Search results for 'tag:Learning English tag:British accent' matching tags 'Learning English' and 'British accent'

Re: How can I learn to talk with a British accent?

Jpmiles — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 06:55:30 GMT

When I started learning English, I had no idea there were things like American and British English. I just knew that English was the name of the language people used in films. I was very excited as I was going to learn to speak the language of Hollywood. Actually, I reckon I had no idea what Hollywood was either.

My two cousins were taking English lessons at an American school. I knew very little English at the time but I really liked their nasal English as it was very much like the one in westerns. However life is tough and we can't get everything we want. I was attending lessons at the Anglo Institute that teaches BRITISH ENGLISH. My cousins would mock me. They didn't like the way I pronounced certain words. For example: mistah, teachah, peetah for Peter.

There I was learning the wrong variety. Anyway, I soon came to terms with accent. I have a nice British accent of my own. I switch it a little sometimes although deep inside, it's TEACHAH.

You can learn the British accent although it's not the same as acquiring it from the beginning. There's something to it that transcends words. There's wit, a many other things, not just propah English.

Now, if I have to choose from the so vast list of local British accents, I prefer standard RP as the core. If you want to sound like a Cockney, go to London. RP as the basics will keep you in business.

Re: Poll: British English vs American English

Daffy Duck — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 10:35:30 GMT

Anonymous wrote:
Well, I have encountered this problem recently. I had been learning english for few years, then I stopped attending courses or lessons, I have been learning at home and watching American TV series and movies.. so I have picked up a lot of vocabulary. So far, so good. Then I realised, when preparing to Cambridge Exam, that I have to "forget" american words and learn british equivalents. Because now I am mixing both.. It's fine by me, as long as people can understand me. Still when passing an exam you need to be consistent, using either american or british english. It's tricky. American english surrounds us everywhere, so we're more familiar with it. On the contrary I just love british accent, even though learning british pronounciation isn't easy.

Nice to hear from you again, Anonymous It's tricky for us teachers, too. We don't even know, if it's just going to be British or American English. Few days ago, I met some students and their parents asked about teachers who can teach Canadian English. Imagine?!

Re: Poll: British English vs American English

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:56:04 GMT

Well, I have encountered this problem recently. I had been learning english for few years, then I stopped attending courses or lessons, I have been learning at home and watching American TV series and movies.. so I have picked up a lot of vocabulary. So far, so good. Then I realised, when preparing to Cambridge Exam, that I have to "forget" american words and learn british equivalents. Because now I am mixing both.. It's fine by me, as long as people can understand me. Still when passing an exam you need to be consistent, using either american or british english. It's tricky. American english surrounds us everywhere, so we're more familiar with it. On the contrary I just love british accent, even though learning british pronounciation isn't easy.

Celebrity learning English accent ???

Anonymous — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 19:23:30 GMT

I'm desperately intrigued to know as how long the following people took in learning new accent, particularly those who learnt broad British English accent.

Who did they take their lessons from & how long it took them to learn their new English accent ???

>> Mike Myers (American to English)
>> Renee Zellweger (American to English)
>> Gordon Brown (Scottish to English)
>> Pierce Brosnan (Irish to English)
>> Colin Ferrell (Irish to American)

I particularly like Mike Myers' British accent (as in Austin Powers movie).

Similarly, I'd equally be interested in knowing about other famous people (or even from non-famous or people around), learning new accent, be it be learning a particular "regional" or "national" accent.

Any response would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Speaking Teaching Books

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 21:52:47 GMT

' American accent trainning' is quite pratical and I've been working on it on and off for almost 6 months. It help me some but not too much I think. U will never pick up the american accent unless u live there for 5 years at least. I am Chinese but I speak either British or American accent although I've been studying in Britain for about 2 years and a half. I just use some parts of the book to correct my pronunication and learn the intonation. Personally speaking, American accent is standard and much more easier than British accent, unlike British accent wihch has many varieries and Brits dont speak the gentle way like they used to. Anyway , good luck with learning English ;-0

Alex

Re: How can I learn to talk with a British accent?

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 18:21:31 GMT

I'm sutdent and this thime , learning english course I want to english British accent dictionary and also I'm very week specialy listeng So I want to a good british web online page which the tistening stories and news I now American Accent web side but I want to british accen becuse I'm new camer and wine I Praperly Undersand british accent the amercan accent wont,s problem for me

I hope you will looking my request and send me amail

No personal details, thanks!

Re: British Pronounciation vs American Pronounciation

Anonymous — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 22:13:29 GMT

Hallo. I liked your comment on learning English and American. I'm trying desparatly to preserve my American accent while I'm assaulted by the British accent since I live in Europe now (Poland). What are good books to teach me contrasted pronunciation with cassettes. My email is richardmariasokolowski@wp.pl. My warm regards, Richard

Re: British vs American English (potaytoe, potaatoe)

A.DeSouza — Mon, 06 Dec 2004 18:59:31 GMT

All languages change and develop over time, with new words being added and different meanings being applied. English has changed just as much as American english from what the language was like in the 18th century - no one goes around talking like Charles Dickens or Jane Austen anymore. naturally American english started of the same as British english because it derived from the British.

In fact relatively few people in England speak with what most of the world sees as the traditional, posh , proper British accent (with the exception of people in the Royal family and those in Parliment.) Up in the north there are a variety of dialects but down south, around London, the accent is a mild cockney among the working class/youngsters or neutral among those who are older or better off.

It amazes me to here that some people learning English learn it in a American accent, surely if you are learning a language you learn it in the accent of the people who originally spoke it. If you are learning Spanish, you learn it in Spanish accent not a south American one. If people are learning American English, you might as well teach carribean English too.

lastly I have no problem with words being different in America, but some are just not logical. Such as the change from football to soccer, - everyobody else calls it football because you play it with your feet (unlike American football which you play with your hands) so why call it soccer? that is one change i really do not understand.

Re: Is American English lazy English?

Mike in Japan — Thu, 11 Sep 2003 09:11:36 GMT

Perhaps the outcome will not be decided by the English speaking countries, but by the educational policies of the developing countries.
Learning English is now compulsory in China, the most populated and most rapidly developing country in the world. I'm not sure of its policy regarding the version of English taught, but China's choice would add great numbers to the users of the version chosen. I'll try to find out, just as a matter of interest. I have a student who is from China and speaks with a slightly British accent, I'll ask her when I next see her.
English, the American flavour, is also compulsory at Japanese (hardly a developing country) schools, but unfortunately few students reach a practical level of ability.
Right now I am trying to pin-down the Australian Department of Education on their exact policy, but as with many Govt. bodies, they don't always state things clearly.
What do you think of the English used by people in or from India, (the sixth most populous country)?