English Language Accents

When it comes to accents we all have one no matter where in the world we were brought up. Most of us are familiar with the basic differences between British and American accents, but what about accents from Australia and New Zealand, Canada and South Africa? And within each of these countries there are dozens of regional accents, just to complicate things further. So, we all have an accent, but is it a problem when teaching English as a foreign language? The first thing to remember is that there is no right or wrong accent when it comes to teaching and learning English. When teaching it is fine to speak naturally, just be sure that you always speak clearly and that all your instructions are fully understood by the whole class. Whether there is one accent that is better to teach than others...  [Read more]

The topic of teacher accents in the ESL classroom is much debated. I am sure most teachers can relate to a story or experience. In South Korea, like many Asian countries there is a strong focus on the 'American English'. All listening tapes, dialogues, transcripts and texts use American linguistics and accents. Even the international TOEIC and TEFL tests for a long time were using American accents. As a New Zealand citizen being strongly advised to develop an American accent can be hard to comprehend.Kachru 1986 writes 'what actually happens is that language and power go together. American English is accepted for the power and superiority which America as a nation has acquired in the areas of science, technology, commerce, military affairs and politics'. I tend to agree and...  [Read more]

Living in Japan has given me the opportunity to see difficulties Japanese people have with English first hand. I have also discussed this issue with my Japanese wife and several other Japanese people as well. I have even discussed it with native English speakers and got their thoughts on the subject. The biggest thing that I have noticed is their accent. I moved to Italy when I was seven and grew up learning Italian. So I developed both an Italian and American accent. When I first moved to Japan eleven years ago, instead of learning the language I first developed a Japanese accent which helped me considerably when I started to actually learn the language. My point is that when learning a language it is very important to develop the accent for that language. When...  [Read more]

These days, nearly every economic, political and social development is defined by its association with the broad-based phenomenon commonly identified as globalization. Understandably, economic integration favors standardization, and historical circumstance has led to the adoption of English as the primary language of international commerce. Consequently, the differences between British and American English should be of interest, if only for the historic role that these two nations have played in the unprecedented proliferation of a single language. Due to the limitations of this essay, three distinct elements of language will be discussed: vocabulary; grammar; and pronunciation.Perhaps the most understandable distinctions between British and American English are the...  [Read more]

There are common issues that all learners inevitably face. : The complexities of future tenses, modal and phrasal verbs. Aside from this, study habits and memorization of vocabulary are other hurdles that all students must jump. But each country, region, city or village will have its unique set of issues that will make language acquisition more complex. Having lived and worked in the region of Catalonia for the last 3 years a number of complexities of English learning have been brought to my attention Though the problems for learners in Spain/Catalonia may not be altogether unique in all aspects, I will attempt to clarify those that seem of particular issue in my short experience teaching here. The culture of language acquisition has become a larger issue as Catalans have...  [Read more]

"British English vs. American English"€™- the title itself suggests a battle or a contest where only winning matters. In many ways, this is exactly what it is. It is a silent struggle for domination that is mainly fought in the halls of academia where dictionaries and encyclopaedias are the weapons of war and the generals are professors. Why has this happened' Its human nature to be competitive and ‘survival of the fittest’ is one of the most well known phrases in the world; regardless as to which continent you are on. When the continents involved are two of the worlds’ superpowers, the sayings "€˜God save the Queen"€™ and "€˜God bless America"€™ take on a whole new meaning.There are many differences between American English (AmE)...  [Read more]

"British English vs. American English"- the title itself suggests a battle or a contest where only winning matters. In many ways, this is exactly what it is. It is a silent struggle for domination that is mainly fought in the halls of academia where dictionaries and encyclopaedias are the weapons of war and the generals are professors. Why has this happened? Its human nature to be competitive and ?survival of the fittest? is one of the most well known phrases in the world; regardless as to which continent you are on. When the continents involved are two of the worlds? superpowers, the sayings ?God save the Queen? and ?God bless America? take on a whole new meaning. There are many differences between American English (AmE) and British English (BrE). These...  [Read more]

