Hello!
It is sometimes the case that non-native speakers' ability to write English may come fairly close to that of native speakers (although even that is rare). However, their accents almost invariably show strong influence from their native languages, even after years of diligent training. Of course, it is not a shame to sound foreign, but what makes learning a native-like pronunciation so extremely difficult? Have you ever taken a non-native speaker for a native speaker? What are the most difficult features of pronunciation to learn - single sounds, rhytm, intonation etc.?
Thanks!
It is sometimes the case that non-native speakers' ability to write English may come fairly close to that of native speakers (although even that is rare). However, their accents almost invariably show strong influence from their native languages, even after years of diligent training. Of course, it is not a shame to sound foreign, but what makes learning a native-like pronunciation so extremely difficult? Have you ever taken a non-native speaker for a native speaker? What are the most difficult features of pronunciation to learn - single sounds, rhytm, intonation etc.?
Thanks!