Accent Reduction Tips for Filipinos
Posted: Monday, September 14, 2009
by Lisa Scott
Accentuate Communication
If you are an OFW, an Overseas Filipino Worker, or a native seeking a job in English, you may be concerned that your English skills are not good enough to compete with your peers. But what can you do?
First of all, if you have not done so, you should enroll in ESL classes. These classes are a great way to learn the basics of English grammar and pronunciation. Look online for additional courses and practice opportunities. Speak English at every opportunity and don't be afraid to ask others for help if you're not sure about an English word or expression.
Then you need to find an accent reduction class. Accent reduction classes are usually taught by a highly trained professional speech pathologist who specializes in working with accent reduction. He or she has learned how to teach others to produce the sounds in American English.
As an accent reduction trainer myself, I want to offer you some tips on English pronunciation to help you get started. Though each person's language and accent is unique, there are common sounds that many Filipino speakers struggle with in English. I have listed several sounds below and suggestions of ways to sound more American.
- Open your mouth more when saying vowels. Many of the a sounds come out sounding more like o with Filipino speakers. I know it may feel awkward, but you can't make an a sound without opening your mouth.
- Be sure to enunciate final consonants, particularly ones made inside the mouth, like h, k, and n. Many Filipinos leave these sounds off entirely, which changes the meaning of the word.
- Say w not v, in words like water and where. W is made by rounding the mouth like an o and voicing, then opening the mouth slightly. It may sound like o-uh when you first try it.
- Say f , not p, in words like four and find. F is made by placing the top teeth on the lower lip and blowing slightly.
- Practice hearing and saying the difference between voiced and unvoiced consonants. The only difference between k and g or t and d is whether your voice is turned on when you say them. Try it no voice makes k , and voice makes g . It makes a big difference in American English whether you pronounce those sounds correctly. So remember, k and t have no voice, but g and d do.
Hopefully, those tips will get you started on making your speech more understandable to American English speakers. If you want more personalized help, then please look for an ASHA certified accent reduction trainer. Someone may offer classes in your area, or you may prefer the convenience of webcam classes, offered on your schedule in the privacy of your home or office.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)This is great information Lisa. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. It is a well-written piece. I will discuss this with my brother-in-law because he has trouble with words beginning with F. Thank you for joining my fan club. I am truly grateful. Happy Holidays. ~Nenita~
Thank you, Nenita, and I'm glad you found it helpful. I hope your brother-in-law gets the information that he needs from the article. If he or anyone else needs personal instruction, I work with people all over the world via Skype.
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