One of the first questions that I get asked when talking about accent is, “Can I actually change my accent?” The short answer is yes, the long answer is what I’ll share below, and it starts with when we are born.

Why do people have accents?

All infants are born with the ability to perceive all sounds from all languages. However, as they get older, they begin to focus on the sounds of their own language. As their ability to produce the sounds of their own language increases, their ability to perceive sounds from other langugages decreases.

This process is highly dependent on the child’s environment and experiences. Children who are exposed to different languages in their environment are often able to acquire the sounds with native-like quality. After adolescence, even if you are immersed in a foreign language, you are much more likely to speak it with an accent that is influenced by the sounds of your own language. This is especially pronounced for sounds your L2 that do not exist in your native language.

Can I change my accent?

Yes you can definitely change your accent, although most people will keep features of their accent even with accent training. However, there is a lot of variability between individuals, and factors such as immersion and personal motivation will play a big role in how pronounced your accent is.  Accent modification is not about eliminating your accent but changing a facet of spoken communication to improve your clarity, confidence, and connection with your audience.

Should I change my accent? 

This is a question only you can answer. Many non-native English speakers are excellent communicators and have no need from a communication standpoint to modify their accent.

Some people may feel that acquiring a more American accent would give them a competitive edge in their career, boost their confidence in public speaking, or allow them to better communicate with people in their daily lives.

Whatever your view, if you decide to pursue accent modification, your goals and desires determined what success looks like with accent training.

To determine if accent modification might be a good fit for you, consider the following questions:

1. Do I shy away from opportunities because of my accent? 

2. Would sounding more “American” help me achieve any personal, professional, or language goals?

3. Am I fascinated by spoken language and  interested in delving deeper into the linguistic facets of English? 

If your answer to any of these questions is “yes”, accent modification may be for you!

If you would like to explore accent modification further, you can book a free consultation with me here.

If you aren’t ready for a consultation but you still answered yes to any of the questions above, you may be excited to know that you can get started today for free by using ChatGPT! I have written a free e-book about the topic and encourage you to download it!

Get the ChatGPT Playbook for Accent Modification here!