Should I try to pronounce English like a native speaker?
Should I try to pronounce English like a native speaker?
Most teachers of English would agree that good pronunciation is important for students of English. However, many teachers would question the idea that all students should try to sound like native speakers.
First, the goal of native pronunciation is not very realistic. Some students can learn to pronounce English very well, and a few may even become so good that they could pass for native speakers. However, most Chinese students will inevitably have at least some Chinese accent. This is because once students' English pronunciation habits are formed, these habits are not easy to change. Through hard work, students can improve their pronunciation and achieve English pronunciation that is quite clear and accurate. However, no matter how hard they work, most students find it impossible to erase their Chinese accents completely.
Second, it generally isn't a good idea for Chinese students to have perfect pronunciation. This may sound strange, but it is true. In many ways, speaking English with a Chinese accent - even a slight one - is useful for Chinese students because it protects them from misunderstandings. We need to remember that there are many Chinese-Americans (Chinese-Canadians and so forth) who look Chinese but have a native understanding of Western culture. If a Chinese student has a native English accent, Westerners may mistakenly assume the student also has a native understanding of Western culture. The problem is that if the student does or says something that is not acceptable in Western culture, Westerners may assume this person is rude or stupid. On the other hand, if Westerners can tell from a student's accent that he/she is not a native Westerner, they won't expect the student to understand all the rules of Western culture. So a Chinese accent actually helps students by serving as a warning label that says "This person is Chinese, not Western!"
Students should learn to speak English with clear, standard English pronunciation. However, there is nothing wrong with having a bit of a Chinese accent.
Most teachers of English would agree that good pronunciation is important for students of English. However, many teachers would question the idea that all students should try to sound like native speakers.
First, the goal of native pronunciation is not very realistic. Some students can learn to pronounce English very well, and a few may even become so good that they could pass for native speakers. However, most Chinese students will inevitably have at least some Chinese accent. This is because once students' English pronunciation habits are formed, these habits are not easy to change. Through hard work, students can improve their pronunciation and achieve English pronunciation that is quite clear and accurate. However, no matter how hard they work, most students find it impossible to erase their Chinese accents completely.
Second, it generally isn't a good idea for Chinese students to have perfect pronunciation. This may sound strange, but it is true. In many ways, speaking English with a Chinese accent - even a slight one - is useful for Chinese students because it protects them from misunderstandings. We need to remember that there are many Chinese-Americans (Chinese-Canadians and so forth) who look Chinese but have a native understanding of Western culture. If a Chinese student has a native English accent, Westerners may mistakenly assume the student also has a native understanding of Western culture. The problem is that if the student does or says something that is not acceptable in Western culture, Westerners may assume this person is rude or stupid. On the other hand, if Westerners can tell from a student's accent that he/she is not a native Westerner, they won't expect the student to understand all the rules of Western culture. So a Chinese accent actually helps students by serving as a warning label that says "This person is Chinese, not Western!"
Students should learn to speak English with clear, standard English pronunciation. However, there is nothing wrong with having a bit of a Chinese accent.
posted by Apeesit อภิสิทธิ์ at 12:20 pm
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