WORD STRESS
Make one syllable lead the word.
Notice the information your listener needs, practise it deliberately, then return it to real speech.
What to notice
Stressed syllables are usually more prominent through a combination of vowel clarity, length, loudness and pitch movement. Unstressed syllables are often shorter and may use a reduced vowel.
Contrast the pattern
PREsent (noun) and preSENT (verb) show how stress can help signal meaning. Try REcord/reCORD and CONtract/conTRACT.
Transfer it
Mark the stressed syllable in one sentence from your work. Say the key word alone, then return it to the sentence without making every syllable equally strong.