Comments on: Does having an accent makes you sound more credible? http://rinaz.net/2010/04/accent/ Diary of a Singaporean in Rome Wed, 23 May 2012 23:55:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Lajay http://rinaz.net/2010/04/accent/comment-page-1/#comment-180226 Lajay Sun, 11 Apr 2010 18:40:22 +0000 http://rinaz.net/?p=2447#comment-180226 I loved your video so much, that you just need to work as a comedian! And by the way, about being an english teacher, frankly the Italians love branding, and for them, when they learn english from a "native" english or american english speaker, they inherit the accent... Bah humbug... I think you should go do acting instead! More fun! I loved your video so much, that you just need to work as a comedian! And by the way, about being an english teacher, frankly the Italians love branding, and for them, when they learn english from a “native” english or american english speaker, they inherit the accent… Bah humbug… I think you should go do acting instead! More fun!

]]> By: Elaine http://rinaz.net/2010/04/accent/comment-page-1/#comment-180213 Elaine Sun, 11 Apr 2010 16:39:32 +0000 http://rinaz.net/?p=2447#comment-180213 I have to say that even though my accent is not an 'ang mo' one, my boss actually prefers me to two of her previous teachers who were American and Australian. So as I mentioned before, the bottomline isn't really all about your accent but whether or not you have a good command of the language and can teach. There are people with American or British accents who can't teach 'for nuts' and having an American or British accent does not mean you have good grammar. I have to say that even though my accent is not an ‘ang mo’ one, my boss actually prefers me to two of her previous teachers who were American and Australian. So as I mentioned before, the bottomline isn’t really all about your accent but whether or not you have a good command of the language and can teach. There are people with American or British accents who can’t teach ‘for nuts’ and having an American or British accent does not mean you have good grammar.

]]> By: Jeff Madigan http://rinaz.net/2010/04/accent/comment-page-1/#comment-180101 Jeff Madigan Sat, 10 Apr 2010 17:53:17 +0000 http://rinaz.net/?p=2447#comment-180101 Hi Marina, Your video is so great. To me your question very much highlights issues of cultural diversity. I live in Vancouver, Canada, a city founded by the British but where “asian minorities” have recently become the majority. As well, my wife and run a business that helps people reduce their accent. (no kidding www.L2accent.com) You see, your friend has a point about being a teacher with an accent. Despite how diverse the world is getting, people still cling to old values and expect certain people to sound certain ways. Even Shade of Melon shows this contradiction by saying that having an accent does not matter but that speaking clearly does. For the most part, when people learn a foreign language, correct pronunciation is often overlooked. For some people, this results in natives speakers of that language straining to figure out what they are saying. So we actually have this software that uses a model of standard deviation and voice recognition. When our clients say the words on the screen, they will turn green if spoken with a neutral enough accent, or red if the accent was too strong. This way, people can change how they sound and make themselves more marketable in the workplace. Accents are something all people have. Sometimes accents help, like that Canadian fashion guru Peter Nygard. For others, they can be held back. To answer your question, although I don’t work with British accents, I understand that certain British accents are not desirable, like Scottish or Liverpool. Ironically, a guy from Liverpool might be selected over a Singaporean like yourself. Hi Marina,
Your video is so great. To me your question very much highlights issues of cultural diversity. I live in Vancouver, Canada, a city founded by the British but where “asian minorities” have recently become the majority. As well, my wife and run a business that helps people reduce their accent. (no kidding http://www.L2accent.com) You see, your friend has a point about being a teacher with an accent. Despite how diverse the world is getting, people still cling to old values and expect certain people to sound certain ways. Even Shade of Melon shows this contradiction by saying that having an accent does not matter but that speaking clearly does. For the most part, when people learn a foreign language, correct pronunciation is often overlooked. For some people, this results in natives speakers of that language straining to figure out what they are saying. So we actually have this software that uses a model of standard deviation and voice recognition. When our clients say the words on the screen, they will turn green if spoken with a neutral enough accent, or red if the accent was too strong. This way, people can change how they sound and make themselves more marketable in the workplace. Accents are something all people have. Sometimes accents help, like that Canadian fashion guru Peter Nygard. For others, they can be held back. To answer your question, although I don’t work with British accents, I understand that certain British accents are not desirable, like Scottish or Liverpool. Ironically, a guy from Liverpool might be selected over a Singaporean like yourself.

