Psst...

Do you want to get language learning tips and resources every week or two? Join our mailing list to receive new ways to improve your language learning in your inbox!

Join the list

English Audio Request

asad100101
270 Words / 1 Recordings / 2 Comments

Judging from the content of this thread so far, two things come to mind. One is that is all but impossible to acquire a native-like phonetic ability after starting a foreign language at an adult age. What is certainly possible with a lot of hard work is the attenuation of a foreign accent to the point where it is not noticeable. But that is not the same as acquiring native-like pronunciation.

My other observation is that there is fundamentally only one way to acquire a good accent: extensive active meaningful interaction with native speakers starting at the earliest age possible.

I think there is something to be said for the idea of a neurological window for the acquisition of accent in the 0 - 14 year zone. This, by the say, is the basic idea of French immersion education here in Canada. French immersion in an English-speaking environment has its limitations of course and does not produce perfectly bilingual graduates. But it does expose the children to French at an ideal age and does create a foundation that may be useful at a later stage. Now that French immersion has been around long enough, we can now see the results in graduates who have a much better, albeit very far from native-like, grasp of French.

As others have pointed out here, learning a language, especially pronunciation, is basically a lot of imitation, repetition and correction in the right environment. This often means some combination of four things: live, love, work and study in the target language. It's not more complicated than that, but it's usually more easier said than done.

Recordings

  • Acquiring near-native pronunciation ( recorded by Thomas ), American (Texas)

    Download Unlock

Comments

asad100101
Feb. 10, 2011

Thank you for your recording. Awesome.

Lizdejesus
July 5, 2023

Thanks

Overview

You can use our built-in RhinoRecorder to record from within your browser, or you may also use the form to upload an audio file for this Audio Request.

Don't have audio recording software? We recommend Audacity. It's free and easy to use.