Author:
Yanira Yanez
English2Go student.
In this article I share my experience using the NativeAccent platform to improve my English pronunciation. At English2Go we use it as a complement to online courses.
NativeAccent software is an invaluable tool for those who want to become fluent in English.
One of the big problems for those of us who learn this language is pronunciation. Undoubtedly, everyone who learns a second or foreign language has an accent, a mark that the native speaker immediately recognizes.
And this has nothing to do with speaking well or badly: accents tell a story, reveal where we come from and, above all, publish that we have learned another language, which is not an easy thing and undoubtedly speaks highly of us.
But something very different is the incorrect pronunciation of words, and this is related to the sound system or phonology of a language. In the following lines I will tell you what NativeAccent software can do for you. As a preview, I can tell you that it completely changed my perception of the English language and my relationship with it.
What is NativeAccent by Carnegie Speech?

Child acquires a tongue, and with it the points of articulation; that is, the way to place your tongue, lips and mouth to make each sound. An adult, on the other hand, learn a language, and this is no longer a natural process, since it is done consciously. So, acquisition is not the same as learning a language.
When you have grown up bilingual, you develop your mother tongue and your second language simultaneously. This can cause the child to mix the sounds of the two languages at first, and even speak a little later. But very soon he is able to differentiate them, and use them correctly in context.
On the other hand, when you learn the English language when you grow up or have not had much exposure to this language, you tend to pronounce the sounds using the points of articulation of your own language. The consequence is, of course, that we mispronounce words.
This is when software like Carnegie Speech NativeAccent can make a difference. Among apps for learning to speak English, NativeAccent software is unique in that it personalizes the training experience. In other words, each user learns the pronunciation of English in a totally different way.
NativeAccent has incorporated cutting-edge technologies that provide true tutoring, pinpointing the exact error in English pronunciation. Then, it gives the user texts, audios, and graphics that explain in detail how to correctly articulate words and phrases. The result is an immediate improvement in pronunciation.
Another advantage of this training software is that it has an intelligent tutor that prioritizes pronunciation exercises based on the needs of each user.
This automated tutor evaluates and classifies pronunciation challenges, so that it is possible to focus training time on pronunciation, grammar and fluency activities that guarantee efficient improvement. Thus, the goal of speaking fluent English is achieved in a short time.
Is it possible to speak fluent English with NativeAccent?
I recorded part of my training here, I am gradually improving:
When I was approached about using the NativeAccent software and then writing my user experience, I was intimidated at first. I have taken several English courses, I can read and even write it relatively fluently, but listening and speaking… well. That's another thing.
I don't like how I sound in English, I'm convinced that I don't pronounce correctly and this intimidates me enough to avoid even trying to speak in that language. But when I did some research and learned that it was an online tool, I completely relaxed and got ready to live the experience. It occurred to me that it might even be fun.
When I started using NativeAccent I was surprised by the plasticity of the tool, the simple way it guided me through the path that the intelligent tutor had designed for me, starting from the initial test where my specific needs were diagnosed.
The rest was the development of patience towards the person from whom I have demanded the most: myself. So I took the time I needed in each lesson, repeating the sounds over and over again until I got it right. In addition, by reading English sentences, he learned new vocabulary and reviewed grammatical structures.
The most interesting thing was discovering what to do with the air, how to handle each part of my voice apparatus, absolutely Spanish-speaking, and realizing that it was possible to "sound" in English..
NativeAccent has already been incorporated into my daily life. The initial difficulties are less and less and I have managed talk fluid English in a short time, and communicate more effectively.
Pros and Cons of NativeAccent
Applications abound these days. Or rather, these are the times of apps, as we call them familiarly, almost with affection. We use them daily for everything, even for the simplest and most everyday tasks. And indeed, there are also applications to learn English.
I have used several. Some even remind me that I have to take my 15 minutes of daily lessons and penalize me when I don't. Now, what are the pros and cons that I found in the NativeAccent software?
In the first place, and this does not make it very different from the others, which it is possible to choose the precise moment to exercise the pronunciation. You will not have to cross the city to attend an institute, nor should you receive a coach at home to guide you along the path of the correct articulation of sounds. Options like these, moreover, impossible to put into practice in times of confinement due to Covid-19.