(From own experience as a volunteer English and French teacher, different forums and talks with other native and non-native teachers)All over the world more and more EFL schools advertise their courses highlighting that they only employ native speakers and reject applicants on the ground that it is the customers' expectation, opening the gates wide for native teachers and giving more obstacles to non-native ones (until they find themselves in a desperate need for a teacher'). But is it really the customers' expectation' Unfortunately teaching ability is not part of the mother tongue package! Non-native teachers could be compared with young new teachers of any subject they have just graduated: depending on their teaching ability, their skills in the subject, their personality, ...  [Read more]

  Lenin from the United States found our 120-hour TEFL course very helpful. He especially enjoyed looking into the grammar units and found the view from an English learner's point of view very interesting. He also found the units on lesson planning and classroom management very useful for his own future classroom. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL certification course. Each of our online courses is broken down into concise units that focus on specific areas of English language teaching. This convenient, highly structured design means that you can quickly get to grips with each section before moving onto the next. Listening is a harder skill than reading due to the lack of time to comprehend and also the...  [Read more]

Exploring the nuances of British English pronunciation can be a fascinating journey for language enthusiasts and English learners alike. From the distinctive accents of London and Liverpool to the subtle variations in vowel sounds across different regions, the UK offers a rich tapestry of linguistic diversity. Understanding these pronunciation differences is not only essential for effective communication but also provides valuable insights into the cultural and historical roots of the British Isles. 1. Regional Accents: The United Kingdom is home to a myriad of regional accents, each with its own unique characteristics and quirks. From the posh Received Pronunciation (RP) of the upper classes to the distinctive lilt of Cockney in East London, British accents vary widely across different...  [Read more]

One of the most fascinating aspects of the English language is the diverse range of dialects spoken around the world. From the United States to Australia, each region has its unique way of speaking English that reflects its history, culture, and influences. In the United Kingdom, this diversity is particularly pronounced, with a rich tapestry of accents and dialects that vary not only from region to region but even from town to town. Understanding how English is spoken in the UK can provide valuable insights into the country's social dynamics, history, and identity. The geography of the United Kingdom has played a significant role in shaping the country's linguistic landscape. The UK is made up of four distinct countries – England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – each with its...  [Read more]

  Before we go into looking at the actual receptive skills lesson, if we were thinking about what potential problems there could be in these lessons. So, what things could go wrong in a reading lesson? Well, firstly the students when they are reading in a language that is not their native language, they tend to read every word as a separate piece and by reading word to word it?s very difficult to get an overall impression of what that particular text is saying. Secondly, the sentence length in a lot of articles that we will get will be very long and many of our students will not be used to that structure of language. So, here it's important to have a think about the way in which the text has actually been written and will it be fairly easy to read. The final thing is the actual...  [Read more]

English is one of the most commonly used languages in India, especially by the urban Indian. Almost every Indian, even if he/she has had no formal schooling, uses at least a dozen English words in day to day communication. However, this 'In-glish' doesn't suffice in an international scenario, and one can see that language schools here in the UAE have a larger percentage of Indian students than others. Interestingly, an Indian student finds it easier to write English than speak. This may partly be due to cultural reasons. Similarly, an Indian learner has a larger receptive vocabulary than a productive one. As an Indian EFL teacher, I find these aspects intriguing.Problems with grammar:All EFL students find it difficult to understand ' and use -- perfect tenses. They usually...  [Read more]

  Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL certification course. Each of our online courses is broken down into concise units that focus on specific areas of English language teaching. This convenient, highly structured design means that you can quickly get to grips with each section before moving onto the next. Receptive skills include reading and listening skills. Some problems to consider and reduce include finding material that is suitable to the interests and knowledge level of the students. Also consider accents of the speaker and how this may affect understanding. Teaching scanning, skimming, detailed reading, and predictive skills are also a part of the reading process that students need to learn. Be sure...  [Read more]

1.IntroductionWhen teaching English worldwide, one has to consider that there are two major dialects: The British (BrE) and the North American (AmE). A decision should be made by any responsible teacher as to which he or she teaches. A reason to adopt the AmE form could be teaching students for tourism jobs, because of the larger number of US- American tourists there are compared to British ones, while the BrE dialect might be preferable for business students because it is still considered an advantage in some work areas.In the following article we will go through some of the most common differences. However, the interested reader should consult the sources indicated in the annex when willing to obtain a capacity of consistent teaching of either of the two.2.GrammarApart from...  [Read more]

