Site Search:
 
Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Do students really learn a native like accent from native sp
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
JZer



Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
PostPosted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 5:06 pm    Post subject: Do students really learn a native like accent from native sp Reply with quote
My question is whether in your experience young students that have learned English in a non-English speaking country have been able to acquire a native like English accent?

Taiwanese and Koreans want foreigners so their children acquire an American/North American like accent. Does it really happen?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
rusmeister



Joined: 15 Jun 2006
Posts: 867
Location: Russia
PostPosted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 5:16 pm    Post subject: Re: Do students really learn a native like accent from nativ Reply with quote
JZer wrote:
My question is whether in your experience young students that have learned English in a non-English speaking country have been able to acquire a native like English accent?

Taiwanese and Koreans want foreigners so their children acquire an American/North American like accent. Does it really happen?


My oldest son certainly has (the jury is still out on the younger ones). Of course, he lives with me. But kids who get 3 hours a week? Not likely.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
JZer



Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
PostPosted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 5:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I guess part of my question is how much effect does a native teacher really have. The students in the classroom are picking up their pronunciation from the other students as well as the teacher. Even if they attend an all English elementary school.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Guy Courchesne



Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
PostPosted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 5:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
Does it really happen?


I've seen it happen here in Mexico, but not often. Seems the students with the most opportunities to travel have it, or those that are in the top schools that tend to have a lot of other native-speaking kids in with them achieve it.

For the older students, I find that those who are musically inclined do best in this area.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website MSN Messenger
Madame J



Joined: 15 Feb 2007
Posts: 239
Location: Oxford, United Kingdom
PostPosted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Obviously I can't vouch for everyone, but I remember a teacher friend in Thailand being rather disconcerted by the fact a few of her students had begun to adopt a laid back Brighton accent...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail MSN Messenger
JZer



Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
PostPosted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
Seems the students with the most opportunities to travel have it, or those that are in the top schools that tend to have a lot of other native-speaking kids in with them achieve it.


But even some native speakers from the US, Canada, or England that attend these international schools end up with a strange accent. If they went back home people would know immediately that their accent was different. I know a girl that told me that people back home always commented on her accent. Both of her parents were American but she grew up abroad.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
JZer



Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
PostPosted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
If you read Nature versus Nurture by Judith Harris you can see how children learn their accent from other children and not necessarily their parents or teacher. Immigrants usually do not copy their parents accent.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
naturegirl321



Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
PostPosted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 2:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I've seen it happen. People who start learning young and then have strong accents, British ones , when they're older.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
JZer



Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
PostPosted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 5:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
I've seen it happen. People who start learning young and then have strong accents, British ones , when they're older.


I am not saying that it doesn't happen. But what is the norm and how do students avoid copying their classmates accents?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
wildchild



Joined: 14 Nov 2005
Posts: 519
Location: Puebla 2009 - 2010
PostPosted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 6:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
Do students really learn a native like accent from native sp


no, they learn it from NNS (non-native speakers) Rolling Eyes Laughing

see imitation, mimic. such phenomena have been previously documented. Shocked
Back to top