is "perfect accent" attainable?

Question

hi there... i have had this problem for a long time. (and its a pain to  think about too). i came to noth america almost 6 years ago when i'm  11, yet i still have that bit of accent left when i speak. i do speak  fluently, but the fact that i have an accent really puts down my  confidence(and hence i get nervous when speaking, which sometimes makes  the situation worse). is that perfect american english still  attainable(at this age)? if so, how can i do that? if not, how can i  improve? thank you so much for your reply!

Nef · Accepted Answer

Hello,

I am not sure what is attainable for you. But I do know that many people without a "perfect" accent speak excellent English and can be understood very well! I happen to work with advanced ESL students and, while they all have accents ranging from slight to strong, I understand most of what they say.

You might try to find out if there are any English classes in your area that focus on pronunciation (not just conversation, but actual pronunciation as a topic in itself). A teacher who specializes in accent reduction would be another possibility. I know a Taiwanese woman who got a lot of help from a pronunciation class, and I used to work with an Israeli who decreased her (previously very strong) accent after working with an accent reduction teacher.

Practicing and listening to native speakers (in person, on television, on the radio) helps too...but I think you know that already.

Do you have one or two friends or co-workers who'd be willing to give you feedback and practice with you? If you feel comfortable with someone who is a native speaker, think about asking for help from time to time.

Anonymous · Answer

0It really depends on your native language. If your native language has many of the same sounds as English, it may be possible to attain a speech pattern that is very close to American accent.00 00If, however, your native language lacks most of the English vowel sounds, like Spanish or Italian, it will be much more difficult.00 00Also, most Americans find a slight foreign accent prestigious and attractive so as long as you have correct pronunciation and no communication problems, you may want to keep accent! 00 00 00 00 00 0-

is "perfect accent" attainable?

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions