The small important differences between sounds

Many who learn English as a second language find it hard to distinguish between the words "live" and "leave" in speech. Likewise, Spanish learners tend to confuse the "t" sound with the "d" sound which, according to some native Spanish speakers, are noticeably different. To avoid misunderstanding and to acquire the best possible pronunciation and accent, I recommend the following:

1. Imitate the pronunciation carefully as soon as you start learning a foreign language. (See this FAQ for more information.)
2. When practicing speaking in your target language, ask your language exchange partners to correct your pronunciations.
3. Improve listening comprehension so that you can learn more from native speakers.

It is difficult to speak a foreign language with a completely native accent, but the above techniques can help you get closer.