{"id":826,"date":"2020-01-20T00:00:25","date_gmt":"2020-01-20T00:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/?p=826"},"modified":"2020-01-15T02:12:25","modified_gmt":"2020-01-15T02:12:25","slug":"do-students-really-need-a-native-accent-%f0%9f%a4%94","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/pronunciation\/do-students-really-need-a-native-accent-%f0%9f%a4%94\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Students Really Need a Native Accent? \ud83e\udd14"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ironically, the English language does not belong to the English anymore \u2026 and no, it doesn\u2019t belong to the Americans either!<\/p>\n

Believe it or not, non-native speakers of English are increasingly taking over. For example, did you know that non-native speakers of English now outnumber native speakers by a ratio of four to one<\/a>?<\/p>\n

Or that the majority of English-language conversations today do not involve a single native speaker?
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This means that \u201cgood English\u201d in most cases is not native English. But if a native model of English isn\u2019t necessary, what model should we be teaching?<\/p>\n

Intelligible Non-Native Models (Most of the Time)<\/h1>\n

For most students (even including those who insist on learning \u201cnative pronunciation\u201d), an intelligible non-native model of English is perfectly acceptable. As this teaching guide<\/a> explains,<\/p>\n

\n \u201cSince few ... learners ... will eventually acquire a native-like accent ..., non\u2013native English speaking teachers\u2019 own qualities of English pronunciation represent realistic aspirational models of pronunciation attainment.\u201d\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What this means is that your accent (yes, yours!) is a perfectly acceptable model of English.<\/p>\n

Further, there are students who cherish the accent that comes from their native language. Some see it as a part of their identity<\/a>. For example, when a Chinese speaker of English was asked what accent she\u2019d like to have, she replied, \u201cmy OWN accent... because first of all, I am Chinese. I don\u2019t have to speak like an American or British ... it\u2019s like identity.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, not all students feel this secure about their accent, so we should make an effort to help them feel better about it.
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But as the saying goes, \u201cseeing is believing\u201d! It\u2019s important for students to see that non-native speakers can still be respectable speakers of English. To this end, you may want to mention some famous non-native speaking role models, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Penelope Cruz, Ban Ki-Moon<\/a>, or Ang Lee<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ted Talks are also a great resource for this purpose. Since we have a fairly large population of East Asian students, here are some TED videos featuring East Asian English speakers:<\/p>\n