Accent

[2014 Graduate]

I just keep getting some weird comment in school about how my accent is deep, and they can't understand me better, and that I mumble when I speak. I do not get same attention at workplaces, and in other places I have been to. My Teachers just doesn't understand me or what. This is my senior year of nursing school BSN. I am foreign born, and I learnt English in British, and now in United States, I do not know why some of my teachers can't get it. I am quite sure because they haven't mingle with people of other background in their life even as they preach diversity. There is no single diversity in the school. It's all one set of race mostly, and idle town. Is this because they can't understand me, it's my fault? I took TOEFL and I passed with a good grade, no problem from them. I think I need to know!

[lhflanurseNP, APRN]

Foreign accents can be difficult to understand for two reasons: 1) the person listening is not familiar with the accent, and 2) the person may have a thicker accent from talking to family and friends in their traditional language. I know that was a BIG problem for me and I had to make myself speak in English to EVERYONE, well except maybe my grandparents. I believe that helped me the most.

[Kandy83]

Some people's accent are difficult to understand. What country you from if I may inquire? I know many people who hear an accent usually just to tune out and don't patiently listen to what a person is actually saying. I'm sorry that you are going through this, it must be difficult:sorry:

[2014 Graduate]

I am originally from Nigeria west africa. I was raised with English but speak traditional language everyday at home. I have used english all my life. I'm thinking o taking an accent reduction class maybe. What baffles me is that i dnt get same complain at work, and from patients. Besides several tells me i speak good english. I dnt know, i'll need some insight.

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

I am originally from Nigeria west africa. I was raised with English but speak traditional language everyday at home. I have used english all my life. I'm thinking o taking an accent reduction class maybe. What baffles me is that i dnt get same complain at work, and from patients. Besides several tells me i speak good english. I dnt know, i'll need some insight.

I also have an accent but I had to deliberately slow it down so people can understand me better. My accent has gotten very light because I do not talk to people back home as often. Considering that you speak native language at home this means your accent will remain thick.

I don't see the need to take a class but you can do voice recordings and listen back to yourself objectively and see how well it sounds compared to the American accent.

Another things Americans forget is that to us, they are the ones with the accent and we sometimes also have difficulty understanding them. I don't think they are trying to insult you or anything, it just they forget communication is a 2 way street and just as you need to take time to talk clearly, they also need to take time to listen.

[Kandy83]

I am originally from Nigeria west africa. I was raised with English but speak traditional language everyday at home. I have used english all my life. I'm thinking o taking an accent reduction class maybe. What baffles me is that i dnt get same complain at work, and from patients. Besides several tells me i speak good english. I dnt know, i'll need some insight.

Okay cool, which ethnic tribe? I believe that you should continue to work on slowing down when you speak. Because even though you know proper English, that doesn't mean everyone around you knows proper English. Have patience with them so you won't be frustrated when they don't understand you. Watch some tv on your spare time and mock the people that you see on television. You will see that the way they speak and you speak maybe slightly different. Sorry again, I completely understand where you are coming from.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

It will get better when people are around you more (like when you go to work). We have several Nigerian and Kenyan nurses in our area and we all finally learned to understand each other and appreciate one another.

Funny story: I am friends with a Kenyan nurse. She had a dinner party and made food from her country. I was shocked to discover that most of it was part of my diet already - shows the influence of her culture to the deep south, my home. I did teach her how to pickle okra -something she had not tried before but loves now

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

If it is a concern, you may want to seek out the services of a speech/language therapist.

Clear verbal communication is a patient safety issue. Some years ago, in a major teaching hospital where I worked, there were several very serious sentinel events that occurred because accents prevented clear understanding of telephone conversations. As a result, the organization prohibited anyone but native English speakers from taking phone orders. Some practitioners were also required to undergo speech therapy/ language coaching to improve English communication skills.