⭐️ Meysam ⭐️
Community Tutor
Do I sound like a native? (Americans, please leave a comment)
Hi guys
I'm an advanced English learner and speaker. You can check out my English speech in the link below:
<a href="https://www.italki.com/teacher/7480802/persian(farsi)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.italki.com/teacher/7480802/persian(farsi)</a>
What do you think? How similar I am to a native English speaker?
I want to improve my English and be completely proficient in English. I want to get C2+ in Oxford online placement test next year and reach to a native level.
Professional teachers, please answer these questions:
What should I do to improve?
Do I have to do special things to reach that level?
What are my weaknesses in English?
What makes me sound like a non-native English speaker?


Jun 15, 2020 9:49 AM
Comments · 13
5
You need to work on your grammar. Even if you ignore careless mistakes ( e.g. <em>What do you thank?</em>), there are a number of issues that need sorting.

Question forms, both simple and embedded, seems to be one area where you make mistakes:

<em>How similar I am to a native English speaker?</em>
<em>You may ask that 'What is the usage* of ..</em>
<em>A native English speaker doesn't know how does learning English as a second language feel.</em>

The third sentence is a classic non-native error which no native speaker would make. Check out 'embedded questions' in your grammar book.

Your verb+preposition use also seems erratic. For example, in your video, you says <em>I believe learning English in a practical way </em>(omitting the 'in'), but then you get this right in the next sentence you say. In your text above, you say <em>reach to a native level, </em>but then get it right a few lines down with <em>reach that level. </em>In a recent post, you wrote <em>I speak English in an advanced level.</em>

Another area to watch out for is article use e.g. <em>in [the] Persian language and literature section</em>

* Should be 'What is the use of ?' (not usage)

These might seem like minor issues, but they're things which you need to keep an eye on if you want to get to C2 level.

Here's a post you made a short while ago:

<em>Hi there American people</em>
<em>I like to know who are the most famous american poets? </em>
<em>Can you write some English poems of them over here? </em>

To be honest, this nowhere near native level. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but <em>I like to know who are the most famous american poets? </em>isn't even anywhere near advanced level. You really do need to work on your grammar.

On the plus side, however, your pronunciation is very good. You could almost pass as an American. Brush up on your grammar, and you might just make it.

Good luck.
June 15, 2020
4
La Liseuse said it all, but I do want to know why you want to sound American? Accents are part of our personality and even us native speakers all vary in our native accents (not just American, British, etc.). Focus on polishing up your grammar and worry less about acquiring an accent. A generic American accent will actually make you sound less authentic, as any American will know where a fellow American is from by their accent and speech patterns.
June 15, 2020
3
Excellent accent (but slow down!). You can also record on this site for feedback: https://vocaroo.com/
June 15, 2020
3
I have to agree with La Liseuse especially on the areas La Lisuese picked up on.
Your pronunciation is good, but with a non native accent which you will not loose for a very long time, and at least not until you have resided among native English speakers for a considerable time.
It may pass to a learners ear as being a little close to American.

Referring to the classic error La Lisseuse pointed out, if I were listening from across the room I would turn my head around, it would make me check on the speaker, with the intention of seeing who was trying to sound native, it had the same effect when I was listening to the video.
June 15, 2020
2
@Meysam, I understand Although please remember that, in terms of grammar etc., the various Englishes are identical. I speak as a British English speaker who spent a very long time in the US.

Focus on rhythm and speed. As many have pointed out, they are where you need the most work.
June 15, 2020
Show more