Your accent sucks because you speak too FAST...

I regularly coach people whose sole desire is to have a good accent and fluid pronunciation.

As I kept adding clients to my roster, I noticed a pattern evolving.

Something was holding them back. Something was hiding in plain sight. Something so obvious that it didn't dawn on me until I realised I myself was doing it too.

But I wasn't doing it in English. I was doing it in my native language.

And chances are: So are you

When we speak a language at a native level, we become complacent, comfortable and yes, fast.

Mumbling, eating up words, shortening sentences erratically and creating new slang to accommodate for al that.

On one hand, this is how language evolves. That's the beauty behind this wonderful communication method that we use. It allows for endless expansion and growth, but leaves some issues in its wake.

The primary reason for my highlighting of this is the following:

All of my clients immediately speak better, as soon as they do one of two things:

• Speak slower

• Open mouth more

Sounds too simple and easy? Maybe that's why it works.

Most of the solutions I've come across when it comes to pronunciation and accent development are just that. Simplistic and unbelievably quick to implement.

If you are reading this, chances are that English is your second language. And since you're not a complete idiot, you are taking information from your mother tongue and translating it literally into English.

When I say translate, I don't just mean word-for-word. You are most likely also copy-pasting what you've learned from your native language. And since your native language is ingrained into your brain and you can speak it on autopilot, there's an extremely high likelihood that you are talking very fast when using it.

But why?

Because you can.

Because it's effective.

Because it's efficient.

Because why the f*ck not?

You are confident in your ability to speak it, so you find words quicker, speak faster, form sentences like a boss and obliterate any argument you might find yourself in. You are in full control and when time comes to speak English, you arrogantly and ignorantly assume that the same rules apply (joke's on me, they actually do...), but you haven't mastered the fundamentals yet.

As such, you are not actually ready. And your speed, eagerness, and hunger to speak only result in a mumbly mess, which is discernible, and will leave your listener grasping for any sensible amount of comprehension to try to catch up with your mouth.

The solution, therefore, is miraculously simplistic. Start speaking slower.

But to learn more about this intriguing phenomenon, consider watching this video I recorded for you on YouTube.