| Learning a second language is often very difficult | | | | "a". And both words have the same combination |
| for those whose mother tongue is Chinese. That's | | | | of letters, "ain". And yet both of those words are |
| because Chinese is a very "unique" language. Most | | | | pronounced completely differently. Thank you, |
| people would find it very difficult to learn Chinese, | | | | English language! |
| because there are so many different sounds, | | | | Syllable dropping- Something else that makes |
| instead of letters from, what we call, the Roman | | | | someone learning English as a second language |
| alphabet. However, for the Chinese native | | | | standout as a new learner is syllable dropping. For |
| speaker to learn English, there are some pretty | | | | example, the word "interest" is quite different |
| big challenges to overcome. One of the most | | | | from the word "interesting". The word "forget" is |
| difficult is the accent. If you're in that boat, have | | | | quite different than the word "forgettable". |
| no fear. There is help. | | | | Forgetting to put the "ing" on the end of that |
| One of the main reasons why English is often | | | | word completely changes its meaning. Slow down! |
| mispronounced is because it is a language of | | | | There is a saying among Americans that "speed |
| exceptions rather than rules. In dire contrast to | | | | kills". So you could say that speed kills the |
| that, the Spanish language is a language of rules, | | | | American tongue. As in learning tai chi, learn it |
| not exceptions. | | | | slowly so that the moves of the tongue become |
| Vowel pronunciation- This is often a challenge. It is | | | | indelibly recorded among your synapses. Then, |
| quite common for the Chinese to pronounce | | | | you will be less apt to drop syllables, but |
| many vowels in the same way. But just as this | | | | pronounce every part of each word. |
| would be unacceptable in the Chinese language, it | | | | This underscores the importance of having |
| is also unacceptable when speaking English, with an | | | | someone who is a native speaker of the |
| American accent. The letter "a", for example, in | | | | English-language, with an American accent, be the |
| the word apple is pronounced quite differently | | | | one who helps you as you learn to gain the |
| than the letter "a" in the word aide. Also, when | | | | mastery over a "thick" accent. It may be a |
| the letter "a" is used in combination with other | | | | difficult process. But no matter how good you are |
| vowels, there are common mispronunciations. An | | | | at learning by means of a self-taught course, |
| easy example of that would be the word | | | | accent modification is near impossible to |
| "mountain". How would you pronounce that word? | | | | accomplish without the help of a skilled listener. |
| It would be pronounced quite differently than the | | | | So, get the help that you need and get on the |
| word "maintain". Yet, both words have the letter | | | | road accent reduction. |