Do you think that a latin speaker will never be able to speak like a native speaker?

Question

I have been learning English for 25 years and I still have to hear this. Do you think is true?

Answer 1

There are very few people who learn new languages who ever reach the point where they are essentially indistinguishable from native speakers of the new language. I work with a number of people whose English grammar is excellent and very near-native, but who speak with accents that make it obvious that they are not native speakers. That's just how second language acquisition works. I'd say don't worry about it, and give yourself a break.

Answer 2

I think that latin speakers can speak English like a native. Some are better at it than others; the same is true for those who try to learn Spanish.
I speak Spanish like a native. People try to guess where I am from and it is never the U.S. My accent is Mexican, but I do not look Mexican so it confuses people. Somehow I speak French with a Mexican accent. I don't know how I can do one so well and the other so horribly!

Anyway, I have learned that if you study where the tongue goes in your mouth to make certain sounds then you can sound more like a native. For example; sometimes Hispanics say the letter Y with a bit of a J sound or like the S in the word treasure. If you do that then try to make the Y sound without bringing your teeth together in the front. It helps if you have someone that you know well who can help you and you can watch their mouth closely. It might sound silly, but I promise that it helps.

Answer 3

I think nobody (no matter where are you from) will be able to speak a language that is different than your mother language at 100%. You can speak pretty good, but in some way you will make a mistake, either in pronunciation or grammar or listening, etc...I mean, it's normal!
I'm a spanish native speaker and I've met many people who has spent long time living here in Mexico and they've got a really good accent and stuff like that, but I can still notice that they are not mexicans or spanish or whatever...and I think the same thing happens to me, it's just that my english it's not as good as i would like, but anyway...i think you can do your best trying to improve your language skills and you can get to a very very high level, but even so, you must know you won't be able to speak like a real native. It's my opinion, I can be wrong!

Answer 4

There are no native Latin speakers. That's why it's a dead language. :p

As for a Spanish-speaker learning to speak English like a native, that depends on how determined they are. Speaking like a native requires learning the grammar (and the exceptions) and hearing and imitating the accent of native speakers. It's not easy, but it is definitely possible.

Answer 5

well it depends on the time U started to learn english because people that learned english at a young age tend to speak it better than those that learned it after they turned 12 yrs old . For example I live in a spanish speaking country but I started to learn english in kindergarden and know I dont have an accent I think I speak like every other american I know !!!

Answer 6

It all depends on the time and diligence you apply. I believe you can learn to speak like a native yet, if you really work on pronunciation and accent. Record yourself, listen for traces of native accent and work on losing it. Good luck!

Answer 7

Depends on when you started (age) and how good you are with languages.
Also depends on how much Spanish and how much English you speak. Each language has its own requirements in how you have to shape your mouth for it to sound right.
The more you speak any language, the better you get at that for that language.

Answer 8

Ten years I have been studying English;
I spell it with no typos, and even write sad haikus and wish,
People would realize how beautiful Spanish is.

Answer 9

some do, some don't.

que sera sera.