026: How to get a good accent quickly?

Ferdaous asks: "I'm learning English, how can I develop a good American accent quickly?"

In this episode:

• Why a good accent is important
• The difference between phonemes and prosody
• Why developing a good accent is the result of extensive communication in your target language

Tips for improving your accent:

1. Tackle pronunciation immediately with a native speaker to perfect your pronunciation, before you develop any bad habits.
2. Observe native speakers in action and their voices when they interact, especially at key social moments, such as introductions or meeting friends. If you only work with a teacher, how is their voice when they greet you? This is often the most authentic moment of the conversation. TV and movies are also a good place to focus in on this.
3. Imitate how native speakers say common words and phrases that you’re familiar with.