While teaching English abroad you are unlikely to face any type of discrimination from fellow teachers as most are like-minded people who are easy-going and accepting of the world in all its diversity. However, it can be a different story when it comes to employers. In some parts of the world, including some of the most popular teaching destinations, traditional, conservative views and opinions are still commonplace and this can lead to some uncomfortable situations. Many people still have the mistaken belief that all you need to teach English is to be a native English speaker and those that aren’t will never be as good at it. However, this view on teaching couldn’t be more wrong. To be an effective TEFL teacher you need to have a solid understanding of the workings of the language...  [Read more]

Listening to music stimulates students to learn English and works as a change of class atmosphere. Songs make an enjoyable learning environment. Songs have a small amount of information and a high degree of superfluity; they make songs sound simple and this aid to understanding. They contain authentic language, are easily attainable, provide vocabulary and cultural aspects and are fun for the students. They provide enjoyable speaking, listening, vocabulary and language practice both in and out of the classroom. Songs are a good resource for English Teaching; ''They are funny and can be selected to suit the needs and interests of the students. Students think songs are natural and fun. Fun, even silly songs abound in English. As texts, songs are interesting because most do not...  [Read more]

In a world full of languages how does one place the English language' Most languages have a full history going back thousands of years. Can this really be said of English' No, but we can say that the history is full, one full of war and violence as well as compromise and inclusion. We might start in the year 449 AD in the island of Britain. At this time the Anglo-Saxons invaded Britain as the Romans left to defend their homeland. The local Celtic people quickly adapted the ways of the German tribe and we saw the beginning of English, it is said that the majority of its words can be traced to this. As the next thousand years progressed we saw the invasion of the Danes, French Normans as well as the influence of the Church. This leads us up to the time when this...  [Read more]

Humans speak with each other by creating sounds. That is how we communicate with each other. Over the centuries the different languages have created systems of grammar to explain how the words in their languages work. Sometime after that, they began to create systems to explain how the sounds, or phonemes, of the different words work. Two disciplines arose out of this: phonetics and phonology. Phonetics is the study of the sounds themselves. In the world there are a limited number of possible sounds which the human vocal tract can produce. Of these sounds, the distinctive pronunciations of the different languages are produced. But how are theses sounds produced and represented? The answer to this question is the area of study of Phonetics. Generally, Phonetics is ...  [Read more]

Humans speak with each other by creating sounds. That is how we communicate with each other. Over the centuries the different languages have created systems of grammar to explain how the words in their languages work. Sometime after that, they began to create systems to explain how the sounds, or phonemes, of the different words work. Two disciplines arose out of this: phonetics and phonology.Phonetics is the study of the sounds themselves. In the world there are a limited number of possible sounds which the human vocal tract can produce. Of these sounds, the distinctive pronunciations of the different languages are produced. But how are theses sounds produced and represented' The answer to this question is the area of study of Phonetics. Generally, Phonetics is subdivided into...  [Read more]

1. Overview of English Language Programs in Australia 2. Benefits of Studying English in Australia 3. Top English Language Programs in Australia 4. How to Choose the Right English Language Program Australia is renowned for its high-quality education system, diverse culture, and stunning landscapes. As a result, it has become a popular destination for international students seeking to improve their English language skills. English language programs in Australia cater to students of all levels, from beginners to advanced speakers, and offer a range of courses to meet diverse needs. Studying English in Australia provides numerous benefits, including immersion in an English-speaking environment, exposure to different accents and dialects, and opportunities to practice language skills in...  [Read more]

China has been proclaimed to be the largest market for English learners. In the last twenty years, progress in teaching and learning of English has exploded. Arriving in China August 1993 was not my first time there. Though it was my first time in the Northeast. I was to spend the next twelve years of my life in the city of Shenyang. An industrial city of 7 million people. My first impression was that it was like being in a 1950´s black and white movie with no sub-titles.. I was to teach at Shenyang Institute of Technology. My first year, I had 800 students. All except one of the classes, were freshmen. One was a class of 25 graduate students. Shenyang was my home until October 2005. There were tremendous changes in China during those years affecting...  [Read more]

