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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation
Im so frustrated, trying to improve my english accent.
0 this is a rant, and also a reach out for help. 02 br
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00 i've been living in the US for almost 9 years now, came when i was 14. I was born in croatia (native tounge) and live in germany for 7 years ( second language) then came to the US. I never had a problem learing german at all, never had a german accent. But english is killing me. At first i didnt care about my english when i came here, but then at 18-19 i realized that i had a strong accent. im 22 now, and im still batteling with it. I started being serious about getting rid of my accent in the past 3 months, I ordered me an american accent training kit ( which i went through and doing it again) and also started reading english books almost every night. but it just doesnt help. its getting me so frustrated to the point where i dont wanna speak at all. it really pisses me off, because im much smarter and much more advanced in the gramatical english then some of my co-workers who are natives and when i open my damn mouth i sound like a total forgner. (im typing fast, so ignor the spelling mistakes). I know, I just know, that i miss out on a lot of job oportunities just because of my f'ing accent, it is pissing me off. How long does it take to get the hang of it?? i was looking for accent classes and things like that in my area SLC, UT but just cant find any. 02 br
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00 can anyone help? 0-
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00 i've been living in the US for almost 9 years now, came when i was 14. I was born in croatia (native tounge) and live in germany for 7 years ( second language) then came to the US. I never had a problem learing german at all, never had a german accent. But english is killing me. At first i didnt care about my english when i came here, but then at 18-19 i realized that i had a strong accent. im 22 now, and im still batteling with it. I started being serious about getting rid of my accent in the past 3 months, I ordered me an american accent training kit ( which i went through and doing it again) and also started reading english books almost every night. but it just doesnt help. its getting me so frustrated to the point where i dont wanna speak at all. it really pisses me off, because im much smarter and much more advanced in the gramatical english then some of my co-workers who are natives and when i open my damn mouth i sound like a total forgner. (im typing fast, so ignor the spelling mistakes). I know, I just know, that i miss out on a lot of job oportunities just because of my f'ing accent, it is pissing me off. How long does it take to get the hang of it?? i was looking for accent classes and things like that in my area SLC, UT but just cant find any. 02 br
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00 can anyone help? 0-
Top answer
0 A question: Are you still speaking Croatian and/or German on a regular basis? 0-
- 0 A question: Are you still speaking Croatian and/or German on a regular basis?
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11 Answers
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0 A question: Are you still speaking Croatian and/or German on a regular basis? 0-
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0 You know how you hear pop music groups singing in English then you find out the band is from the UK or someplace else with (to American ears) really strong-sounding accents? I am an American learning Japanese and French and also used to sing in a choir. Sing alot of stuff you hear on the radio and consider checking out other languages. Also check out travelling to various parts of the US to
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0 i speak croatian, its identical to russian, at home, and english out side of home. 0-
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01 cite 10 Anonymous 12 cite 10 I ordered me an american accent training kit ( which i went through and doing it again) and also started reading english books almost every night. but it just doesnt help. 12 blockquote10 Hi, did you read American Accent Training? I think your problem is that you have been talking with a strong
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0 Continuing to speak Croatian at home might also be part of the reason why you continue to have a heavy accent in your English. 02 br
00 I'm English and have been living in Holland for many years. I speak fluent Dutch now, but still have quite a strong English accent in my Dutch. I think that's because I continue to speak English at home. The English people I know here in Holland who
00 I'm English and have been living in Holland for many years. I speak fluent Dutch now, but still have quite a strong English accent in my Dutch. I think that's because I continue to speak English at home. The English people I know here in Holland who
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01 cite 10 Anonymous 12 cite 10 i speak croatian, its identical to russian, at home, and english out side of home. 12 blockquote10 Oh, well, then I think that's the main reason. Croatian is definitely affecting the way you tend move your tongue, and therefore the way you sound. I'm not saying that no one can speak good English
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I moved to US a year ago.I asked the same question from my english teacher.She has been taching ESL for 48 years.She told me that i have to read outloud and record my voice,then listen to it.TV would also help.Good luck:)
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AnonymousI moved to US a year ago.I asked the same question from my english teacher.She has been taching ESL for 48 years.She told me that i have to read outloud and record my voice,then listen to it.TV would also help.Good luck:)Bottom-up approach peddled by many accent trainers would not work to a large extent if you don't work on musicality of AmE. Train
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Anonymous i was looking for accent classes and things like that in my area SLC, UT but just cant find any.Try working with an American Accent Trainer online. www.speechmodification.com does 1:1 training with an online practice program. If you work with someone, you'll get feedback and individualized help, instead of just being frustrated using a book.
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Dont, your accent is what makes you you. I live in the mountains and have a thick accent that often draws glances outside of my area. But its a part of me and it makes a great conversation starter when someone asks me "where did you get that accent from"
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