Another advantage of NativeAccent by Carnegie Speech is that while you learn to articulate correctly you put into practice one of the basic skills of learning a foreign language: the listening.
Indeed, one of the causes of a bad pronunciation is, precisely, not listening enough to speak in English. And in this case, you will also hear a native accent, which will doubly favor your conversational English.
And if you also try to memorize the words and the context in which they are used, you will be learning vocabulary and grammar. Without realizing it, you will structure the learning of English, and when you least expect it you will be surprised to be able to speak English fluently.
But let's address the cons in using this tool. In particular, there is one difficult to overcome: if you think that learning English is a serious thing, very serious, NativeAccent may represent a great challenge. Because (and this is another of its advantages) these pronunciation practice they are really very funny.
You will have to repeat the same sound many times and more than once you will wonder why you do not advance to the next exercise, if it sounds so good to you. You will see appear in front of you the material that tells you how to place your tongue, or your lips and possibly you will feel puzzled, or you will laugh at yourself...
And when you finally get the pronunciation right, maybe you'll jump out of your chair and want to tell everyone.
Comparing NativeAccent with other tools to speak English
As you have surely been able to infer from what I have told you so far, what makes NativeAccent software different is that it is personalized. This maximizes its effectiveness and considerably reduces the time to obtain concrete results.
While other tools have a set program, with specific exercises that are the same for everyone who uses them, In this case, artificial intelligence has been put at the service of success in learning the English language..
Those of us who have resorted to various applications trying to learn this language know that one of the great flaws is, precisely, that much weight is given to the grammatical aspect and the vocabulary, while the listening and the speaking They are often relegated.
NativeAccent has been conceived based on the belief that there is no way to communicate in English without the ability to be understood and to understand what is being said to us. And of course, by pronouncing correctly we feel safer and in this way we speak with greater ease.
How to use NativeAccent?
It is very easy to use the NativeAccent software. When entering the site we do a small and simple test that consists of reading some phrases. This allows the system to detect what our requirements are and guide the exercises to correct our faults quickly and efficiently.
For the rest, just follow the instructions on how to articulate the sounds or phrases. Each time you guess correctly, it will be indicated by the green color on the syllable or word pronounced correctly. Yellow indicates that you can improve your articulation, and red indicates that you should pay more attention and try again.
Every time you make a mistake, you can count on the graphic, audio and explanation you need to know how to do it right the next time.
The instructions, of course, are in English, which will allow you to improve your reading. Following them to the letter is perhaps the biggest challenge: we tend to repeat the sound as we have always articulated it, but once we begin to use our speech system as it is explained to us, we begin to see the results.
Some tips to get the most out of the app
If you want to get the most out of this extraordinary tool, you could follow these basic tips:
- It's fundamental dedicate time daily, and not just any time: a quality time, in which the senses focus on achieving the goal of speaking fluent English.
- Note that you do not want to be interrupted. Turn off your phone or turn off notifications so that nothing interrupts your session.
- Choose a space where you feel comfortable. If there are other people in your house, negotiate to be left alone. So you can do your practice without feeling watched.
- Be patient and kind to yourself. Respect your times and your processes, and do not compare yourself with anyone other than yourself. In this way you will celebrate your achievements, and you will try again and again the articulation of each sound until you achieve it.
Finally, keep in mind that modern theories of teaching and learning a second or foreign language are based on the communicative approach. This is a flexible approach focused on the communicative needs of the student.
NativeAccent software will allow you to learn to pronounce the sounds of English as if you had grown up in an English-speaking country, but it is not a substitute for actual language practice. It is important to have a teacher who guides your learning process according to your requirements.
My recommendation is to take a course where your learning process is personalized, where you have a teacher who knows how to adapt diverse materials to your tastes and interests: music, movies, readings, videos, and even communicative situations that allow you to put good practice into practice. articulation of sounds achieved with the technological tool.
Each language learning experience is different, because each of us has different needs. NativeAccent software has been able to effectively put artificial intelligence at the service of learning English.
When Carnegie Speech's NativeAccent is combined with an online course Truly tailored to your needs, the tool powers up and conversational English flows naturally in no time.
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