1. The History of English in the United States 2. Influence of Immigrants on American English 3. Regional Dialects and Variations 4. Modern Trends in American English The evolution of the English language in the United States is a fascinating journey that reflects the diverse cultural influences and historical events that have shaped the linguistic landscape of the country. From its roots in British English to the development of distinct regional dialects and modern trends, American English is a dynamic and ever-changing language that continues to evolve. English first arrived on American shores with the early colonists from England in the 17th century. As the colonies grew and expanded, English became the dominant language of communication. However, the English spoken in the American...  [Read more]

Are you looking to enhance your English language skills and boost your confidence in conversational English? Look no further than our English conversation classes in Orlando, Florida. Our courses are designed to help you improve your speaking, listening, and comprehension skills in a supportive and engaging environment. Whether you are a beginner looking to learn the basics or an advanced learner aiming to polish your fluency, our classes cater to all levels of proficiency. 1. Tailored Curriculum: Our courses are carefully crafted to meet the diverse needs of our students. Whether you are focusing on business communication, everyday conversations, or preparing for exams like TOEFL or IELTS, we have a curriculum that suits your goals. 2. Experienced Instructors: Our instructors are highly...  [Read more]

Teaching English to Japanese students can be very difficult because of cultural and lingual differences. Japanese students are very different from American and European students. An advantage is their tendency to be more reserved and well behaved. However, they do not like to speak in class because they do not want to appear arrogant (Ikeda). This is a cultural custom and it will take extra encouragement to coax the students to talk. Also, students do not like to make eye contact and will become very embarrassed if they do not know an answer (Ikeda). Teachers must be sensitive to these manners in order to conduct a comfortable class for the students. A gradual progression toward a more English style class will be the most productive approach to classroom differences...  [Read more]

Are you looking to improve your English speaking skills in a supportive and interactive environment? Join our group conversation classes in Toronto, offered by ITTT (International TEFL and TESOL Training). Our classes are designed to help you build confidence, fluency, and accuracy in English through engaging discussions, role-plays, and activities. Whether you are a beginner looking to practice basic conversations or an advanced learner aiming to refine your language skills, our group classes cater to all proficiency levels. Participating in group conversation classes offers a range of benefits that can significantly enhance your language learning experience. Here are some reasons why joining our classes can help you achieve your English speaking goals: 1. Improve Speaking Skills:...  [Read more]

Unlocking Opportunities with a CELTA Certification in London 1. The Importance of a CELTA Certification 2. Why Choose London for Your CELTA Certification 3. The Process of Obtaining a CELTA Certification in London 4. Job Opportunities with a CELTA Certification Embarking on a journey to teach English as a foreign language opens up a world of opportunities. However, to truly excel in this field, obtaining a reputable certification is crucial. The Cambridge CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) is one of the most prestigious qualifications for English language teachers worldwide. Recognized by schools, language institutes, and governments globally, a CELTA certification sets you apart as a highly qualified and competent English teacher. London, known for its rich...  [Read more]

Teaching English in America can be a rewarding and fulfilling career choice for those who have a passion for language education. Whether you are a native English speaker or a non-native speaker with a high level of proficiency, there are certain qualifications and requirements you need to meet in order to teach English effectively in the United States. 1. Education and Certification: A bachelor's degree is typically required to teach English in America. Additionally, obtaining a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certification is highly recommended. These certifications provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively teach English to non-native speakers. 2. Language Proficiency: As an English teacher...  [Read more]

Teaching English in international schools is a rewarding career path that offers the opportunity to work with diverse cultures and students from around the world. To become a qualified English teacher in an international school, certain qualifications are required to ensure you meet the standards set by educational institutions globally. In this guide, we will explore the qualifications needed for teaching English in international schools, including academic credentials, teaching certifications, language proficiency, and relevant experience. One of the primary qualifications needed for teaching English in international schools is a bachelor's degree in English, Education, Linguistics, or a related field. Many international schools require teachers to have a minimum of a bachelor's degree...  [Read more]

Teaching English in Bangkok can be a rewarding and exciting experience for those looking to immerse themselves in Thai culture while making a difference in the lives of students. However, like any teaching position, there are certain qualifications and requirements that need to be met in order to be eligible for a teaching job in Bangkok. To teach English in Bangkok, most schools and language centers require a bachelor's degree in any field. While having a degree in Education or English can be beneficial, it is not always mandatory. Some institutions may accept candidates with degrees in other subjects as long as they have a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification. Having a TEFL or TESOL certification is...  [Read more]