I 'd like find out how do I gain an American Accent?

Question

I'm Brazilian from Rio and have been living in the U.S for 7yrs. My English throughtout the years has improved a lot but people can still detect an Accent whenever I open my mouth. I would like to loose my Accent and sound and speak more like an American. Do you have any tips or info on how do I do that?

Answer 1

Vowels and stress are the most important things in accents. you may find that you're separating your vowels to much - the Anericans will probably form them slightly faster than you.
If you compare British and American, and 'oh' sound in American is more like an 'arh' sound in British. It's those kind of things you need to look out for.

Answer 2

Some community colleges offer "accent reduction" classes in their ESL programs. Check with your local community college.

I have been living in the USA for 5 years and of course my accent can't be 100% like a native speaker's, but at least nobody can tell that my native language is Italian - which I assume is good because an Italian accent is quite strong and easy to detect. That's due to the fact that I've been speaking English since I was a kid, my teachers were native speakers and I've traveled to the UK and Ireland several times to practise my English there. I never took an accent reduction class here, so I don't know if it's really worth it, but if you want to get rid of your accent or at least improve it, you may want to give it a try.

If you can't afford to pay for a class or you are too busy to attend one, I think you can find some ESL books with audio tapes or CDs to improve your accent. Try Amazon or your local bookstore or library.

Also, hang out with American native speakers, try to speak English as much as you can, even talk to yourself out loud in English just to practise the accent, watch a lot of movies and TV, or listen to the radio.

Last but not least, a Brazilian accent is gorgeous -- I had a Brazilian friend in Italy, and even when she spoke Italian it sounded like she was singing. So, after all, you may want to keep it ;-)

Answer 3

An accent is a beautiful thing. Since America is made up of so many different people and nationalities I'm not sure what America English really is. I know what is taught in school but I took Spanish in high school and that didn't teach me to speak to my neighbor in Mexico only my friends in Spain. Keep your accent, it makes you who you are and that is just an American.

Answer 4

There is no way to loose an accent, even if u speak perfect english ppl will notice u r from other country, but read and listen to a lot of english that help but not quite

Answer 5

There are 4 or 5 accents from America. The one you see on TV and in movies is close to the one from the midwest or from California. The people from the north east and the south sound much different though.

Answer 6

I know people who have lived here much longer than you and they still have there accent. Why do you want to sound more like an American?

Answer 7

With time and practice but I would love to have your accent! Be proud of that, anyways I wouldn't want to eliminate my accent, with time you will learn to speak english more 'clearly' I'm sure.

Answer 8

Watch television

Answer 9

they're all right, practice a lot, read books and watch television. you'll pick up a thing or two each day...but don't psych yourself that much, keep in mind...it's hard to perfect it esp when that's really not your native toungue...

Answer 10

my advice is to not lose the accent. i veiw a hispanic accent to be intelligent and very sexy.