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American Accent: Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
American Accent by Dr. Suess Author Theodore Geisel, better known as Dr. Suess, has remained one of the literary world’s most popular and respected authors due to his ability to deliver universal themes in anapestic tetrameter, a writing form that features four anapestic metrical feet per line. Two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable. [...]
Chicago Accent on Saturday Night Live (SNL)
Chicago Accent: The Birth of a Stereotype On January 12, 1991, Saturdayy Night Live (SNL) debuted a recurring skit known as Bill Swerski’s Superfans, which would come to define the so called “Chicago accent” for generations of non-native Chicagoans. The accent used in the skit continues to be bandied about to this day as a shorthanded representation of [...]
Accent Reduction Tips: Idioms Part 14
Accent Reduction Tips: Our Ongoing Idioms Series Our clients at Accent Pros have accent reduction goals and 85% have advanced degrees and an excellent command of the English language. Given the constantly evolving state of the English language; however, they may not understand informal slang and idioms that are regularly used in the workplace, conversations with [...]
Accent Reduction Tips: American Idioms-Part Thirteen
Accent Reduction Tips: Our Ongoing Idioms Series Many of our clients with accent reduction goals have advanced degrees and have excellent command of the English language. Given the constantly evolving state of the English language, they may not understand informal slang used during workplace conversations or on various popular social media platforms such as Facebook [...]
American Accent Classes: Jony Ive of Apple Gives a Lesson
American Accent Classes: Impacted by Apple? Since we teach American accent classes at Accent Pros, we love to analyze the speaking patterns of individuals. Over the past couple of years, we have been intrigued by a spokesperson at Apple. Yes he has an accent, but more importantly, he speaks in a manner which not only [...]
Accent Reduction Training-The Voices of California Project
Accent Reduction Training: Increasingly Localized As was discussed in a previous article, the standard California accent is thought to be closest in tone to the standard American English spoken throughout the Midwest and emphasized in accent reduction training. A direct result of Midwestern settlers migrating to San Francisco during the gold rush period from 1848-1855. [...]
American Idioms-Part Twelve
The Importance of Idioms Modern technology has become such an ingrained aspect of our day to day interactions with people from both a professional and social standpoint. It’s not difficult to envision a scenario where picking up the phone and calling someone would be considered a last resort means of communication. Socially, individuals routinely communicate [...]
How Singing Affects Native Accents
Does singing truly negate individual accents? If you were to scan the playlist on your personal music player, paying attention only to how clearly the lyrics are pronounced in a given song, you’d be surprised to note that, irrespective of factors such as genre, musicianship, vocal style and melody, a singer’s native accent normally isn’t [...]
American Idioms-Part Eleven
A Note On Our Ongoing Idioms Series Many of our clients at AccentPros have advanced degrees and have excellent command of the English language. Given the constantly evolving state of the English language however they may not understand informal slang and the turns of phrase that are regularly used in the workplace, conversations with friends, [...]
American Idioms-Part Ten
A Note On Our Ongoing Idioms Series Many of our clients at AccentPros have advanced degrees and have excellent command of the English language. Given the constantly evolving state of the English language however they may not understand informal slang and the turns of phrase that are regularly used in the workplace, conversations with friends, [...]
Older Adults and Accent Reduction
Understanding the Plasticity of the Human Brain Many older adults are hesitant to begin accent reduction classes because of the assumption their brain has aged beyond a stage where it is receptive to their respective second language’s inherent structure. This is a theory which has been reinforced throughout the years by research and the media. [...]
Commonly Mispronounced English Words
Native English Speakers Mispronounce Words More Often Than You Think When you begin accent reduction training you may be perplexed by the fact that many English words are not spelled phonetically. Moreover, English is filled with homophones, or two words that sound alike but have divergent spellings and meanings, such as meet and meat. Although [...]
The Untold Story of the Geico Gecko’s Brooklyn Bridge Commercial Shoot
Recently Accent Pros brought you the story of the Geico gecko’s experiences during a stay in Chicago. In NYC, the gecko was nearly hit by a cyclist during a Brooklyn Bridge commercial shoot for Geico’s “The Gecko’s Journey” series. Below you will find the transcript of our interview with the gecko as he answered our [...]
Second Language Acquisition in Children and the Role of Accent Training
How Children Acquire a Second Language Young children acquire languages almost effortlessly. Typically developing children under the age of three learn new languages easily due to a process known as simultaneous second language learning, whereas older children learn a second language sequentially. Although there was once a fear that exposing a child to two separate [...]
The Correct Pronunciation of the Definite Article
The Two Types of English Articles In English there are two articles, the indefinite and the definite article. The indefinite articles are “a” and “an”, used before consonant and vowel sounds respectively. The definite article is “the”, and is used in writing consistently before consonant and vowel sounds. The definite article is usually used when [...]
American Idioms-Part Nine
Cross your fingers Definition: To wish/pray for the best possible outcome. Example sentence: Jill waited for her exam results with crossed fingers. Origin: In the early days of the church, crossed fingers were used as a symbol for the cross. These were thought to invoke the power of the cross to guard against evil. This [...]
