it soft or tense? Just noticing those things helps your brain start building accurate muscle memory.
You can also try slowing things down. Say a word very slowly, and concentrate on the position of your tongue and lips. Repeat it a few times, and your body will start to memorize that correct movement.
Another great way to build this awareness is to pair physical movement with speech. Even something simple, like standing on one foot while you say a sentence, can wake up your proprioceptive system and make your body more aware of what it’s doing. Check out some of our student stories here.
My students see big results
I’ve seen incredible progress in students once they start incorporating proprioception into their practice. They become more consistent with their pronunciation, their clarity improves, and they feel so much more confident. Many tell me it finally “clicks” for them once they start paying attention to how their mouth is moving—not just how something sounds.
You can try this today
Here’s a simple exercise to try:
Pick one sound you struggle with—like “r” or “th.”
Say a word that uses that sound slowly with your eyes closed.
Pay attention to how your tongue, lips, and jaw feel.
Then, repeat that word a few times, still focusing on the feeling.
Do this for just a few minutes each day and you’ll start building powerful awareness.
Final thoughts
Accent training isn’t just about imitation—it’s about awareness. Proprioception gives you access to a deeper level of control over your speech. Once you tune in to what your body is doing, everything starts to come together more quickly and naturally.
If you haven’t watched the video yet, I really encourage you to check it out. I walk you through proprioception step-by-step and give you exercises you can try immediately. It’s a small change in how you practice, but it can lead to big results.
👉 Ready to take your accent training to the next level?
Join one of my online courses and start seeing real progress with guidance from speech experts.
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Let me know how you go—and keep speaking clearly, confidently, and with impact.
