Learning the English language can bring a fantastic number of benefits from the immediate ones like improving your chances of getting a good job, or allowing you to obtain a much larger level of information, to more uncommon and less acknowledged ones like gaining a particular knowledge of a certain region and culture or by helping you more easily socialize with a bigger number of people.
While on your way to mastering the English language, the accent you will speak it in will have a lot to do with your material, the cultural and social influences a specific accent carries and of course your personal preference.
Some accents have great exposure
Even if the two most popular accents in the world are the British and the American one, the English language has a multitude of accents that are spread over a number of continents.
Most people don’t opt for an accent but naturally go with the one that their course or material is in. This isn’t necessarily a mistake as much as it is a missed opportunity for personal gain and knowledge. Considered by many an unimportant aspect of the learning process the accent can prove a great tool in social interaction and in cultural development.
A lot of people will find it easier to go for the accent they have most contact with, for example people that live in areas close to Britain or that have a strong British presence, will naturally be more inclined and have higher chances to speak in that specific accent.
More people might go for the American one as it is a constant presence in every aspect of popular culture. Ranging from music to movies, from art to business to TV, the American accent is a very common presence in most places of the world.
But choosing your accent can have a social and cultural element to it too. For example if your girlfriend or work situation might bring you to Australia, then a good understanding of the Australian accent can help you better immerse yourself in the culture while making socializing and getting to know people at your new job lot easier.
Another reason for choosing a specific accent can be the fondness you have for the culture behind it. For example if you are a fan of Irish music or you like the history and mythology of that country or may want to travel there. All these can be a good enough reason to focus on learning that accent.
People can also choose an accent simply because they like the way it sounds. Some accents may prove easier to adopt for certain people because they might have a similar sound to the students native language. Other accents can make learning more difficult, and offer no benefits what so ever for the student. So choosing the right one for you can have a great impact the speed with which you learn English.
Don’t limit yourself
Another issue that can influence the accent you choose to speak in is the work environment. Most work places tend to go for the standard British or at least the most common accent practiced where their business is taking place. This however shouldn’t be a reason for going with an accent that doesn’t appeal to you. If you’re willing to go the extra mile you can learn two or more accents, giving you a truly unique understanding of the English language and the numerous cultures that speak English around the world.

















