Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
American Accent Tips - 5 Tips

American Accent Tips - 5 Tips

Date: Dec 22 2012

Topic: Pronunciation

Author: andylu2

Lesson

Here are 5 useful tips for non native speakers to learn the American accent.

1.  Don't worry about the difference between British English and American English.  You don't need to know it.  If you want an American accent, ONLY listen to the way Americans pronounce words.  Learning the differences of different accents may be interesting, but it's confusing to remember and it's certainly unnecessary.  Remember, Americans never learned the British accent.  There is simply no need.

2.  Use a good Accent training course There is simply no way to possibly learn to pronounce words properly or reduce your own accent by just speaking the way you naturally do.  You need feedback and training. If you just "hope" things improve, they won't.  People naturally reach a level they are comfortable with and they stop improving.  You need a focussed plan to improve.  Time alone will do almost nothing.  I highly recommend the link above.

3.  Get the right attitude.  First of all, develop the belief that you can change and improve your accent if you work at it.  If you don't believe it's possible, you won't succeed, it's as simple as that.  Secondly, make sure your attitude is one that demands constant practice and improvement.  Reducing your accent takes really work.  It's not easy because it's a bit unnatural at first.  You need to be ok with this and you need to realize that this is a process.  Don't give up at the first sign of failure.  It will take a while, just like when babies learn to walk.  All babies can learn, but no baby can do it on their first try.  Keep going and keep the right attitude.

4.  Make sure you practice every day.  Choose a sound or some aspect of teh pronunciation you want to learn and focus on it until you get it right.  There are probably 50 to 100 sounds that you pronounce in a way that isn't quite right, YET.  If you just learn 2 a day, your accent will be MUCH better after 30 days.  Don't focus on everything at once.  Make sure you do one step at a time.  Get each step or part right before moving on.

5.  Record your own voice and listen to it.  You won't know how you really sound or which mistakes you are making until you do this.  It's just like singing.  Singers listen to themselves a lot so they can improve.  Nobody knows what they sound like because the sound in their mind is very different from the true sound.  If you don't know how you sound, it's impossible to improve.  

Subscribe to this great Youtube channel for more updated tips!

American Accent Video Course 

I'd love to hear your comments guys.  I hope this is helpful for you!

Likes (1):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast