Accent's Way Magazine

#152

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DON’T ask me about my ACCENT

Where are you from?”
“Your accent is so cute!”
“HAHA, it’s so funny how you say T(Y)UUUUESDAY”
“Don’t change your accent it’s exotic” (what does that even MEAN?)
These are just a few of the things I used to hear when my accent was more noticeable.
And while I played along and pretended to laugh with them, I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.
Can you relate?
Has anyone ever commented on your accent or started discussing your nationality after hearing that you have an accent?
And how did that make you feel?

Even with the BEST INTENTIONS, pointing out someone’s accent CAN be inhibiting and discouraging.
Speaking English is so much more than using the right vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
It’s the subtle art of finding the courage to speak, the permission to make mistakes, the ability to embrace imperfection, to reconcile with a pale version of yourself and to persist through the challenges and hard work.
It’s also the splendor of communication, the joy of accomplishment and satisfaction of overcoming obstacles.
Whatever it is, it’s YOUR journey.

And it’s NOT OK for others to impose their opinions and assume things about you
without being asked.

And in this episode, I have a message for native speakers.
But really, it’s for you.
I want you to know that if someone makes you feel uncomfortable, you shouldn’t think less about yourself and your capabilities in English.
Simply say to yourself, my accent and my English is none of their business 🙂
Watch: DON’T ask me about my ACCENT and I won’t ask you about your WEIGHT



I’d absolutely love to know what you think. After the episode is over join the conversation in the comments below the video and share with me :
Has someone ever offended you or made you feel uncomfortable commenting on your accent? If so, how did you respond?
Do you think native speakers and nonnative speakers should be more sensitive to people’s accents and be less vocal about it?
Looking forward to the discussion,
Xoxo

Hadar

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15 Responses

  1. Thank you! I’ve been travelling in the UK and getting asked all the time, “where are you from?” and when I say the States, they follow up with, “oh, but do I detect an accent?” I find it so offensive and invasive and disrespectful. I think though, like you, that I myself want to be in a place where these questions don’t faze me and I automatically have a clever retort, lie, or just ignore the stupid question. But it’s just an extra step that I wouldn’t have to take if I wasn’t asked in the first place.

  2. Thank you so much for your sharing!
    For your first question I think not, mostly because I stay in my native country and most of them are tourists. Tourists are more thoughtful. They understand the fact that some countries do not speak English. They keep that thought for themselves if we are bad English speakers.
    The speaking thing is not the only problem. I’ve learned the American accent for many years now, I’ve tried so hard. But with another accent, it takes me a lot of time to understand (I still have to working on to observe the AE before jumping to others) like one time I met an Australian. His voice is very deep and very difficult to keep up with, I had to ask him to repeat several times – and when he did, his face expression is like I am sooooo stupid or something. It hurts a lot.
    For your second question, Definitely! I think native speakers and nonnative speakers should be more sensitive to people’s accents and be less vocal about it. This is why I afraid to speak. But I know, I have to work on that self-conscious thing of mine.

  3. Hello Hadar, what you just said is very true. I’ve been learned a lot through the years, but still, I have a long way to go. I learned how do not care, but is it annoying because I know I speak perfectly fine, I just have an accent. Thank you.

  4. Hi Hadar,
    What a great video! A mind-opener! You are right, if we speak with an accent its because WE speak another language, and the fact that we are trying to speak/learn someone else’s language is a big effort on our part and not the others…. brava!

  5. Hi first of all tks a lot for your passion and for sharing your knowledge with us. I experienced that years ago when i worked for a call center for USA customers and they got angry at my accent and my lack of fluency. Otherwise if said like in a complimentary way I think it might be not so frustrating but actually I ve never been in usa or any other english speaking country to know.

  6. Hi, Hadar! You are completely right , anyway learning an other language is always makes people stressed, frustrated etc. I haven’t been told about my accent really or I don’t remember ?,people usually asks about where I come from? Yes they don’t know what is going on in our mind how we cope with grammarly, and what the others thinks about us while we speak . I was always lucky when I went in the offices (example council off.),shops etc,and there were English peoples ( most of them ) they were always nice to me ,and when I was ashamed of myself how I sound and said “sorry ” to them ,they all said I cant speak in your language. I was very happy,thankful about how they treated me. Long time ago I enrolled to Enlish course , there were different nationalities ,I went to couple times and after some womens(not English) are laught about how I speak I jusk never went back to the school. So I started studying at home by myself . By yers wherever i worked i had lot of different nationalities around me ,and they are spoke whit a very bad accent what I barely understand, but I never ever mentioned their accent !!! Meanwhile they are had some comment about mine. I just tried to ignore what are they saying. Honestly I couldn’t learn from them really . I had a couple negative comment from not English people. But now I am happy to work finally a good company among nice ,intelligent peoples those who respect ,and look after me.
    Omg I am just realised how much I wrote ?. Okay Hadar you are a very good person you have a big heart, and knowledge.You are awesome and also beautiful. Thanks for your time ,and sorry about my grammars By Klara.

  7. Thank you for all your videos. I totally identified myself with the video. Always have problem with my strong accent. I tried to avoid answering the phone at work but is difficult to do it. I hate when I talk and people just stare at me like what did she said. I just try to be nice and smile.

  8. Amazing video. I can tell you how hard it’s been for me to handle those kind of comments from native speakers. I remember one of my teachers and supervisor always making fun of my pronunciation. I am currently applying for jobs and I have also experienced how people look at me and doubt of my abilities to get the word done just because of my strong Spanish accent.

  9. I have been living in Israel for 30 year the minute I open my mouth people ask where do I come from or which accent it is
    I just reply with humour because I ve learned not to care about people comment
    I do my best to speak accurately my accent it s part of me of my identity and I don’t bother

  10. Ohhh my !!!! How awesome !!! I just want to say that you’ve just spoken my mind …. Thank you sooo much !

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