Is It Possible To Change Your Accent?

A lot of my students, especially speakers of English as second language, come to me with the questions like,

"What results can I expect?"

"Is it even possible to change my accent?",

"Can I still do it at my age?"

The simple answer: Yes! It is possible, at any age, to learn a new accent or way of speaking.

But... The full, honest answer is a bit more complex: yes, with determination, practice, and patience.

-- Quick aside before I get to the explanation: I love what I do and I think the ability to change one's voice is incredible. But, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having an accent and being confident in your natural, beautiful accent. Accent coaching should never be about erasing your identity or telling you you're not good enough as you are. It's about building a new skill to help you in your performances, business endeavors, your daily communication, or just having fun and building confidence. --

So, back to the question. There are a lot of factors affecting your ability to assume a new accent, whether as an actor or as an ESL speaker.

Realistic Goals

If you come in with the idea that you'll change how you speak in 30 minutes, you'll probably fail. Accent work is not about just learning which sounds change and practicing them once. It's an ongoing process of learning and building muscle memory. For some people, maybe it takes a few weeks, but for some it can take a few years. Be prepared and be realistic.

Practice

I have seen students who can do one 30-minute session per week, practice for 5-10 minutes per day, and speak in the target accent fluently. But, this isn't the norm. Normally, learning to live in an accent requires regular repetition and practice.

Age

It is usually harder to make changes to the way you speak, hear, or move as you get older. Your muscle memory is likely more cemented, your hearing may be declining, and your brain is no longer primed for language acquisition like thre brains of children (children's brains are magical, seriously). But, that doesn't mean it's impossible. I've seen students around 60 years old make significant changes to their pronunciation and accent. I've also seen 20-year-olds struggle to make even small changes. Age is a factor, but not the deciding one.

"Natural" Ability

Some people have more of a knack of language and sound than others, just like some people are more athletic and some are strong in math and logic. Some ESL accent students work 90 minutes with me and put in a few hours on their own each week for 1.5-2 years to get the results they're looking for. Some students see me 30 minutes a week and barely practice, but reach their goals within a few months. This doesn't mean one is smarter than the other, just that they have different skill sets and learning needs. As coaches, part of our job is to find what those skills and needs are.

Past Experience

If you have already learned to speak in another accent or language, you're probably a step ahead.

For example, French, Spanish, and English use very different “R” sounds. French often uses a uvular /ʁ/, Spanish may use a tapped /ɾ/ or trilled /r/, and many English accents use a rhotic /ɹ/. If you have already learned to produce different “R” sounds, your mouth and brain have experience adapting to new speech patterns.

The same is true for actors. If you are from the UK and have already trained in RP (Received Pronunciation) as the acting standard, you already have experience adjusting your speech. Even though the Standard American accent is quite different, you're already primed to learn it.

So, is it possible?

I can't say that every person will fully develop every new accent they try, but I can say that with the right attitude, consistent practice, and a good coach, it's possible. You can learn new sounds and rhythms, you can expand your performance range, and you can reduce the number of times you hear "What?" in a day.

It's not always easy, but it can be done.