Accent Reduction: 10 Tips for Successfully Speaking English

You may as well Speak English well!

Many of us want to speak effectively!  As long as we know the English language, it makes sense to use it to the best of our abilities!  Accent modification instruction with personalized feedback is essential for speeding your progress for speaking English, of course.  Ultimately, the purpose of accent modification is to teach you techniques to be your own instructor.  So between sessions, use these eight areas eight areas to speak English more clearly.

Tips for Effective Communication

1. Consider communication a team sport.  View the person to which you are speaking as a partner.  You and your communication partner will be taking turns being both a speaker and a listener.
2. Use whole word production.  Speak the ending consonants of words.  By pronouncing the ending sounds of words you fill in one of the potential gaps of communication.  A common mistake that second language speakers make is focusing on saying the following word in their sentences before finishing the last spoken word.
3. Account for your spoken English efforts.  If you are still in the learning stages of improving your spoken English, take responsibility and tell your communication partner that you feel fortunate to have the opportunity to use your English and that you welcome him to alert you if he does not understand what you’ve said.
4. Watch the non-verbal language of your listener.  Many of us are so focused inside our heads composing our messages that we forget to look at our communication partner’s facial gestures.  Notice whether his head is tilted to the side or his eyes are squinting.  Notice whether his eyebrows are raised.  What is the shape of his mouth?  Some of these non-verbal cues can also indicate that the listener has understood you well, and that he is formulating his own thoughts in response to your comments.  In that case, “pat yourself on the back.”  For more information about figurative language, click here.
5. Listen to your communication partner’s follow-up comments.   By looking at their facial gestures, we can identify indicators of communication breakdown.   By listening to their spoken responses, we can get learn whether they understood our last sentences.
6. Repair communication breakdown.  Once you’ve identified that your communication partner has not completely understood you, take steps to help her understand.  Ask her if you have been communicating clearly.  If she tells you she did not understand, ask that she tell you what part she did actually understand.  Then once you know which part of your message she understood, you can take steps to repair the communication where it broke down.
7. Ask for help repairing your communication partner’s breakdown.  Sometimes your communication partner may lack effective spoken English.  Other times she may pronounce English clearly but she has not effectively conveyed her thoughts.  If you did not understand what she meant, ask her to repeat what she said.  Sometimes asking her to say her message using different words is helpful too.
8. Praise yourself for effectively communicating.  When you notice that your communication partner is understanding you well, tell yourself inside your head what a great job you are doing with your spoken English.
9. Support your communication partner.  When you are done with your interaction, let him know how you enjoyed the conversation, or in the case of a business interaction, how you appreciate his time talking with you.
10. Review your successes and challenges with your accent modification specialist.  Share your “wins” and your “challenges” from your practice in the world of communication.  Let your accent trainer know how your sessions are carrying over into your everyday communication.  Allow your accent trainer to support you!

So, there you have it!  Communication is a journey!  You are prepared to go out and pave the way for effective spoken English communication!  We wish you the best on your journey!

If you yourself are interested in seeking more information about how accent modification can benefit you or your employees specifically, our specialists at Master Your Accent are happy to talk with you.  Contact cher@masteryouraccent.com or call (920) 362-2359.  At Master Your Accent we are committed to helping you or your employees decrease the risk of misunderstandings and achieve full expression of skills, talents, spirits and personalities.  Download the FREE Transform your Accent: Transform your Life Kit at www.masteryouraccent.com.