Hi nairalanders I'm a 100 level student of University of Benin studying International Studies and Diplomacy.
I hail from akwa ibom state and was born and bred in Cross River state.
I have this issue that's grieving my spirit.
I can speak English fluently but ever since I was admitted into UNIBEN, when I interact with people they keep asking if I'm from Akwa ibom state and when I asked how they got to guess rightly, they'll tell me that I have this Akwa ibom accent.
My church members, fellow students, and even lecturers have all elaborated on this.
I recently came across this new beauty studying English and she's a beauty to behold.
We have gone so closed and she's also elucidating on my akwa ibom accent.
The funny thing is that I myself haven't noticed this and really looking for a way to ameliorate on it please nairalanders how do I go on to improve my accent

So u dont like ur natural accent ? U want British accent abi?

Hahaha...I can relate to that op, its never a good experience

I had the same problem in my university days.

it is not a problem, but part of the major challenges people face when moving into another environment.

You may also experience other cultural shocks like difference in eating and greeting habits etc. Don't see it as a problem because it will improve your perspective of life

I don't think you need to do much about it for now though. but be rest assured that you might start imitating their accent unconsciously soon

By the time you get back home during your holiday, majority of your family members will notice the difference

It's a simple thing
Watch Hollywood movies
Enable the subtitle and preferably use a headset so that you don't miss any pronunciation.

Op, you have a valid concern and I will give you five steps that will help you.

The first tip is that you have to choose which accent you want to gain proficiency in. This could be American English accent, British accent, Received Pronunciation (RP), or even our Polished Nigerian accent.

If you choose our polished Nigerian accent, then the next step will be to expose yourself to hours upon hours of media and speech practice in the in that accent.

If there a an actor or newscaster that you like their enunciation, download one of their videos to your phone and first watch over and over again till you are fairly familiar with the content.

Next step will be to attempt to speak like that person speaks. If you have a laptop, or watching the video on Youtube, set the speed to 1.25, that is slightly slow playback speed. When the author says something, repeat after them. Own the lines, let the actor live inside your head momentarily. Ensure you pronounce and speak the way the actor is speaking. Genuflect, laugh, dance, smoke weed or drink alchohol. You need to be free and mentally unfiltered in order to allow your mirror neurons pick up and imprint the nuances of the accent inside your head. Another option will be to find somebody from your state who speaks well and use them as a model.


Do this as many times as you can. Expect SIGNIFICANT CHANGES in your enunciation after the first six weeks. Continue till the third month and you would have made significant progress.


VOWELS

A.E.I.O.U as you may know are called vowels. These sounds wherever they occur is the one that most often mispronounced by non-native speaker.

Do you know the difference between these homonyms?

1- beach vs bitch
2-sheet vs shit
3-lip vs leap
4-engine vs ingenuous?

Learn proper pronunciation! Mind vowels wherever they occur in your speech. Nigerian' especially get most English vowels wrong.

Next, please learn some grammar. You might think you don't need it but it is the foundation to good speech as well. Understanding what the rules are help one gain insights in ways they would not have in absence of.

Read a whole lot, have a dictionary that pronounces words, immerse yourself in language rich environments such as debates, plays, seminars etc.

For anyone who is wondering -- I went to a voice training school and now do voice-over work sometimes. I was once like OP.

You suffer from linguistic interference, a common problem affecting those who acquired a mother tongue first, and subsequently learnt a second language, instead of acquiring both the other way round or simultaneously.

Firstly you need to study the phonetic chart of the English language. Study the pronunciation of pure vowels, diphthongs, triphthongs, consonants etc.

Additionally, you need to study stress and intonation. Do not forget to study blending, linking the r etc.

For instance, when r ends a word and is followed by a vowel, link the r.

I did it over and over again. Wrong

I did it overanover again. Right

And the winner is. Wrong

And the winneris. Right

My uncle. Wrong
Myyuncle Right

Watch American films, listen to CNN, BBC etc. Imitate correct pronunciation.

Stay away from Jennifer's diary and The Johnson's.

What do I know, though? I'm just a regular guy who started learning English when he was eleven years old.

Though today, he teaches English to expatriates who come from non English speaking countries.

Auto correct changed shi.t in number 2 to poo

KOPT55:
Op, you have a valid concern and I will give you five steps that will help you.

The first tip is that you have to choose which accent you want to gain proficiency in. This could be American English accent, British accent, Received Pronunciation (RP), or even our Polished Nigerian accent.

If you choose our polished Nigerian accent, then the next step will be to expose yourself to hours upon hours of media and speech practice in the in that accent.

If there a an actor or newscaster that you like their enunciation, download one of their videos to your phone and first watch over and over again till you are fairly familiar with the content.

Next step will be to attempt to speak like that person speaks. If you have a laptop, or watching the video on Youtube, set the speed to 1.25, that is slightly slow playback speed. When the author says something, repeat after them. Own the lines, let the actor live inside your head momentarily. Ensure you pronounce and speak the way the actor is speaking. Genuflect, laugh, dance, smoke weed or drink alchohol. You need to be free and mentally unfiltered in order to allow your mirror neurons pick up and imprint the nuances of the accent inside your head. Another option will be to find somebody from your state who speaks well and use them as a model.


