Simple Ways to Speak a Foreign Language With Little or No Accent?
Do you have an accent when you speak another language? Is it a bad accent or are you a perfectionist (like me) who can’t stand mispronouncing words? I have a very good accent but I mispronounce words from time to time and, although it never bothers the person I’m speaking with, it drives me nuts!
There are people who want to speak as natively as possible and others who aren’t worried about it. I can honestly say that it really makes no difference. I know from being in many conversations with native and non-native speakers that natives don’t care how you sound (within reason) as long as you can get your point across.
Which means that if you want to improve your accent, you’re doing it for yourself. Like me!
So, without further ado, I’m going to tell you some tricks that will help you improve immediately…if you are so inclined.
Tip #1 - Keep track of the words you mispronounce when you say them. This means remembering a word or expression after a conversation is over. Then, once you’re alone, start saying the word or expression again and again. Write it down so you can remember to say it the next day and the next. You’ll get it.
Tip #2 - Read out loud. Find something interesting and read it out loud. Try to sound like a real native. Make a note of the parts that cause any difficulty. Say them again and again.
Tip #3 - Memorize a song. Find a song that you like in the target language and get the words. Then, listen to it enough that you have it memorized. Then, sing it to yourself when you have the time.
There are plenty of more tips I’ll share but it’s important to remember one thing above all. Correct pronunication is a result of muscle memory. If you do something enough times, your tongue and brain muscles will make the connection and you won’t have to worry about that sound again.
And believe me, there aren’t many sounds that will give you trouble. So, begin finding the ones that do and you’ll see an immediate improvement.
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