My article as it originally appeared on my Helium.com account until the site closed down:
By this time, you must have spent years studying the nuances of the English language. And yet, you still feel awkward, and at times, out of place because of your accent. You’re saying something like what was taught you in English school, but in practice, native English speakers may not understand you, as they’d say “Excuse me. Say it again please.” Well, you’re validating what you’ve suspected about textbook English being really different from spoken English (and with an accent at that).
As this writer continues to experience himself, the process of acquiring an appropriate English accent takes time, and you will need help from other sources – so in time, you’ll feel more comfortable in the language that’s widely used in most areas in business nowadays. Start by learning to actively listen (mainly by repeating to yourself what you hear, and recording if possible given logistics available to you) to everyday expressions, and how regular people say out aloud ideas in their minds. Most of these expressions may surprise you, as when people express them, they have a different way of “saying things,” or the equivalent idiomatic expressions. Tips you may want to consider include:
WATCHING MONDAY-TO-FRIDAY TV SHOWS BROADCASTED NATIONWIDE. Start with high-rating shows that may interest you (as it’s difficult to keep watching if your interest is not twitched at all). A few suggestions of shows include: Judge Judy, The People’s Court (with Judge Marilyn Millian), Divorce Court (with Judge Lynn Toler), or Judge Joe Brown. These shows usually showcase interesting cases that you may find interesting in your studies – the litigants usually are shown speaking in different, colorful accents. For example, and depending on the case in court, you may be bowled over by listening to people from the South speaking with their accent. Or you may discover how certain black people speak in English as shown in court, but in a decidedly confusing manner. The idioms, both numerous and situational, used by people from the West Coast, the Midwest, the South, and East Coast have certain differences, and colored by regional accents. From these shows, you’ll have ideas of regional accents by people all over the USA – you’ll even start to wonder if you’re actually listening to English, the language you’ve studied in school.
LISTENING TO MUSIC ON THE RADIO. In the airwaves now, and those stations available through the Internet, are broadcasted on daily, round the clock basis music of all genres. Listen to pop, dance, reggae, rhythm and blues, rap, reggae, hip hop, rock, etc – people from all over the world listen to all these music types with lyrics. Take note of the accent their artists have used to deliver expressions that are heavily accented at times. Have fun identifying the accent, and start learning the idioms in the process.
LEARNING IDIOMS FROM THE LOCALS. This entails immersing yourself with the locals wherever you are located now where English is the primary language, especially if you’re with native speakers of the language. Locals have everyday expressions that are situational, with complete notable accent. For example, the people whom this writer lives with usually say: “Nuke it” instead of “Put it in the microwave,” or “Toss it” instead of “Throw it.” These expressions can only be learned by a diligent English language student through continuous exposure to the daily lives of locals. Be conscious of getting yourself actively engaged with people who’ve spoken English exclusively practically all their lives (though most have immigrant backgrounds, too) on a regular basis.
WATCHING MOVIES IN ENGLISH. This medium is an integral part of the local culture, such that by just observing which movies the locals watch, and then by watching them yourself, you’ll gain headways in learning about the accent and the idioms. For example, watch Tyler Perry’s movies (that feature characters that can be imagined to be somewhere in the state of Georgia, USA), and certain YouTube or Vimeo videos posted online. These movies, some are actually really short, can be a rich source of materials for you to practice your accent, and know more about idioms.
Now, start doing all these, and do them regularly. “You know what I mean?” – this in itself can be idiomatic for “Am I clear to you?” (or whatever maybe close enough in meaning to your location now).
Moving On 