English Accents

Unfortunately, English doesn’t come with one standard accent.

Not only do we have British, Australian, American, South African accents etc. We also have all the regional accents that make up those countries!

The difference between Southern and Northen English accents are massive and even native English speakers sometimes have difficulty understanding them.

So it is important that as an English learner you expose yourself to as many different accents as possible, outside of the classroom.

This news interview discusses regional accents and whether they are a help or a hindrance. Watch the video and then see if you can answer the true or false questions below.

Good luck!
Lesson by Caroline

While you listen decide if these statements are true or false:

• 1. Many parents think regional accents are a bad thing for their children to adopt.
  
  True
  False
  
  
• 2. Jo thinks her accent has stopped her progression in the workplace.
  
  False
  True
  
  
• 3. Jo naturally speaks very quickly.
  
  False
  True
  
  
• 4. Helen thinks you should adapt your accent to fit in with the people you are with.
  
  True
  False
  
  
• 5. Tony Blair always used a perfect British accent.
  
  True
  False
  
  
• 6. Jo thinks it’s really important that politicians revert back to their natural dialect.
  
  True
  False
  
  
• 7. Helen works predominantly with children, whose parents want to change their accent.
  
  True
  False