]]> By: rinaz http://rinaz.net/2010/04/accent/comment-page-1/#comment-180049 rinaz Sat, 10 Apr 2010 11:25:56 +0000 http://rinaz.net/?p=2447#comment-180049 <b>Diana</b> Oh my! I didn't realise that you focused more on your teacher's mistakes! Haha! This is going to be so stressful knowing this for anyone to to become your future teacher! <b>Emanuele</b> I prefer teaching computer applications actually, but to be honest, I don't really see much demand for it in Rome. I dont think thats much of a culture here seeing my niece and nephew on the computer :S But I could be wrong. <b>Maalikka</b> I am maestra, not maestro because I am a female .. hehehe Anyway, yes! I much prefer to teach computer applications, but I dont think that there is much of the culture here or the demand that is. Seems hard. But I try to keep on finding :-) <b>Foxtwo</b> My mother is actually more classier than that though :-P <b>Sally</b> I dont know which school that is though! Haha! I can speak like Ms Fakey! But like the comments above, I still prefer to teach in computer applications. I dont know how easy that would be, seeing the culture here in Rome. Diana

Oh my! I didn’t realise that you focused more on your teacher’s mistakes! Haha! This is going to be so stressful knowing this for anyone to to become your future teacher!

Emanuele

I prefer teaching computer applications actually, but to be honest, I don’t really see much demand for it in Rome. I dont think thats much of a culture here seeing my niece and nephew on the computer :S

But I could be wrong.

Maalikka

I am maestra, not maestro because I am a female .. hehehe

Anyway, yes! I much prefer to teach computer applications, but I dont think that there is much of the culture here or the demand that is. Seems hard.

But I try to keep on finding :-)

Foxtwo

My mother is actually more classier than that though :-P

Sally

I dont know which school that is though! Haha! I can speak like Ms Fakey!

But like the comments above, I still prefer to teach in computer applications. I dont know how easy that would be, seeing the culture here in Rome.

]]> By: Sally Ng Pagin http://rinaz.net/2010/04/accent/comment-page-1/#comment-180038 Sally Ng Pagin Sat, 10 Apr 2010 09:59:41 +0000 http://rinaz.net/?p=2447#comment-180038 Hi Marina, I really enjoyed yr video.. so funny!! If a school looks at the paper qualification one has to become a teacher, accents doesn't count in. But if a school only looks at the language spoken and accent without looking at paper qualification, I think you can give it a try! We are qualified native English language persons.. since we learnt English as our first language in school! :) Good luck to you in yr job applications!! Hi Marina,

I really enjoyed yr video.. so funny!!
If a school looks at the paper qualification one has to become a teacher, accents doesn’t count in. But if a school only looks at the language spoken and accent without looking at paper qualification, I think you can give it a try!
We are qualified native English language persons.. since we learnt English as our first language in school! :) Good luck to you in yr job applications!!

]]> By: FoxTwo http://rinaz.net/2010/04/accent/comment-page-1/#comment-180036 FoxTwo Sat, 10 Apr 2010 09:30:23 +0000 http://rinaz.net/?p=2447#comment-180036 I love the part where you acted as your mum wahahahah! I love the part where you acted as your mum wahahahah!

]]> By: maalikka http://rinaz.net/2010/04/accent/comment-page-1/#comment-180027 maalikka Sat, 10 Apr 2010 08:24:54 +0000 http://rinaz.net/?p=2447#comment-180027 I agree with Diana, both as teachers will be bad. Accents are just a part of you, i don't think it makes you sound credible. Just because you don't have an English accent doesn't mean you can't speak(or teach) English. It is sufficient enough that people understand what you are saying, don't you think? :D Anyway, i think you should continue teaching IT as it is what you are most talented at. I don't think they offer such subjects though:( Oh well, good luck Maestro Marina! ;D I agree with Diana, both as teachers will be bad. Accents are just a part of you, i don’t think it makes you sound credible. Just because you don’t have an English accent doesn’t mean you can’t speak(or teach) English. It is sufficient enough that people understand what you are saying, don’t you think? :D
Anyway, i think you should continue teaching IT as it is what you are most talented at. I don’t think they offer such subjects though:(
Oh well, good luck Maestro Marina! ;D

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