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Can you become an accent coach as a non-native English speaker?

Ikichiki
This is something that I would really like to try in the future, but I'm not sure whether it's possible due to my background. I'm a non-native English speaker and I've never been to an English-speaking country. I did my undergraduate studies in English language and literature (had 2 semesters of phonetics and phonology, and additional two in English accents and dialectology). I did my master's in English linguistics (my thesis centered around how non-native speakers acquire phonological processes in American English). Currently am I a first-year Phd student (my fields are sociophonetics and SLA). I am aware of the fact that I don't know everything I need to know, but I'm willing to learn and expand my knowledge in order to become competent enough for being an accent coach. Is it possible to become one with my 'non-native' background? And, if it is, what are some other requirements in terms of education that I would need to fulfil? Is there a special course for accent coaches that I should attend?

4 comments

WhatAmIDoingOnThisAp•
Currently I am* And I have no clue about certain qualifications that you’d need for a job like that
SnipSnapSnatch•
Yes, you absolutely can become an accent coach as a non-native English speaker, though I’m not sure which specific classes or requirements you’d need. If you as a non-native speaker get to a point of fluency and understanding that you sound native, you actually have some advantages over native speakers in that regard. Accent and language “comes naturally” to native speakers, meaning they don’t always know the tiny details that make up the language. As a non-native speaker you have to learn all of those tiny details from the ground up, so if you can master the accent and language you are just as good of a coach as any native speaker. I would suggest you visit an English speaking country and spend some time there too. School is very helpful for learning the textbook version of things, but nothing beats real world experience. Good luck with your future studies!
crazycreepynull_•
People who teach languages are often not a native of that language because a native of that language more often than not doesn't know why they say what they say since it's all just Intuitive. A non-native on the other hand typically has to learn all the rules in order to use it, making them more fit to teach it than most natives.
Acceptable-Panic2626•
I am an accent and fluency coach, actually! 👋🏽 While I am a native speaker, I can assure you that you DO NOT need to be a native speaker to be a fluency or accent coach. Yes, you have to have an advanced level but, the key is being able to identify the major goals for your student then coach them. The most visible person I've seen in this field is [The Accent Channel](https://www.theaccentchannel.com/). I haven't taken her courses but the resources I have looked at are pretty solid. I think she's on YT too.