Worldwide, non-native speakers of English outnumber native English speakers by a ratio of 3:1.
Just think about that! More people speak English as a second language then there are native English speakers.
In Vancouver alone, which is where I live and work, more than 50{a3c87b1e05b299119f1d4bbd64cf458c711a7ad1f544f81d95701a267500b8d7} of the population speaks a language other than English as their first language.
And here’s the truth. It is difficult to significantly reduce an accent on your own.
Here is why. A person’s ability to listen, perceive and recognize sounds is influenced by their native language.
Our brain “expects” to hear the sounds it is familiar with based on our own personal experiences with language. We make “guesses” about what we hear based on information stored in our brains.
When we look at optical illusions, such as the Kanizsa Triangle, our brains behave similarly. Although there is no actual triangle in the image, your brain believes that you see a familiar image, a triangle. Likewise, when listening to spoken English, your brain expects to hear the sounds from your native language, familiar sounds based on your experience.
As a result, when you hear a word with a sound that does not exist in your native sound inventory, you may “mis-hear” the sound. And then you will likely say it as you mis-heard it.
My Online Accent Reduction Course is a unique and comprehensive training program for accent modification. The course is a synthesis of listening practice, pronunciation training, and instruction in those features of spoken English that contribute most to speech clarity and naturalness.
My new Clear English Speech Guide is a free tool to get you started making noticeable changes to your accent. The guide can be downloaded from my website and contains six of the best strategies you can implement to soften your accent.
In November I will be presenting an “Improve your English Pronunciation” workshop to clients of Dress For Success. This is an organization that supports women to achieve economic success. I plan to share tips, strategies and training that these women can use to enhance their English speaking skills for job interviews.
Spoken English is regularly used in education, business, medicine and friendly conversation. Remember, more people speak English as a second language then there are native English speakers.
In our global economy, a heavy accent can get in the way of being understood and putting your listeners at ease. This can prove especially challenging in the workplace where communication efficiency is highly valued.
Do other people regularly ask you to repeat yourself? Have you suspected your spoken English skills are holding you back professionally? Are you wanting to share your expertise with clarity and ease? Would you like to increase your confidence in speaking situations?
Working on your accent with an experienced accent reduction trainer will yield noticeable lasting results in your oral English skills.