Can You 'switch Off' Your Regional Accent When Teaching?

[ShinMusashi44]

Hmm...I am American (from the west coast) and everybody tells me that American's are the easiest to understand out of all the other Native English speakers. Not sure if this is true. My Thai boyfriend was explaining to me that American's speak a bit slower and enunciate the words more often. Or maybe it's from Thai's watching so many American movies? Who knows...I'm just glad they can understand me!

I think its easier to understand cause whenever someone from a country learns English, it sounds more like "American English". I've never once heard an Asian that learned English have an "English" or other non-American accent. I'm sure there are a few out there, but 99% of people who learn English are going to sound "American".

[Phatcharanan]

, but 99% of people who learn English are going to sound "American".

I'm sure after a few more years of Dunkin Donuts and Big Mac's.............they will probably look like most Americans as well.

Edited February 10, 2013 by Phatcharanan

[DavidBonnie]

I think one poster identified the percieved problem when he talked about the 'teaching voice'. In Asia we cannot speak in the casual manner that we would in the UK or our home country. We have to be slower and enunciate more clearly especially if we are teaching pronunciation.

What I don't understand is why anyone would want to teach 7 days a week . . . wow, we are in Thailand! Where is the fun?

What I dislike is that thai hi-so parents feel that have the power to make a distinction because of a percieved ideal when in fact they are usually completely ignorant of education and society in any other country than Thailand. They should try to understand our culture a little more if they want their children to speak our language or attend an international school. Just my opinion.

[gk10002000]

Hehe. I am originally from one of the New England states, Rhode Island here in the USA. My accent is a bit unusual as I did not grow up speaking like Boston Kennedy or a Soprano type of Yuse guyz ganster accent. I have worked and lived all over the USA and I would say about 50% think I am from England when I say New England. When I am in Thailand, they seem to be split about 50/50 on whether I am American English or British or European. All my grandparents came from Greek so that is my ethnicity so I don't look like a blonde or brown haired anglo saxon.

[simon43]

What I don't understand is why anyone would want to teach 7 days a week . . . wow, we are in Thailand! Where is the fun?

Actually I'm in Myanmar, and there really is not a lot to do outside work as far as 'fun' is concerned....

In any case IMHO, if you do not find your job 'fun', then you shouldn't be doing it

Simon

[jayboy]

Hmm...I am American (from the west coast) and everybody tells me that American's are the easiest to understand out of all the other Native English speakers. Not sure if this is true. My Thai boyfriend was explaining to me that American's speak a bit slower and enunciate the words more often. Or maybe it's from Thai's watching so many American movies? Who knows...I'm just glad they can understand me!

I think its easier to understand cause whenever someone from a country learns English, it sounds more like "American English". I've never once heard an Asian that learned English have an "English" or other non-American accent. I'm sure there are a few out there, but 99% of people who learn English are going to sound "American".

You clearly have little exposure to the Thai upper classes where an English patrician accent can often be heard.

[gerryBScot]

I am Scottish, born and educated in Glasgow & Edinburgh and retain a clear Scottish accent which has probably been softened considerably by a 25 year sojourn in The Smoke.......not a trace of Estuary English in me although I could listen to the likes of Harry Redknapp talking all day. I make a point of speaking clearly and slowly in the classroom and spend a lot of time working with kids on the correct pronunciations of word endings and contractions. For Mathayom I've been using material like English in Mind - it features a great range of accents - North American and British; in Prathom I use Let's Go and have made a conscious decision to stick with the American English; I don't make any effort to use a US accent but I use the audio files extensively and rate the Grammar Chants highly! I think it is rather important that learners are exposed to the rich variety of English across the globe as Received Pronunciation is really the exception not the rule. I have no shortage of private customers and in fact turn most of it away as I want the time off. I rather fancy the parents get to know who the good teachers are. My filipino wife, who uses a few wonderful bits of filipino English - "I'll be the one to go ahead" - is a far more accomplished and experienced English teacher than I'll ever be, as are many of her colleagues, though there are others whose English is a little bit dodgy. I think many of the language learning experts often point out that L2( Second language) to L2 is often the best way to learn a language. I remember many years ago doing a Thai course which was taught by an American and it really was brilliantly taught; this was because he was in part a real S E Asian specialist but he was also a great educator and understood a thing or too about how to teach a new language and general principles of educational psychology. But if you came into my classroom you might think I was Irish, many native speakers do, but most people hear an accent but more importantly appear to understand me and engage well in my lessons. Interesting, thought-provoking thread. Thanks.

[Neeranam]

I often laugh when I think of some of my early students speaking with a Scottish accent. My 3rd year teaching I taught at a pretty prestigious school with snobby parents(including Taksin) and was told that they couldn't understand me, so I tried for years to speak with no accent and pretty much succeeded. The only time I go back to an accent is when I visit Scotland or speak with other Scots here.