Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[ajpt]

Hello,

I have been in the quest of getting a job but I haven't been very lucky so far. It is very though for non English native speakers to get a decent job since many companies ask for excellent communication skills. I confess that I don't have a perfect English pronunciation and I still make many grammar and pronunciation mistakes. I just applied for a job and got a message in my answer machine. I called them back and left a message since nobody picked up the phone. Later, I called again and left another message since nobody called me back. Next day I called again in the afternnon and finally someone picked up the phone. I got an appointment for an interview next week. During my conversation with this person I felt that they didn't really wanted me because my accent. They heard my accent in the messages I left before. I think that's why they didn't call me back. They also asked me if I had a permitt to work legally in the US (which I have). I guess they asked me now for an interview because they didn't want to be impolite. I don't really feel like going to that interview because I'm ashamed of my accent and don't want to be rejected by them. What would you do in this situation
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Bye, bye AJPT

[obelix]

Go for the interview anyway. It is good experience.
If you think you are being discriminated against because of your race, then you have legal recourse because such discrimination is illegal in the USA.
Most likely, if you can do the job and be an asset to the company, they will hire you.
Good luck.

[wolfstone]

Hi ajtp,

I understand your problem because I've come across this situation several times. Unfortunately, there is no an easy solution at all, because it's obvious that the companies in the UK and in the US, as in most countries, prefer to sign on native people rather than foreigners, although the latter might be more qualified for the required job. I can just advice you to be patient and hold on to your expectation in order to find a job.

[jctgf]

if you don't speak clearly it's because you probably need to practice!

the way I found to improve my pronunciation was reading a lot, and, most important, reading out loud! you cannot imagine how good it is to fade your accent and improve your fluency!

good luck!

[wolfstone]

"the way I found to improve my pronunciation was reading a lot, and, most important, reading out loud! you cannot imagine how good it is to fade your accent and improve your fluency"

Dear jctgf

It's true all that you say, but this is not the situation of ajpt. You acquire a good pronunciaton by reading, but not an American or British accent. You can just acquire an approximated native-speaker accent if you have lived in an English-speaking country for many years. Although you have a flawless pronunciation, the interviewers might not sign you on due to their foreign accent.

Take care

[hitchhiker]

Accents are part of life, nothing to worry about!

Read here: http://www.englishforums.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=460

[obelix]

If ajpt is still logging on maybe he/she will tell us how the interview went?