tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657377509284409233.post7474205147654409098..comments2023-03-25T06:11:47.702-07:00Comments on Teaching ESL to Adults: Accent Reduction for ESL SpeakersName: Debra Garcia, M.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06789164435634557030noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657377509284409233.post-13555418818661668052011-04-28T16:14:18.280-07:002011-04-28T16:14:18.280-07:00Really interesting thoughts. In my mixed-level cl...Really interesting thoughts. In my mixed-level classes I draw attention to my pronunciation and try to get them to mimic me, but I often give alternate pronunciations. This seems to be comfortable for everyone.<br /><br />I think that if I were to work one-on-one with a more advanced student and find that they're anxious about their accent, it may well be helpful to approach accent reduction in terms of learning to imitate 'American' accents. You can even show a clip of an actor or youtube-ist switching between accents and encourage the student to consciously choose to 'put on' an 'American' accent while not trying to banish their natural speech patterns.Tianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05730895547465904834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657377509284409233.post-6234033147350553922008-10-26T12:37:00.000-07:002008-10-26T12:37:00.000-07:00I certainly understand your concern, however langu...I certainly understand your concern, however language acquisition is extremely complicated. A speaker cannot imitate another speaker unless he/she is aware of the mechanics that go into producing sound. In order to do that you must work on your own sound(accent). To reduce the accent is not a suggestion to belittle or single out a difference in speaking, but instead a practice in pronouncing distorted sounds correctly. So, in reality you are reducing the accent. But your concerns about the semantics is valid. So, if students can be made to understand that the accent is reduced and why, then the term accent reduction will not be so intimidating.<BR/><BR/>Alia<BR/>www.askalia.squarespace.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com