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Sorry I hit send without previewing my message first.
In the US at least, the term "Oriental" should only be used to describe objects, such as a rug or a type of art, but people are "Asian". If you want to be more specific you can say "East-Asian" or "Southeast-Asian"....
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How come Oriental became a derogatory term? Which is the difference between East and Orient? I find it a normal term , but you know, political correctness is absurd sometimes. Maybe the most correct term would be: people who live where the sun rises.
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Never heard anyone call themselves oriental. There are oriental shops, oriental cuisine, oriental stuff, but not oriental people from impression.
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Anyway, your accent: The actual phonemes aren't bad, but your intonation and rhythm could use some work. You're speaking very slowly, and that of course makes you sound less fluent. It's hard to describe what's wrong with your intonation, but you seem to be cutting your sentences into very small phrases, whereas the patterns of intonation in native speakers' English are generally much longer. You'll just have to listen and try to copy I think.
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To : Josh Lalonde.
Sir, you are a real moderator, a master of conduct. Congratulations and praises!!!
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For awhile, in the 1990s, for example, "Asian" was the term that was being touted as "PC", but now I hear "Asians" calling themselves "oriental" again. Watch for the trends.
Cleveland, you are on your way, but you need to tweak your accent a bit before you reach the top. Actually, I was impressed, I think your speech seems closer to that of a native than your writing does. I was only able to hear your file once, so I can only give you some brief impressions.
If you are open to honest commenting, read on. Remember it is only my opinion, not the judgment of God.
I think you need to work on clarity. Some of your words roll into other words and in the few areas where you need to work on a vowel or a consonant, this muffles your speech and makes it a little bit harder to understand.
Shadow, as Jasper often suggests.
Ask yourself this: "Am I coming up for air? Am I breathing, pausing in the places a native speaker would pause?"
Find an HONEST friend, a native speaker who will correct you because YOU (also a good friend) insist that you need this.
I think you can get "away" with your accent btw.
Best regards,
K. T.
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Thank you K. T.
like you said I really need it, I mean the native-level English, I think most orientals are doing tech jobs in the western countries, but my situation is little bit unique, im doing a investor relationship and marketing strategy job, it requires a lot of interpersonal skills, and the language skill is the most basic thing in all these skills, I really like this job and don't want to lose it, so I learn English everyday, even force myself watching history channels, entertainment channels, know more western history and stars, find out more about western food etc. Im now restudying everything like a little child >:)
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Well then, Cleveland, you are doing the right things. I'm glad you got the job.
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