So, my accent is obviously not American (I'm South African) and is not textbook accurate. I've had some very small complaints about "pronunciation issues" but I've since noticed it is an accent/dialect issue (after confirming pronunciations with my American ALT friends).
Thus, these two posters were made. I picked some accents that might even be difficult for native speakers if you don't actively listen, but also that is catered to the world (so world leaders and celebrities).
Obviously, QR codes are used and a disclaimer is on the posters that students may only use their tablets and not their phones. As with most QR code posters I make, I don't think most of my students care, but I hope some do (especially the ones that want to travel to France, Germany, etc.).
If you have any ideas on accents from around the world that might be considered difficult or something the kids will have to get used to if they want to travel, please suggest them! I'm open to any suggestions!
This can be used for your English Board (as mine will be) or you can have a viewing in class of some of these videos if you prefer.
I don't fully know how to tag this, so suggest that too please.
I love the idea behind this! I'm always trying to tell students that there are more non-native English speakers in the world than native ones, and that while American English is the model used in the textbook, and a good model for learning pronunciation, it's an unreasonable and unneccesary end-goal.
Unlike Japanese, there are so many people that speak English. When students hear a foreigner speak Japanese in their textbook or on TV, they often laugh at the pronunciation or the way they speak because they're not exposed to it very often. I think they carry this thinking with them when speaking English--that English speakers will laugh at their pronunciation. But we're so used to multiculturalism that it doesn't even register as something that would be funny (unless it's deliberately trying to be funny like Uncle Roger)
Sorry for the wall of text, I just really liked this! Would it be possible to have an editable version? I'd like to remove the smartphones/tablets disclaimer.
@Jason thank you for your kind words. I feel this way too, especially when the kids laugh when I say the Japanese words from the textbook (but my JTEs say that I'm pronouncing it correctly). Or when I say anime, they hear animal, and same with manga (they fix it to comics). I hope the learners get more exposure. The textbooks should actually start that because it is an unrealistic expectation to think that a character called Ami, from Japan, has a perfect American accent and that Emily, from Australia, has an American accent too.
Even with the pronunciations I have to say it's unclear, because the textbook would say "kilometers" like an American, but my JTEs want "kilometers" like a Brit because it's closer to the katakana version. Even with that they are inconsistent, just like in real life! I mix up "American" and "British" pronunciation all the time.
There is a word limit apparently!
Regarding an editable version. Here is a link to the Canva, but I don't want to give full editing rights, so I made it viewable. You should be able to make a copy by going to "File" and the clicking on "Make a copy" and it should be editable on your Canva account.
https://www.canva.com/design/DAGXpWrclH0/CTuqG1A8kglmFyFSueQnUw/edit?utm_content=DAGXpWrclH0&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton
This is a great idea and really well done! There are so many different accents in English and it never quite sits right with me when one is taught as more "correct" than others, and as an Australian myself it's a major pet peeve of mine that all of the Australian textbook characters have American accents :')
I also like the warning not to use their smartphones - a wise inclusion haha
I just have one minor quibble - for Simon Harris (the TikTok Taoiseach), I think it should say he speaks a little Irish, rather than Gaelic :). This is a pretty common misconception, but Irish isn't usually called Gaelic when speaking English, because that usually means Scottish Gaelic. Basically Irish Gaelic = Irish, Scottish Gaelic = Gaelic, or if you want to be even more specific you can use the Irish word, Gaeilge! (pronounced kind of like gwayl-guh)
(unless of course Simon Harris actually speaks some Scottish Gaelic)
@Niamh No worries! Thank you for pointing that out. I will change it to Irish.
The first time I heard, "I'm from Australia" and "I'm from New Zealand" (in the first program of Sunshine JHS 1年) and heard American accents I wanted to laugh-cry. Same with Ami, and Sho, speaking in American accents but are Japanese. The textbooks would be the best place to introduce multiple accents. Like start with American accents (all of them) in elementary and then branch out to other accents from JHS and HS.
Thank you for this activity because it also opened my eyes to how ridiculous the textbook is introducing an Austrlian person, but the voice is American. And even with the American accent, near to no one talks in that cadence in America. I'd rather show a clip from an american cartoon to show how Americans actually talk. I hope it's talked more in the future that American accents shouldn't always be the goal (speaking as an American myself) to show language efficiency.
This is a great poster! What is the difference between the two uploads...?
@meatydog The first one has Simon Harris as speaking Gaelic while the second one has him as speaking Irish. I will delete the first one since it's such a small change.