Speaking with an Accent

Speaking with an Accent

America is a place said to be a dreamland. Most people come to the United States for a better life, education, jobs, medical care, good environment and good government. The United States is many people’s dream but the English language and particular the accent may be a problem. In Nigeria people speaks British English, but Americans speak their English with a different accent. Although English is not my first language, I still learned English in Nigeria. To communicate in British English is easier for me than to communicate with American English. This difference in accent has made it uncomfortable for me to communicate in the United States.

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I was raised in Nigeria and I speak British English. The English used for teaching is British English. On arriving to the united state, I found out that America accent might be my problem. My sister took me to school to start my registration. All my days in class were so terrible because I could not understand my teacher. If I asked a question my teacher would not understand me and I would not understand him either. In fact, my teacher accent affected me so much that I struggled to pass his class. I just used the knowledge I have learn in Nigeria to pass his class. On like my country Nigeria everything I leaned was straight forward. I understand everything I been thought.

Searching for jobs was easy in Nigeria, because people know that I am from Nigeria through my accent. I can show the manager my result in school so that they know my qualification and I will be hired. In the U.S, it is difficult for me to get a job due to my accent that I am not from this country. Although my face may look like a black American girl, I don’t sound like them. I am unable to get a job, because of my accent. For example, two months ago I was called for an interview, and I was sitting with one white lady as she began to talk. I could not understand what she was talking about, so I cut her short and I said, “Excuse me, please I am unable to understand what you are saying”. The lady looked at me and said, “Sorry you are not fit for this position”. I asked her why and she said since I didn’t understand what she was saying that means I can’t understand the customers. I told her I haven’t spoken and she said sorry I don’t understand what you talking about. The lady said you may leave. I felt so embarrassed because of my accent, I was unable to get the job.

Understanding one another is the best when people find themselves in a foreign country. It is not easy for me to understand the white people and the black Americans even though I speak English. People still don’t understand me, and I might not understand them either. Some days ago I was stuck at the bus-stop, and I was trying to get help. I saw one white man, and I asked him for two dollars. I tried to explain to him that I was stuck, but he didn’t understand what I was trying to tell him, so he said he was sorry but he didn’t understand me. He walked away. In Nigeria I would not even ask before people helped me. Most times if I stood at a bus stop in Nigeria, people offered me help because they knew I was from the country though my accent

I could imagine does year that I faced challenges because of my accent. I felt like an empty tree which as no life in it. Several steps may be able to help my problem. First, I would try to listen to the Americans carefully and tell them to slow down because I am not from their country. I understand the Americans but not all of them. I am unable to relate with people, make friends and explain my opinion. I will try to talk to the Americans no matter how they will embarrass me. I will still talk to them so that I can learn their accent. To communicate in British English is easier for me than to communicate in America English .I am an American now, and I have learned how to speck their accent.