ESL Teaching - Jobs, lesson plans - View Single Post - American accent, but wait, I love my Aussie accent!

AdvantageEnglish · Wed 16-Jan-08, 02:25 AM

I'm sorry, I'd have to disagree with those of you who think that an American accent simplifies things...

As a starter to my rant, I'd like to open with this thought... The language is called ENGLISH... not American... English comes from England... but more importantly, nowadays there is no such thing as THE English language...but rather, the English Languages. A person growing up in South Africa, India, New Zealand, Australia, England, Canada, America, Ireland and (oh dear) Scotland...all speak English correctly.

If a student wishes to travel to America and only talk to local Americans, they should get an American teacher and enjoy life in their little bubble.

If, on the other hand, they want to learn to communicate in English as a global language, then they need to be exposed to it....all of it.

Don't wrap your students up in American cotton wool.

When a child is learning to speak, he or she (for ease of future reference, allow me to use the feminine SHE from now on) must be subjected to language beyond her own communicative ability... Ask a 1 year old, "Do you want a drink ?" and she may say "ef" (yes) or "oh" (no)... over time she'll learn the correct words and her language skills will grow. If the parent were to speak to a child using only words that she herself is able to produce, she'd never learn to speak !

So speak to your students in your own accent... if they don't understand, say it slower... put on an American accent if it helps (like an English to American translation, if you will) and then say it again in your native tongue... Over time, your students will learn to recognise your accent. God knows they're getting enough exposure to American English through TV and Movies... If you're an American teacher, I mean you no ill-will... your English and your English teaching is just as valid and important as a non-American's... I believe it's important to offer English from various countries and in my lessons I provide students with listening tasks (short video clips, audio listening, music) with American, English, Australian and New Zealand accents, but I myself only speak in my native Australian accent.

English is not a dialect, it's a global language...so teach it...all of it.

AdvantageEnglish
MA(TESOL/JAPANESE), BA(Asian Studies)

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Wed 16-Jan-08, 02:25 AM	#25 (permalink)
AdvantageEnglish ESL Rookie Join Date: Jan 2008 Nationality: Australian Occupation: English Teacher / Director Location: Posts: 28	Re: American accent, but wait, I love my Aussie accent! I'm sorry, I'd have to disagree with those of you who think that an American accent simplifies things... As a starter to my rant, I'd like to open with this thought... The language is called ENGLISH... not American... English comes from England... but more importantly, nowadays there is no such thing as THE English language...but rather, the English Languages. A person growing up in South Africa, India, New Zealand, Australia, England, Canada, America, Ireland and (oh dear) Scotland...all speak English correctly. If a student wishes to travel to America and only talk to local Americans, they should get an American teacher and enjoy life in their little bubble. If, on the other hand, they want to learn to communicate in English as a global language, then they need to be exposed to it....all of it. Don't wrap your students up in American cotton wool. When a child is learning to speak, he or she (for ease of future reference, allow me to use the feminine SHE from now on) must be subjected to language beyond her own communicative ability... Ask a 1 year old, "Do you want a drink ?" and she may say "ef" (yes) or "oh" (no)... over time she'll learn the correct words and her language skills will grow. If the parent were to speak to a child using only words that she herself is able to produce, she'd never learn to speak ! So speak to your students in your own accent... if they don't understand, say it slower... put on an American accent if it helps (like an English to American translation, if you will) and then say it again in your native tongue... Over time, your students will learn to recognise your accent. God knows they're getting enough exposure to American English through TV and Movies... If you're an American teacher, I mean you no ill-will... your English and your English teaching is just as valid and important as a non-American's... I believe it's important to offer English from various countries and in my lessons I provide students with listening tasks (short video clips, audio listening, music) with American, English, Australian and New Zealand accents, but I myself only speak in my native Australian accent. English is not a dialect, it's a global language...so teach it...all of it. AdvantageEnglish MA(TESOL/JAPANESE), BA(Asian Studies) ================================================== ====== Get my FREE 30-page EBOOK : IDIOMS AND EXPRESSIONS : Advantage English School Click on ENGLISH WEEKLY- middle left; Then GET EBOOK NOW, middle right.