Native English speakers, can I be transformed into a native?

by ZealZeal Banned
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I'm 21 and after two months, I will go to either UK, Canada or USA or even Ireland to study in University. I'll be back to my country after completing the 4 year of my study. So I want to be as good as a native speaker of English when I finish my study.

My question is, can I be transformed into a native speaker of English (no, as good as a native ) in all aspects of the language within 4 years. In fact, I want to be transformed within 3 to 6 months.

Because,
1. I'll be immersed in the language when I go to UK or Canada
2. I'll make an excessive study of English and I'll socialize.
3. I'm a kind of young (the younger the better)

And I'm asking if that is possible within 3-6 months. So tell me if you are or natives, if you know a person who is not a native but got transformed to be a native (as good as a native )? How long did it take them? What is the realistic time? ....

Thanks!
#english speakers #native
  • If you wrote this, you obviously speak and understand English already...google translator usually does not do translation this well...
    What language do you speak now?
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  • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
    Originally Posted by ZealZeal View Post

    <snip>
    My question is, can I be transformed into a native speaker of English (no, as good as a native ) in all aspects of the language within 4 years. In fact, I want to be transformed within 3 to 6 months.<snip>
    My answer to you is it is possible if you're musical. Musicians and singers only the people I've come across who learned English relatively late in life (after 14 years old) but still sound like native speakers. Most likely, people will always think you're a foreigner, even when your English mastery is, in fact, better than theirs.

    I am a native speaker of English, but people still think I'm a foreigner. I think I have a combination of accents from living abroad most of my life outside of North America plus a mild speech impediment. English is not the only language I speak.

    When will you know when you've truly mastered a language? When:
    1. you can watch a sitcom on TV in the language and get the jokes, even the ones with subtle cultural references.
    2. Understand everything in Internet articles (as well as the articles in fast-becoming-obsolete newspapers).
    3. Can not only understand insults directed at you but can quickly respond with great comebacks.
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    • Profile picture of the author ZealZeal
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      Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

      My answer to you is it is possible if you're musical. Musicians and singers only the people I've come across who learned English relatively late in life (after 14 years old) but still sound like native speakers. Most likely, people will always think you're a foreigner, even when your English mastery is, in fact, better than theirs.
      Thank you very much thunderbird, but can you tell how long it took them (on average). And also, why do people think I'm a foreigner? Because, If that's due to my accent, I don't care that much.

      Thanks!
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      • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
        Originally Posted by ZealZeal View Post

        Thank you very much thunderbird, but can you tell how long it took them (on average).
        I knew a Japanese woman who accomplished this feat within one year. She had an accent when I first met her. One year later, I couldn't detect any trace of an accent. I later learned that she's accomplished pianist.

        German flamenco guitarist Ottmar Liebert speaks American English with no accent. I don't know how long he's resided in the States. Many years, anyway.


        And also, why do people think I'm a foreigner? Because, If that's due to my accent, I don't care that much.

        Thanks!
        It would most likely be based on your accent, unless your clothes are very foreign looking, like if you wear antennas on your head or something.
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        • Profile picture of the author ZealZeal
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          Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

          like if you wear antennas on your head or something.
          Haha funny lol
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    • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
      Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

      My answer to you is it is possible if you're musical. Musicians and singers only the people I've come across who learned English relatively late in life (after 14 years old) but still sound like native speakers. Most likely, people will always think you're a foreigner, even when your English mastery is, in fact, better than theirs.

      I am a native speaker of English, but people still think I'm a foreigner. I think I have a combination of accents from living abroad most of my life outside of North America plus a mild speech impediment. English is not the only language I speak.

      When will you know when you've truly mastered a language? When:
      1. you can watch a sitcom on TV in the language and get the jokes, even the ones with subtle cultural references.
      2. Understand everything in Internet articles (as well as the articles in fast-becoming-obsolete newspapers).
      3. Can not only understand insults directed at you but can quickly respond with great comebacks.
      And i was told I was a native speaker, or is the pass mark 33%
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      • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
        Originally Posted by oncewerewarriors View Post

        And i was told I was a native speaker, or is the pass mark 33%
        I guess, you'll know you sound "native" if folks seem surprised and even skeptical when they learn otherwise. Sort of a Zelig litmus test (you'd have to know English like a native to know what the heck my last sentence means).
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        • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
          [QUOTE=thunderbird;4583773]I guess, you'll know you sound "native" when folks seem surprised and even skeptical when they learn otherwise. Sort of a Zelig litmus test (you'd have to know English like a native to know what the heck my last sentence means).[/QUOTE

          But by place of birth i am, but cannot understand usa supposed comedy, although enjoy English humour, with 2 U's, articles except in Racing Post and Mojo are usually totally beyond me, but i think, on a good day, I could pass test 3

          My very good friend Perry sat beside me in science. We were not ideal students. On his exam paper, when asked what turned litmus paper blue or whatever, answered banana skin. Even spelt bananana right. He is a native speaker too
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          • Profile picture of the author ThomM
            If you pull it off, you'll be ahead of many native English speakers/
            By the way, conversate is not a word. The proper word is converse.
            What I mean by that is don't expect to learn proper English by watching the Jerry Springer show.
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            • Profile picture of the author Patrician
              Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

