TEDX Talk on ESL and Accents

“How To Speak Bad English Perfectly” Interesting commentary on the business of ESL (English as a Second Language) including fixing ‘bad English’ grammar and pronunciation mistakes.  Native English speakers are greatly outnumbered in the world, yet many non-natives are striving for ‘perfect’ English skills. I’ve always believed we can help ESL speakers speak ‘through’ or […]

21 Accents

This is entertaining. Good job Amy. I don’t agree with your Toronto accent – too fast – but thanks for the laughs!

Canadian English Pronunciation

Today, July 1st, is Canada Day – our birthday. I thought this might be of interest to those who enjoy the sound and study of Canadian English. Canadian English (CanE, en-CA) is the variety of English used in Canada. More than 26 million Canadians (85% of the population) have some knowledge of English (2006 census). […]

Who Cares That GSP Has an Accent?

Hey everyone, I know this post is not really communication-related, except if you consider that GSP (Georges St.-Pierre) has a thick French-Canadian accent, but I just HAD to write a quick WOO-HOO and congratulations to our home-grown UFC champion (MMA – Mixed Martial Arts) Georges “Rush’ St.-Pierre on defending his title against BJ ‘the Prodigy’ […]

Foreign Accent Syndrome?

Hello, I saw this news clip today online, and was so amazed by it, I thought I would pass it on to you. It’s about people who suffer some sort of brain trauma, and when they recover, they speak in a new voice – usually with what seems to be a recognizable regional accent like […]

Use ‘Chunking’ to Help Speak Clearer

Hello everyone, Whether you have a ‘thick’ accent or whether you are speaking to someone who has it, there is something you can do to assist the clarity of the conversation. Break up your sentences into smaller chunks, or phrases. Many people wrongfully assume that when you can speak English fast, it is a sign […]

Which English is Best for You?

The thing about English is that there are always going to be different accents, different key words chosen to be stressed, different spelling rules and even grammar arguments. But which English is best for you? Frankly it depends on two things: personal choice and location. Regarding personal choice, some people who learn English as a […]