Is Daniel Day-Lewis’ Lincoln Accent Historically Accurate?
Searching for Lincoln’s True Voice The first phonograph (a device to record and playback sounds) was invented by Thomas Alva Edison in 1877, twelve years after the death of Abraham Lincoln. As such, no recording of Abraham Lincoln’s legendary speeches exists to highlight those variables which contributed to Lincoln’s status as one of the great [...]
Can The American Accent and Pronunciation Style be Mastered Effectively Online?
Does an ideal form of “standard English” exist? Foreign demand to learn American standard English , featuring distinct accent and pronunciation characteristics, continues to grow exponentially. This is due to the pervasiveness of American culture in forms of mass media. The question of whether a foreign student of world languages should learn Standard American English [...]
Developing an American Accent
The Effect of an Accent Do you have an accent when you speak? Would you like to know how to develop an American accent? Most non-native English speakers speak using accented English, the prominence of which is influenced by a variety of factors. Most individuals are unaware of how mild or heavy their accent would [...]
Common American Idioms-Part Eight
Cut Corners or Cutting Corners Definition: To take an alternative route or find a faster way to complete a task. Normally said with the implication that the outcome will prove to be detrimental because of the proposed shortcuts. It is commonly used in financial situations. Example Sentence : This is not a race; you have [...]
Value of American Accent Training for Social and Professional Life
Foreign Students in the Classroom Foreign students attending American schools often feel left out in classroom discussions, group activities and even social events . If you are a foreign exchange student having difficulty adjusting to life abroad, American accent training can help you address the accent and dialect challenge you face.Well educated students who come [...]
Common American Idioms – Part Seven
Keep your Eyes Peeled Definition: A cautionary expression indicating that one should be on alert for someone or something Example sentence: “Abby called me the other day telling me to keep my eyes peeled for any ceramic turtle collections under 50 dollars on eBay. I’m starting to worry about her.” Origin: The word peel [...]
Common American Idioms – Part Six
The Jury is Still Out Definition : An indication that a decision has not been reached on a particular issue, mainly due to lack of evidence. Example: The jury is still out on whether the majority of the office thinks Gatorade is superior to Powerade. Origin: The use of “the jury is still out” [...]
When You Try to Hide Your Accent
When you try to hide your accent, you become overwhelmed. When you become overwhelmed, you start to believe in fate. When you start to believe in fate, you seek out a palm reader. When you seek out a palm reader, you discover you have a repressed fear of driving. When you discover you [...]
Learning English Pronunciation of the Word “Of”
The pronunciation of many words in the English language is sometimes puzzling to non-native speakers. One example would be the word “of”. The word’s history reveals interesting details about why it is pronounced with /v/ instead of an /f/. Its first known use is traced back to before the 12th century. By that time, people [...]
Standard Spanish: Is Castilian or Peninsular Spanish the standard for dialect and accent across all Spanish speaking countries?
Second to English and Chinese, Spanish is one of the widest spoken languages in the world, with over twenty nations claiming it as their official tongue. One of the Romance Languages (descended from common or “vulgar” Latin), Spanish shares syntax similarities to Italian, French, Romanian and Portuguese, among others. What many don’t realize without studying [...]
Are VOA News Special English Videos on YouTube good for accent reduction?
What is the VOA News Special English video series? Voice Of America (VOA) News Special English videos emphasize that individuals can observe the natural rhythm of the American Accent while learning about current events across a variety of subjects, including world news, business, entertainment and technology. Users can access the videos via VOA’s website or [...]
Are Accent Reduction Classes Popular Among MBA Students?
The Value of An American Education In today’s global economy, international MBA students are choosing to study in America, believing the American educational experience combined with a learned comfort level interpreting the American accent will place them ahead of equally qualified job candidates. Every year more than 1,400,000 exchange students apply to study abroad, with [...]
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
Definition: The notion that a picture is just as effective at describing the intricate details of a given situation as a story relayed from person to person or in print, perhaps more so given pictures display concrete evidence and therefore are not subject to human embellishment and/or forgetfulness. Example: Experts recommend not sharing too much [...]
Types of Accents and Dialects Heard in California
The Roots of the California Accent The California accent is at a young stage of development. As late as 1941, David DeCamp believed the California accent to be similar to the non-rhotic speech of the east coast; however the accent is closer in tone to the Midwest accent. Upon moving to Los Angeles many actors [...]
Don’t Name an Asteroid
1. When people find your accent funny, they start ignoring you. 2. When people ignore you, you become more assertive. 3. When you become more assertive, you feel compelled to declare your love. 4. When you feel compelled to declare your love, you name a star after your girlfriend. 5. [...]
Types of Accents and Dialects Heard in NYC
Speech in “The Big Apple” The New York City accent is one of the most polarizing regional accents found in the United States. Some people believe the accent to be an extension of the speaker’s presumed “tough” personality, a stereotypical trait that has been broadly applied to all New Yorkers by non natives. Although the [...]
How Do You Talk with an American Accent?
With every existing American accent comes a different dialect as well as particular rules, patterns, and styles of intonation, stress, and rate of speech. If you speak with a foreign accent and you are looking to talk like an American, you must learn to speak with a standard American accent. You may be wondering what [...]
