Moving On: Some Insights on Acquiring English Accents from Watching Videos and Other Materials

35 Accents in the English Language

How to learn an English accent using idioms and colorful expressions
Now, this can be boring topic to some. But before you move on to the next topic, you may want to reconsider why it's critical to have the right English accent and the ability to use proper idioms in relaying your thoughts to others (at least verbally). The links above give some useful hints, a few of them really so humorous, when you are in the process of acquiring a more acceptable accent as you deal mostly with native born English speakers (or those who speak the language most of their lives). Check them out and give us feedback on what you think.

Actually, these days, it's most fascinating to hear people speak with a different accent than what you have. You get an idea of diversity of people and a sense of how people think about many issues and important matters in other places other than where you've lived your life most of the time. However, in certain professions, e.g, those who are pursuing acting or singing careers, possessing the right English accent matters that much. Can you imagine watching movie actors speaking English the way it's spoken in Hong Kong and the movie setting is some moment in time during medieval England?

If you're from a country where English is just among several languages being used in everyday life situations, it can help you a lot if you spare time each day to acquire the proper English accent by learning about idioms and colorful expressions. They're useful ways of expressing your thoughts when caught up in certain situations. Being able to do so will help you relay your message across faster and more clearly to your audience. This applies, too, even if you're not used to speaking before a crowd; test results of this admonition by talking with someone who is a native English speaker. You may have to be in constant practice, preferably with the help of getting instant feedback from those who are also native English speakers. But if you're limited now for these resources, you can, in the meantime, watch highly rated movies and videos, listen to different genres of music, read important and educational books so you'll continue your endeavors in the process of acquiring English accents. Do such steps at least an hour a day and your mind will be prepared accordingly.

Acquiring these accents helps you gain more in terms of understanding those you deal with in your everyday life. And you gain a better appreciation of your capacities in learning new skills each time. In the process, you'll get a sense that those you deal with appreciate your efforts as well. You acquire a sense of differences plus the nuances in culture, social levels, the realities of hierarchies that we all have to deal with if we're out to get what we need and want with the help of others. These are complex ideas that are challenging to explain in print, such that you normally face them when you go to acquire a formal education, or read books expounding about such philosophies, approaches and theories about language learning.

Acquiring these accents, too, will get you leads to those jobs you want to be doing. Have you noticed that they're the ones that pay better and more interesting to you. As such, be a keen observer of the behaviors of those persons you like to emulate. You can even go out of your way to seek coaching and tips from those people, if you're that brave enough. 

One practical tip is to constantly expose yourself to native English speakers every chance you have. Of course, this can be challenging, especially if you're the shy type or if you'd rather be alone. Nothing beats experience, and acquiring so much experiences on these concerns will save you much in terms of time. Constantly ask how certain thoughts and ideas could be said in 'regular words,' or 'in your own idiom.' When asking and framing your questions, be descriptive by using similar, analogous words that come easily to your mind. Those you ask from will be most willing to help, if they get a sense that they're important to and needed by you. Make as much mistakes as your pride and hurt ego can swallow, and sooner you'll realize you'll be better in expressing your self in the proper accent and in the correct idioms. It, does, really take so much practice to do all these processes of acquiring the right English accent given certain situations you find yourself in.

Keep in mind that all these language acquisition learnings are accumulative. They help you become better in time. It's a constant as long as you're willing to learn and keep the proper attitude.

I'm constantly eager to know about these processes of acquiring the proper English accents because I have moved on to a different environment since I transplanted myself from my native Philippines (where English is just among many languages being used) to here in the US East Coast. It's always fascinating how accents play a large role in making our respective lives easier or difficult, depending on how much you're willing to change yourself to face squarely any situation now when communicating with others.