how to get a natural english?

Question

Hi there.
I am Japanese, have been studying English for about 4 years.
My problem there is can not aquire its pronunciation and accent.

As to English grammar, writing and reading, there are some rules so that I can imagine that I would get it some day myself.
I have been listening lots of CDs and news for over 2 years, but I can not find out any rules for accent and any dirrerence between ex:R and L, wondering if I could speak an understandable English one day.

Could anyone advise or tell me if it is a matter of great importance to make people understand?

Answer 1

Your writing of English is better than some of the natural born citizens of the United States. I must commend your study habits!

Many are correct in their statements. You need to verbally practice with a voice coach or someone who speaks English on a daily basis. We here do not have an emphasis on tonal inflections as seen in many Asian languages.

If you put the same dedication into speaking English as you have in learning to write English, you should have no problem being understood. Good luck, my dear!

Answer 2

My girlfriend is Thai and she had a lot of the same English problems that you're having. The things that have helped her is hanging out mostly with native English speakers and really paying attention the words they are using and how they say them. Also, she watches TV and movies with the captions on and repeats what they are saying. And then with R/L, I have shown her many times how to make the R sound using only her lips and not using her tongue. Your tongue shouldn't touch anything in your mouth when you make the R sound. Her English has improved 100 percent since we started going out 4 years ago. Maybe it would help if you had a native speaking boyfriend/girlfriend/close friend that was patient and willing to work with you. Keep working at it, you'll get it! Oh, and by the way, they say that you can only aquire a native accent if you learn a language before the age of 10, so don't expect too much out of yourself. Just do the best you can.

Answer 3

Losing an accent is an acquired ability. Sometimes it takes some people longer to do this, and others adapt more quickly. Still some people never do lose the accent they developed when they learned how to speak their native language. I guess the best way to speak like the Americans is to keep hanging around with them. I had a friend who moved to Texas from the midwest. She came back for a visit about three months later, and she definitely had the Texas drawl in her voice, just by being around those people and hearing them speak. If this doesn't seem to work for you, and you just can't quite say, "Sayonara" to your accent, don't worry too much about it. Some people find a foreign-tinged accent to be one of the most charming things about a person's traits. Be proud of it while you have it. It makes you unique and gives you a characterization that stands out among the mainstream. Good luck!

Answer 4

Listening to news and to audio books is good, but actually speaking with a native speaker of English is probably the best idea. When you find these people, ask them to correct your speech when they hear a big error.

Native speakers of English have a wide range of regional accents of our own. So, pick an accent you want to adopt. Talk with people from Ohio or Illinois, Washington or California for more neutral American English accent. Where will you find these people? I can't help you there.

You will never totally lose your Japanese accent. That's good because your native language is a part, a good part, of who and what you are.

Answer 5

I used to teach ESL in a classroom setting. I know that some people have a lot of difficulty in speaking English. I know that you watch tv and probably read the captions but you need to form your lips and tongue a certain way to pronounce certain words, and I acknowledge that you were taught differently from when you were a child, but you need to re-train your mouth and no watching tv or listening will do that for you. You need to see another person up close to see how the words are formed in the mouth and have them instruct you so that you can change what your mouth does now. (and then you practice that) See if you can find an ESL instructor who teaches "conversational english" on a one-to-one basis to teach you. Maybe they can come to your house, or maybe just you and them in a classroom.

Good luck to you.

Answer 6

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If you can't afford a vocal coach the best option is to attend an online program.

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Answer 7

Your main issue, is that pronunciation differs on where you are speaking. The dialect varies immensely if you are in England, Australia, or the deep American South. I agree with other answers that your best bet is to talk to native speakers. While you will be able to hear where their annunciation on words are, and imitate their pronunciation.

Also recommended is the use of documentary style movies. They will be one of your better sources of proper English. I wouldn't use music CD's as a reference. Musicians will compromise English for a good rhyme or beat. Plus dialect is hard to differentiate while singing.

Answer 8

I agree with eddie, at the end of th day practice makes perfrect, you are doing great already, try to be around people who speak english and yours will improve!

Answer 9

Well your righting seems to pe perfect. It's okay to have an accent. Everybody does. You'll be fine, you have obviously tried your best. :-)

Answer 10

be around people who talk english and who are willing to help you out or get a voice coach. you will get it sooner or later.

good luck