how long is going to take?i would likely pay for it if there's classes out there where i could improve my speaking
2007-03-26 20:14:31 · 7 answers · asked by leonard 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
I've taught ESL for 18 years and everyone wants to speak perfect English. First of all let me tell you that there is no such animal - it doesn't exist! What do you consider perfect English??? Is it British English -yes, but then even in London they speak several dozen dialects like Cockney...never mind in all of England/Scotland Ireland there are dozens of "perfect" English. Do they speak perfect English in the USA?? yes, of course but here again there are dozens of dialects. Do they speak perfect English in Canada, Australia,New Zealand, South Africa??... yes, but they have many dialects too. So, which one is perfect??? ALL OF THEM. I used to tell my students to save their money because they wanted to go to accent reduction classes for big money. I asked them, Ok, let's say that you can make your accent disappear, whose accent would replace yours? It would be either the teacher's or the person speaking on the tape; where are they from?? Actually I told my students to learn the best (most fluent, lots of vocabulary, fairly good grammar)and start talking instead of obsessing about the "perfect" English. It's an animal which doesn't exist!!! Your accent is your treasure, because it's a conversation opener. For example, if I heard you speak I would say: Oh, are you from China/Taiwan?, I visited there,...when did you come here, do you like ____?" and that's how conversations and friendships start. Language has no other purpose except for human being to communicate with each other. EVERY HUMAN BEING ON EARTH HAS AN ACCENT, so relax and keep talking and practicing and making new friends. Where can I learn PERFECT Chinese and how long would that take??
2007-03-26 23:19:32 · answer #1 · answered by Just Me 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course it is possible. Accents are regional or national (in your case 'national'), but that doesn't mean you are not using proper English. Some people don't ever loss their accent but speak English perfectly. Example: If I were to move to New York (God forbid!), my Texas accent would be a dead giveaway that I'm not from there. Another example, an English person may speak perfect English in America but his/her accent would be a dead giveaway that he/she is not American. The reverse is also true.
Good luck.
H
2007-03-26 23:31:54 · answer #2 · answered by H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's no such thing as "Perfect English", because there are as many English dialects, as there are Chinese languages! If you're anywhere but in the UK, simply tell anyone that asks that you're from Scotland!!!! :D
Seriously, there are so many accents, from all over the world, that a Chinese accept simply enriches the English language.
2007-03-26 22:53:33 · answer #3 · answered by RobAnt 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are understandable, no mistaking what you mean, that is perfect English. Honest.
Ignore the rude one. Everybody has an accent in English.
2007-03-26 20:54:22 · answer #4 · answered by U-98 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Practice makes man perfect
2007-03-26 20:23:46 · answer #5 · answered by khuranapvp 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's a tip!
Do you know how to act?
Actors copy "accents" often in movies...if they can do it..
YOU CAN DO it....
You have to "copy" the accent....in other words "act as an English speaker" and HAVE FUN!
2007-03-27 04:53:36 · answer #6 · answered by Life is Wonderful 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no shithead if you have chinese accent then it's not perfect english. duh. i dont really have a chinese (taiwanese) accent cuz i wuz born here...so it depends on how much you speak it..yea
good luck bro
just practice a lot =]
2007-03-26 20:35:44 · answer #7 · answered by fefe 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