Do this as many times as you can. Expect SIGNIFICANT CHANGES in your enunciation after the first six weeks. Continue till the third month and you would have made significant progress.


VOWELS

A.E.I.O.U as you may know are called vowels. These sounds wherever they occur is the one that most often mispronounced by non-native speaker.

Do you know the difference between these homonyms?

1- beach vs bitch
2-sheet vs shit
3-lip vs leap
4-engine vs ingenuous?

Learn proper pronunciation! Mind vowels wherever they occur in your speech. Nigerian' especially get most English vowels wrong.

Next, please learn some grammar. You might think you don't need it but it is the foundation to good speech as well. Understanding what the rules are help one gain insights in ways they would not have in absence of.

Read a whole lot, have a dictionary that pronounces words, immerse yourself in language rich environments such as debates, plays, seminars etc.

For anyone who is wondering -- I went to a voice training school and now do voice-over work sometimes. I was once like OP.

Watch oyibo movies.

KOPT55:
Op, you have a valid concern and I will give you five steps that will help you.

The first tip is that you have to choose which accent you want to gain proficiency in. This could be American English accent, British accent, Received Pronunciation (RP), or even our Polished Nigerian accent.

If you choose our polished Nigerian accent, then the next step will be to expose yourself to hours upon hours of media and speech practice in the in that accent.

If there a an actor or newscaster that you like their enunciation, download one of their videos to your phone and first watch over and over again till you are fairly familiar with the content.

Next step will be to attempt to speak like that person speaks. If you have a laptop, or watching the video on Youtube, set the speed to 1.25, that is slightly slow playback speed. When the author says something, repeat after them. Own the lines, let the actor live inside your head momentarily. Ensure you pronounce and speak the way the actor is speaking. Genuflect, laugh, dance, smoke weed or drink alchohol. You need to be free and mentally unfiltered in order to allow your mirror neurons pick up and imprint the nuances of the accent inside your head. Another option will be to find somebody from your state who speaks well and use them as a model.


Do this as many times as you can. Expect SIGNIFICANT CHANGES in your enunciation after the first six weeks. Continue till the third month and you would have made significant progress.


VOWELS

A.E.I.O.U as you may know are called vowels. These sounds wherever they occur is the one that most often mispronounced by non-native speaker.

Do you know the difference between these homonyms?

1- beach vs bitch
2-sheet vs shit
3-lip vs leap
4-engine vs ingenuous?

Learn proper pronunciation! Mind vowels wherever they occur in your speech. Nigerian' especially get most English vowels wrong.

Next, please learn some grammar. You might think you don't need it but it is the foundation to good speech as well. Understanding what the rules are help one gain insights in ways they would not have in absence of.

Read a whole lot, have a dictionary that pronounces words, immerse yourself in language rich environments such as debates, plays, seminars etc.

For anyone who is wondering -- I went to a voice training school and now do voice-over work sometimes. I was once like OP.

this is really insightful. thank you for sharing

Heromaniaa:
You suffer from linguistic interference, a common problem affecting those who acquired a mother tongue first, and subsequently learnt a second language, instead of acquiring both the other way round or simultaneously.

Firstly you need to study the phonetic chart of the English language. Study the pronunciation of pure vowels, diphthongs, triphthongs, consonants etc.

Additionally, you need to study stress and intonation. Do not forget to study blending, linking the r etc.

For instance, when r ends a word and is followed by a vowel, link the r.

I did it over and over again. Wrong

I did it overanover again. Right

And the winner is. Wrong

And the winneris. Right

My uncle. Wrong
Myyuncle Right

Watch American films, listen to CNN, BBC etc. Imitate correct pronunciation.

Stay away from Jennifer's diary and The Johnson's.

What do I know, though? I'm just a regular guy who started learning English when he was eleven years old.

Though today, he teaches English to expatriates who come from non English speaking countries.

this is good. thank you for sharing

KOPT55:
Op, you have a valid concern and I will give you five steps that will help you.

etc.

For anyone who is wondering -- I went to a voice training school and now do voice-over work sometimes. I was once like OP.

Nice write-up

Chikita66:
Watch oyibo movies.

at the Oyibo movies part funny girl

Nice dp

efesodje:

at the Oyibo movies part funny girl
Nice dp

Thanks dear.

Since you can speak a fluent English, write and communicate well, I dont think you should be disturbed about your accent. It is nothing. I have also have this Yoruba accent (not much sha) but I dont give a fu*k.

Looks Like Its Beginning To Affect You Self Esteem...

DeadRat:
Looks Like Its Beginning To Affect You Self Esteem...

I tell you bro.
Because of it I don't mix up with my COLLEAGUES.
the girl I met here in school, we're now so closed, she has been on my neck to take her out and sit out with her but I keep turning her down due to the feelings of inferiority In communicating.

izaray:
Hahaha...I can relate to that op, its never a good experience

greiboy:
I had the same problem in my university days.

it is not a problem, but part of the major challenges people face when moving into another environment.

