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Learning the native accent is the essential way in learning a foreign language. In other words, in acquiring the necessary factors in learning languages, a learner must diligently learn the original accent of the language he is learning. However, a recent study from the University of Haifa illustrates that “perception of second language speech is easier when it is spoken in the accent of the listener and not in the ‘original’ accent of that language.” Why is this?

Take this an example. An English learner decides to learn French. The study from the mentioned university confirms that the learner’s French learning will be a lot easier in understanding if he will use it in an English accent rather than French’s native accent. A blog entitled “Teach the Foreign Language in the Accent of the Listener?” discusses that based on the researches, “this is important [in] determining the cognitive factors associated with understanding and learning foreign languages…”

This Blog states that understanding the language in its beginning stages, “a non-native accent would be more helpful than a native accent…” Yet, there is an exemption to that theory. As the learner continues to learn a foreign language, he must improve to learn the native accent of that language. In that way, learners must be exposed to several native and non-native speakers in order to improve his or her listening skills. French, for example, must be properly pronounced with its appropriate accent, not just in knowing the respective French terms with its corresponding subject-verb agreements.

This case study actually questions the effects of the learner’s learning aptitude between native language teachers and non-native ones. Nonetheless, “as long as the student gets enough input in the target language outside of the classroom, it really shouldn’t matter what accent the teacher has,” says the report. “Most classes meet a few hours per week, which is not sufficient enough for learning a language, so the student needs to listen and study as much as possible on his/her own.”

Upon reading this article, perhaps there are queries and reactions regarding this matter. Do you agree that it is easier to learn a language with a teacher that pronounces words in other languages with the student’s accent? If you are currently learning a foreign language, I believe you have something to say regarding this study. Feel free to share your opinion.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 7th, 2010 at 1:02 pm and is filed under Learn Languages, Learning Abroad, Learning Methods. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.