Common American Idioms – Part Five
Accent reduction students from all over the world participate in our online classes for accent reduction. One of their favorite parts of the class is learning about the American idioms and other common English sayings. In a continuing part of our idioms series, we feature down to the wire, get a leg up, and tie [...]
What is the Language of Science and Global Commerce?
There are thousands of languages spoken throughout the world. Of course, individuals use these languages for communication, entertainment, reading and writing purposes involving a variety of subjects. Today, some of the most important fields are science, commerce (business), aviation, and the internet. Each one requires ongoing communication, clarity, and precision when sharing information. Because science [...]
What is the Language of Aviation and the Internet?
In part two of the series in how the English language is most widely used across the globe for aviation, internet, science and global commerce, Accent Pros uncovers what is taking place all over the planet in regards to communication. Accent Pros offers the ability to reduce your accent and help strengthen your communication skills [...]
Common American English Idioms – Part Four
Accent reduction students from all over the world participate in our online classes for accent reduction. One of their favorite parts of the class is learning about the American idioms and other common English sayings. In a continuing part of our idioms series, we feature down to the wire, get a leg up, and tie [...]
Speech Profiling – Is it Wrong?
What is Speech Profiling? To profile someone means to make a judgment based on his or her appearance, background, or the way he or she speaks. The most common form of profiling involves judging people based on their race, known as “racial profiling”. If you talk with a foreign accent while speaking English, others may [...]
Why Should I Learn English?
Learning English is an important step to successful communication, especially for business. There are a number of reasons as to why it would benefit anyone to learn English, especially when living in an English-speaking community or being required to communicate with other English-speaking individuals on a daily basis. Today, it is almost necessary to [...]
Do English Speaking Americans Have an Accent?
Individuals who speak standard American English are usually able to notice when someone else speaks with a different, more foreign accent. However, these American English-speaking individuals may sometimes believe their own way of speaking contains no accent at all, when in turn, it actually does. What most of these native English speakers don’t realize is [...]
American Idioms – Common English Phrases – Part 3
Cooking With Gas Definition: Expediting a project or task by approaching it in a different way. Usually said with enthusiasm. Example: After I told the cab driver my preferred route to work, so I could get there on time, we were cooking with gas. Origin: Gas stoves were introduced in the 1800′s and quickly became [...]
If I Learn English, What Dialect Should I Choose?
Today, knowing and understanding the English language is a necessity in order to communicate throughout many countries, especially in the United States. Learning standard American English may take a lot of practice and time, but in the end, you will be rewarded with many more opportunities in your professional and personal life. Understanding English will [...]
Common English Phrases – American Idioms – Part 2
Why We Teach Idioms… Many of our clients at Accent Pros have advanced degrees and have excellent command of the English language. Even so, they sometimes don’t understand the slang language or idioms used by native American speakers. Based on popular demand, here are some additional common idioms to consider this week. Misunderstanding or misusing [...]
Can Comprehension of Accented Speech Decrease with Age?
An Unexplored Avenue Much research has been completed in the field of aging and the ability of the body to adapt both physically and mentally as its various systems decline, but only recently have researchers begun to address the question of whether or not older adults have a more difficult time understanding accented speech compared [...]
Listening is an Important Step to Correct English Pronunciation
When it comes to learning completely new pronunciation during speech, it is important to be an auditory learner. This simply means you will learn something new through listening, and you will depend on hearing and repeating as your primary way of learning. When improving your American English pronunciation, you must first be able to hear [...]
The Geico Gecko takes on the Chicago Accent
Geico has launched a commercial series entitled “The Gecko’s Journey,” in which their mascot travels around the U.S. After nearly getting trampled during his New York City Brooklyn bridge commercial shoot last month, the gecko decided to recuperate from this traumatic experience by spending a couple of weeks in Chicago, taking in a game from [...]
Do Students have More Difficulty Learning from a Teacher with a Foreign Accent?
Learning to speak a different language or accent is bound to be a difficult task from the start. It is such a challenge because individuals are naturally accustomed to the sounds and language they learned as children. If you are a foreign speaker who decides to learn English from someone who speaks the same native [...]
Common American Idioms for Standard English Phrases
Accent Pros is happy to announce a new segment in the accent reduction blog called – Common American Idioms. Here we will explore common American English phrases, descriptions, and use them in an example to help you understand the full breadth of the saying. After enjoying the idioms, treat yourself to a free accent reduction tutorial available in [...]
How Will Accent Reduction Classes Affect My Dating Life?
If you are an individual who speaks with a foreign accent, you may notice the way you speak sometimes negatively affects your daily social life. Although foreign accents are unique in their own ways and provide listeners with a background of the speaker, they may still cause difficulties when communicating with others. Trouble Understanding Each [...]
The Great Vowel Shift
What was the Great Vowel Shift? The great vowel shift refers to a period roughly from the twelfth century to the eighteenth century in England when all of the long vowels in English were raised–with the most substantial development coming in the 15th and 16th centuries–creating a drastic shift away from the pronunciation methods found [...]
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