You may also experience other cultural shocks like difference in eating and greeting habits etc. Don't see it as a problem because it will improve your perspective of life

I don't think you need to do much about it for now though. but be rest assured that you might start imitating their accent unconsciously soon

By the time you get back home during your holiday, majority of your family members will notice the difference

izaray:
Hahaha...I can relate to that op, its never a good experience

Ah so I'm not alone in this.
You're so right bro. This is my first time of changing environs to a far region with differences.
Just like traveling abroad and staying for decades, as soon as you're back your accents would change.
Just like Izaray said "it's not a good experience "
Mehn it's beginning to affect my self Esteem

Heromaniaa:
You suffer from linguistic interference, a common problem affecting those who acquired a mother tongue first, and subsequently learnt a second language, instead of acquiring both the other way round or simultaneously.

Firstly you need to study the phonetic chart of the English language. Study the pronunciation of pure vowels, diphthongs, triphthongs, consonants etc.

Additionally, you need to study stress and intonation. Do not forget to study blending, linking the r etc.

For instance, when r ends a word and is followed by a vowel, link the r.

I did it over and over again. Wrong

I did it overanover again. Right

And the winner is. Wrong

And the winneris. Right

My uncle. Wrong
Myyuncle Right

Watch American films, listen to CNN, BBC etc. Imitate correct pronunciation.

Stay away from Jennifer's diary and The Johnson's.

What do I know, though? I'm just a regular guy who started learning English when he was eleven years old.

Though today, he teaches English to expatriates who come from non English speaking countries.

mehn I'm so edified and I've learnt a lot.
God bless you so much for this

KOPT55:
Op, you have a valid concern and I will give you five steps that will help you.

The first tip is that you have to choose which accent you want to gain proficiency in. This could be American English accent, British accent, Received Pronunciation (RP), or even our Polished Nigerian accent.

If you choose our polished Nigerian accent, then the next step will be to expose yourself to hours upon hours of media and speech practice in the in that accent.

If there a an actor or newscaster that you like their enunciation, download one of their videos to your phone and first watch over and over again till you are fairly familiar with the content.

Next step will be to attempt to speak like that person speaks. If you have a laptop, or watching the video on Youtube, set the speed to 1.25, that is slightly slow playback speed. When the author says something, repeat after them. Own the lines, let the actor live inside your head momentarily. Ensure you pronounce and speak the way the actor is speaking. Genuflect, laugh, dance, smoke weed or drink alchohol. You need to be free and mentally unfiltered in order to allow your mirror neurons pick up and imprint the nuances of the accent inside your head. Another option will be to find somebody from your state who speaks well and use them as a model.


Do this as many times as you can. Expect SIGNIFICANT CHANGES in your enunciation after the first six weeks. Continue till the third month and you would have made significant progress.


VOWELS

A.E.I.O.U as you may know are called vowels. These sounds wherever they occur is the one that most often mispronounced by non-native speaker.

Do you know the difference between these homonyms?

1- beach vs bitch
2-sheet vs shit
3-lip vs leap
4-engine vs ingenuous?

Learn proper pronunciation! Mind vowels wherever they occur in your speech. Nigerian' especially get most English vowels wrong.

Next, please learn some grammar. You might think you don't need it but it is the foundation to good speech as well. Understanding what the rules are help one gain insights in ways they would not have in absence of.

Read a whole lot, have a dictionary that pronounces words, immerse yourself in language rich environments such as debates, plays, seminars etc.

For anyone who is wondering -- I went to a voice training school and now do voice-over work sometimes. I was once like OP.

mehn thanks so much bro God bless you.
Voice training.
I think I'll start soliloquizing and record it to check improvements

if you have mb...watch teach me how by papa on YouTube...take a months lesson...

Rayhandrinni:
if you have mb...watch teach me how by papa on YouTube...take a months lesson...

months bawo. I need an instant improvement of at most a week

DateMynd44:
months bawo. I need an instant improvement of at most a week

go and start watching now nah ..you go kill dem...you know say una school girls like fine boys

Rayhandrinni:
go and start watching now nah ..you go kill dem...you know say una school girls like fine boys

I tell you. Their matter don tire me sef.
Read this thread https://www.nairaland.com/4388138/how-win-heart#65676669

DateMynd44:
I tell you bro.
Because of it I don't mix up with my COLLEAGUES.
the girl I met here in school, we're now so closed, she has been on my neck to take her out and sit out with her but I keep turning her down due to the feelings of inferiority In communicating.

you Cant Change It Now... If The Chinese Man Is Never Worried About His Pronunciation Of english words same As The Indian And The Arabs, the Egyptian, the Mexican the Italian And The Russian... Then Why Should You?

QueenSuccubus:


So u dont like ur natural accent ? U want British accent abi?

Thought you'd joined the mass deactivation exodus.

Unlimited22:

Thought you'd joined the mass deactivation exodus.

I did deactivated my 2 main active accounts & this is the 3rd but the last one since my other alt was being blocked coz due to temporary email i used...