Help with Your Accent Blog

Newborns Cry in Their Native Tongue

2009-11-17T14:54:00.000-08:00

Here is a fascinating article about how one's native language influences the melody of a baby's cry! Go to the link to hear examples of a newborn baby crying in a falling melody, typical of German infants and another newborn crying in a rising melody, as frequently produced by French infants.

From Science News, November 5, 2009

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/49195/title/Newborn_babies_may_cry_in_their_mother_tongues

Excerpt:

Only days after birth, babies have a bawl with language. Newborn babies cry in melodic patterns that they have heard in adults’ conversations — even while in the womb, say medical anthropologist Kathleen Wermke of the University of Würzburg in Germany, and her colleagues.

By 2 to 5 days of age, infants’ cries bear the tuneful signature of their parents’ native tongue, a sign that language learning has already commenced, the researchers report in a paper published online November 5 in Current Biology.

Fluent speakers use melodic patterns and pitch shifts to imbue words and phrases with emotional meaning. Changes in pitch and rhythm, for example, can indicate anger. During the last few months of fetal life, babies can hear what their mothers or other nearby adults are saying, providing exposure to melodies peculiar to a specific language, Wermke says. Newborns then re-create those familiar patterns in at least some of their cries, she proposes.

“Our data support the idea that human infants’ crying is important for seeding language development,” Wermke says. “Melody lies at the roots of both the development of spoken language and music.”

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/49195/title/Newborn_babies_may_cry_in_their_mother_tongues

Competency Stages of Changing Your Accent

2009-10-06T14:07:00.000-07:00

You will find that there are four stages to achieving competence in most endeavors. It is true for accent training as well:

Stage 1 is Unconscious Incompetence. You do not know the correct way make to some of the American English sounds and in many cases do not know that you are pronouncing them incorrectly. You cannot hear the rhythm of English speech music.

Stage 2 is Conscious Incompetence. You will experience this often. You are aware of the correct pronunciation and are practicing daily, but are not yet pronouncing the sounds consistently--but at least you know you are not and can self correct. Your are starting to hear American English without the filter of your first language.

Stage 3 is Conscious Competence. In this stage you can make the new sounds correctly, but only when you are consciously making an effort. Conscious effort is called Complete Word Production and starts in Week 4. You must use Complete Word Production ten times a day or more every day to continue to Stage 4. Some people stay in Stage 3 for six months. At this stage, you will be able to start imitating American English speakers.

Stage 4 is Unconscious Competence. You are pronouncing American English correctly. The new pronunciation is second nature and no longer requires conscious attention. You are pronouncing new sounds without thinking about it. Unconscious Competence comes after practicing diligently from 13 weeks to six months and consistently using Complete Word Production ten times a day.

Changing pronunciation is a process. You cannot skip one of the steps above so just relax and practice. You can do it!

American Body Language Tips

2009-09-25T14:26:00.000-07:00

We communicate with our body as much as we do with our words, sometimes more! Here are some tips:

1.    Notice different native English speakers' body language and imitate:

a.    Your eyebrows should move up and down on stressed words or questions.
b.    Drop your chin on stressed words.
c.    Your voice should go up and down in pitch.

2.    While listening to someone else:

a.    Nod up and down to show you understand.
b.    Say, "I see." or "I understand."
c.    Maintain eye contact.

Job Interview Tips

2009-09-25T14:16:00.000-07:00

Try these tips to practice for a job interview...or making a presentation.

A. Prepare for Interview Questions.

1.    Make a list of questions you think you may be asked in an interview.
2.    Record a native American English speaker reading your answers slowly and clearly.
3.    Listen to the recording frequently.
4.    Imitate the speaker of the recording.
5.    Record yourself answering the questions and listen repeatedly.

B. Role Play with a Native English Speaker.

1.    Record or videotape role play between you and a native American English speaker.
2.    Get feedback.
3.    Listen or watch recording repeatedly.

G.E.T. Accent Reduction Course - Week 3

2009-09-25T13:58:00.000-07:00

Listen, Imitate, Integrate

Three more sounds to practice! Now you have a total of seven sounds to practice. Look over your Practice Log, are there some sounds you practice more than others? Are there some sounds you DO NOT LIKE? If so, those are the sounds you need to practice the most. Sorry, it's true.

Work out a plan when and how you are going to practice Week 3. Keep up the good work!

Has anyone commented on a change in your pronunciation yet? Our clients report that in the 3rd and 4th weeks, co-workers start noticing a change.

G.E.T. Accent Reduction Course - Week 2

2009-09-25T13:56:00.000-07:00

Now you have three new sounds plus the sound from last week. Four sounds is a lot to practice! Are you writing your practice times in your Practice Log? It is crucial to start filling out the Practice Log in Week 2 so you can make sure you are giving equal practice time to all sounds...not just your favorites.

Try this:

Day 1: Spend ten minutes with each sound, just working on Auditory Discrimination and Words, record yourself on all the words...no sentences yet.

Day 2: Work on two sounds, practice Words once with text and once with Hide Text. Record voice on Hide Text.
Work on first three sentences, record.

Day 3: Work on the two other sounds, practice Words once with text and once with Hide Text. Record voice on Hide Text.
Work on first three sentences, record. (Remember: Listen to sentence three times, then record your voice. Do not try to talk too fast.)

Day 4: Practice Words on all four sounds, Practice sentences 1-3 again and add sentences 4-6, record.

Day 5: Practice Words on all four sounds. Practice remaining sentences.

Day 6: Practice Words and Sentences, Hide Text.

G.E.T. Accent Reduction Course - Week 1

2009-09-25T13:54:00.000-07:00

Week 1 - The Beginning

This week you received the feedback from your pre-assessment. Now you know exactly what your problem areas are and can begin to work on changing them. Please read the introduction of your book and underline any areas that need clarification. Practice with the CD-Rom. Do you have any questions about using the CD-Rom? Did you play with the "Hide Text" component?

Welcome!

2009-09-25T13:51:00.000-07:00

Thank you for visiting our blog. You will find a wealth of useful information here to help you on your journey to reduce your accent and communicate more effectively when speaking American English. Please give your feedback of the course and ways we can help you learn better and faster.