Choose a message with a few important details: "The meeting is on Thursday at thirteen thirty, in Room Fourteen." Ask a partner to write what they hear without seeing the text. Their notes reveal whether the key information was understandable.
If they confuse a number or day, isolate that contrast and check a reliable pronunciation model. Do not assume every misunderstanding comes from your pronunciation; background noise, attention, and unfamiliar names can also contribute.
Practice the meaningful contrast
Try "Fourteen, not forty" or "Thursday, not Tuesday." Stressing the corrected detail can make the communicative purpose clearer. Then return to the complete message so the practice is not limited to isolated words.
Record yourself and compare one feature at a time, such as the stressed syllable or the ending sound that distinguishes two words. Speech-recognition software can provide a clue, but its transcript is not a definitive measure of intelligibility or accent quality.
Repeat the listening task with changed details so the partner cannot answer from memory. Ask whether the improvement transfers to the new message. Focus on being understood by the intended audience rather than removing every feature of your accent. In an important real exchange, use read-back confirmation or written details when necessary; clear communication can include more than a single perfect spoken attempt.