Ever since I became laser-focused on English pronunciation, I’ve been longing for the day I could record a video about why your accent is not a problem.
For a long time, I believed the myth that sounding exactly like a “native speaker” (whatever that means?!) was the ultimate goal I should pursue. That belief stayed with me until a turning point back in college as an undergraduate student. I still remember the day we read an article that challenged the idea of the “native speaker” as the standard, and from that moment on, everything shifted (unfortunately, I cannot remember the title well... Something about "the role of the native speaker in applied linguistics). From that moment on, I stopped chasing “native-like” pronunciation and began focusing instead on something far more meaningful: intelligibility (a.k.a. being clear and understood by others).
Okay, let me fully transparent. I’ve always been drawn to sounds, which is probably why people often mistake me for being American. I've been known among my friends as being good at "copying people" and accents. The truth though? Sooner or later, I always “get caught.” I’m from Brazil. I grew up speaking Portuguese. I shouldn’t expect to sound like someone I’m not.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to sound like a speaker from a certain region, as long as that aligns with your personal goals. However, I truly believe you should never ever try to change the way you speak because you were told your accent is "bad". Repeat after me: no accent is bad! What we often label as “bad” is usually just unfamiliar. Would you ever say a vegetable you've never tried before is bad just because it looks different? Of course not! Even if you don't like the taste of it, the vegetable is still not bad.
Now, let's change gears a little to keep you in the loop. It's been a very full end-of-year season, and for this reason, I had to pause the Science of Clear Pronunciation series. Starting in 2026 (hopefully!),we'll dive deep into what current pronunciation research actually says we should aim for as English learners.
To wrap up, my hope is that this week’s video sparks in you a desire not only to speak without fear, but also to celebrate your accent as part of your beautiful story.
