There are a few reasons why you may want to speak like a native British speaker. First, learning the accent can earn you respect if you want to visit or work in the United Kingdom. Another reason is to be understood clearly. Even the most outspoken can make mistakes that may cause confusion and misunderstanding.
Understanding the British Accent
What most people commonly refer to as the British accent is the standard accent of Standard English. The dialect is typically used in South England. It is also known as BBC Pronunciation or Received Pronunciation. No matter what you call it, it is possible to articulate words using this accent.
Here is how you can acquire a neutral native English accent:
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Listen to People Who Speak with a British Accent
Listening to how people speak is one of the easiest ways of acquiring an accent. Carefully pay attention to the mouth movement and sounds made. Repeating phrases made by a native speaker (shadowing) can also come in handy.
Repeat phrases and see how close you come to mimicking the accent. You can also record yourself making different English sounds and comparing the original tone to how you sound. You don’t have to be embarrassed about sounding silly; this method is tried and tested.
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Watch Tutorials
Watching video tutorials is a convenient and quick way to acquire a British accent. Most voice coaches publish tutorials on pronouncing different words while providing valuable examples.
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Listen to Your Voice
Although this might seem weird, recording yourself speaking English and listening to it can help identify areas that require improvement.
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Identify what’s ‘Awkward’ About Your Pronunciation
As you try to learn the new language, you will notice it has several similarities to your native language. Once you identify these similarities, you can focus on improving sounds that don’t exist in your language. Avoid comparing the unfamiliar sounds in English with similar sounds from your native language. Although it may seem like a shortcut, it can be a bad habit that will make reducing your native accent more difficult in the long run.
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Practice Makes Perfect
Getting an English accent requires patience and skills, so don’t give up if you don’t experience changes immediately. To be a fluent speaker, you need to schedule frequent training sessions with a dialect coach. Record yourself reading articles, lyrics and movie scripts. Then you can listen and identify your areas of strengths or weaknesses. You can also seek assistance from native speakers. For instance, you can upload the recordings on platforms like Reddit. The more feedback you get, the more you can improve your accent.
Speak With a British Accent Today
Acquiring an English accent can be difficult but don’t lose hope. At the Pronunciation School, we have what it takes to help you improve your accent. Everything starts with a free evaluation for accent modification in Australia. Book a free assessment today to discover if we can help.