Accent Reduction and Clarity: How to Neutralise a Strong Mother Tongue Influence For Spanish speakers

How to Neutralise a Strong Mother Tongue Influence (For Spanish Speakers)

Introduction

Mastering English without a strong Spanish influence can open doors to new career opportunities, help you connect with people from diverse backgrounds, and boost your confidence in a globalised world.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FIRST

Before we dive into the topic, make sure you're comfortable with basic English grammar rules, such as verb tenses and sentence structure. You should also be familiar with the English alphabet and common pronunciation sounds.

CORE CONTENT

Neutralising a strong mother tongue influence requires practice and awareness of common mistakes. Let's start with pronunciation.

Pronunciation: Neutralising the Spanish Accent

When speaking English, pay attention to the following sounds:

• 'th' sound: In English, the 'th' sound is pronounced with the tongue between the teeth, whereas in Spanish, it's pronounced with the tongue behind the upper teeth. Practice saying 'this' and 'that' with the correct tongue position.
• 'v' and 'b' sounds: In English, the 'v' and 'b' sounds are pronounced with the lower lip, whereas in Spanish, they're pronounced with the upper teeth. Practice saying 'victory' and 'baby' with the correct lip position.
• 'r' sound: In English, the 'r' sound is pronounced with the tongue touching the roof of the mouth, whereas in Spanish, it's pronounced with the tongue behind the upper teeth. Practice saying 'red' and 'car' with the correct tongue position.

Vocabulary: Common English Idioms

Here are a few English idioms that might be tricky for Spanish speakers:

• 'break a leg': This means 'good luck.' Example sentence: "You're going to do great on your audition, break a leg!
• 'bend over backwards': This means 'to go out of your way to help someone.' Example sentence: "I'll bend over backwards to help you with your project."
• 'cost an arm and a leg': This means 'something is very expensive.' Example sentence: "I love that new smartphone, but it costs an arm and a leg."

Memory trick: Try to associate the idiom with a personal experience or a funny image.

Common Mistakes

Here are a few common mistakes Spanish speakers make when speaking English:

• Mistake: Using the wrong verb tense.
• WHY IT HAPPENS: Spanish speakers often use the present tense when they mean to use the past tense.
• CORRECT APPROACH: Practice using the correct verb tense in context. For example, "I went to the store yesterday" (past tense) instead of "I go to the store yesterday" (present tense).

Worked Examples

Here's a complete dialogue between two friends:

Friend 1: "Hey, how was your weekend?" Friend 2: "It was great, thanks! I went to the beach with my family and had a lot of fun." Friend 1: "That sounds amazing! I'm jealous. What did you do at the beach?" Friend 2: "We built sandcastles, swam, and had a picnic."

Common Idioms Quiz

Test your knowledge with these common idioms:

1. What does 'break a leg' mean? a) Good luck b) Bad luck c) It's a phrase with no meaning

Answer: a) Good luck

1. What does 'bend over backwards' mean? a) To go out of your way to help someone b) To ignore someone's needs c) To be lazy

Answer: a) To go out of your way to help someone

1. What does 'cost an arm and a leg' mean? a) Something is very expensive b) Something is very cheap c) It's a phrase with no meaning

Answer: a) Something is very expensive

1-Minute Recap

To neutralise a strong Spanish influence in English, focus on pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. Practice the correct tongue position for the 'th' sound, 'v' and 'b' sounds, and 'r' sound. Learn common English idioms like 'break a leg,' 'bend over backwards,' and 'cost an arm and a leg.' Be aware of common mistakes like using the wrong verb tense and practice using the correct tense in context. With consistent practice, you'll become more confident and fluent in English.