English Pronunciation - Accent Reduction
Can You Improve Your Pronunciation?
Before I answer this question at the bottom of the page, allow me to give you some background on how we learn our first language:
When we learn our mother tongue as a child, the sounds of our native language get imprinted on the brain. During puberty, the plasticity of our brain changes and after that time, it becomes very difficult for most people to learn a new language without the particular accent of their mother tongue.
When we learn a new language as an adult, we might become very good at grammar and vocabulary, but many people notice that their accent doesn't change or improve. Remember that it’s ok to have an accent; it only becomes a problem when other people can't understand you. However, some people are motivated to completely lose their accent, have the talent, and decide to put in the work.
Why General English Classes Don't Help
Many teachers don't feel comfortable working on English pronunciation simply because they are not sure how to. Even if you attend a class in which accent reduction is a topic, students from various language backgrounds experience challenges with different sounds, so the teacher has to divide their attention between them. As a consequence, there might not be much time for your unique needs.
Why I Can Help With Your Pronunciation
In a one-on-one class with me as your private tutor, you are the focus of our class, and I help you get started on the sounds that you can work on. We first identify the particular areas in your pronunciation that could be improved. We then explore the vocal tract and how particular sounds are produced, so you understand what you need to change in your articulation in order for the sounds to become closer to the Canadian original (your target sounds). I will also give you exercises that you may use to practice your English pronunciation.
So Can You Improve Your Pronunciation?
Yes you can, based on how comfortable you are exploring the workings of your mouth and lips and how much you practice. Because every person is good at different things (for example one person is good at music whereas another is good at sports or math), your individual talent will also play a role in how much you will be able to change your accent.