              What I mean by that is don't expect to learn proper English by watching the Jerry Springer show.
              ha ha ha - yeah i don't speak beep beep %#@!!!+# mother %$#@1/ beep beep beep you %$#@!!! beep either.
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            • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
              Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

              If you pull it off, you'll be ahead of many native English speakers/
              By the way, conversate is not a word. The proper word is converse.
              What I mean by that is don't expect to learn proper English by watching the Jerry Springer show.
              So if I am unable to conversate, I am unable to have a conversation

              But i am able to converse, so I can have a conversion. Does that mean I am now a Mormon? Might need a few more wives.
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            • Profile picture of the author Sornie Samante
              Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

              If you pull it off, you'll be ahead of many native English speakers/
              By the way, conversate is not a word. The proper word is converse.
              What I mean by that is don't expect to learn proper English by watching the Jerry Springer show.

              "conversate" is often used by tagalog and cebuano native speakers, most especially those who have not gone to some school along with people that just don't speak the english language . I do speak both language while cebuano is my native language that's why I can relate myself
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          • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
            Originally Posted by oncewerewarriors View Post

            on a good day, I could pass test 3
            Me too, except for the speed factor. Sometimes it takes me 2 days, a week, maybe 10 years to come up with a good comeback. That was I got into screenwriting for a while -- I could rewrite it, unlike in real life, and give it a faster pace.
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            • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
              Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

              Me too, except for the speed factor. Sometimes it takes me 2 days, a week, maybe 10 years to come up with a good comeback. That was I got into screenwriting for a while -- I could rewrite it, unlike in real life, and give it a faster pace.
              If it is one of those slow days, it is often easier, and more satisfying, just to punch him in the nose

              Justice has been seen to be done.
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              • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
                Originally Posted by oncewerewarriors View Post

                If it is one of those slow days, it is often easier, and more satisfying, just to punch him in the nose

                Justice has been seen to be done.
                I've done that before, I am ashamed to say. I can't even remember why that guy and I were fighting, but I can still hear the exploding sound of his nose breaking. Don't ever want to hear that again. I'd rather be a dufus than a brute.
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  • Profile picture of the author ZealZeal
    Banned
    Ya I never use Google translator. And I can write well if I sit down and think about it. But I don't speak, write or read as clever as a native. I mean I lack so many things can't speak advanced English at all. And I speak latino.
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    • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
      Originally Posted by ZealZeal View Post

      Ya I never use Google translator. And I can write well if I sit down and think about it. But I don't speak, write or read as clever as a native. I mean I lack so many things can't speak advanced English at all. And I speak latino.
      Ya? Is that on Google Translate.
      But you forgot the biggest need of all, listening, or is that now unnecessary
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  • Profile picture of the author guest
    Mate, half the people i know in the uk cannot write as good as you did there.

    With so many regional accents - it would be impossible to pick up an english accent in 3-6 months. At university, you are going to be hearing a lot of people from all over the country. So it would be hard to pick-up an accent. You would just be learning parts from around the country.

    In the UK you can travel 30miles and its amazing how different people talk. I'm from nottingham -- if i go to sheffield, it's a different way of talking.

    If you choose a uni in liverpool, birmingham, newcastle, etc -- they have VERY strong accents.

    In 4 years? I would say you would easily be able to sound like a native. IF you mainly hang out with peopel with the same accents. OR try and mimic just one accent.

    Good luck.
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  • In the US most shows have a SAP channel in Spanish that may help relate one phrase to another.

    If you have an ear for dialects you should be able to pick things up rather quickly. Some actors are very adept at this. The Actress Charlize Theron's first language is Afrikkans, but she shows no hint of it when she speaks English. In contrast, Gary Oldman, Eddie Izzard, Minnie Driver, etc. are English - but can effect American dialects to where many people do not realize they are English until they speak as themselves on a talk show...Many Americans, Australians, etc. can do the same...

    Speaking like a "Native" may be misleading, as you want to be able to speak "fluently"
    I applaud you for immersing yourself in the language -

    The dialects of a native speaker are another level entirely...UK, Canada or USA or even Ireland all speak "english" - but with differences native to their regions - Just as someone from countries in South America do not speak Spanish as they do in Spain, or a French Canadien to French.
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  • Profile picture of the author Patrician
    Your written English is perfect - better than alot of English Firsters in the USA (went to school to eat their lunch I guess)

    As far as being here, we have so many people here now, that English is not their first language, that we have a new language and I am good at it.

    It's called 'Broken English' - it is quite cute.

    You can understand them and they can understand you but their grammar is not perfect (like the rest of us)

    I don't speak it on purpose, it is just that so many people you talk to talk like that I start doing it automatically. I can't really explain exactly how it goes, but it does.

    Thank you for speaking English especially in an English speaking country. To ignore the main language is just plain RUDE and it is exclusionary to speak some foreign language in the presence of NATIVE English speakers. Nothing like feeling like I am in a strange country and/or being excluded from a conversation, when this is where I was born.

    Please don't say learn another language - which one? we have so many = Spanish, Tagalog, Chinese, Hindi, Thailand, Vietnam, etc etc - it is best to speak ONE language - whatever the main one is for the country...

    Don't worry be happy you will be fine being sharp and considerate.
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    • Profile picture of the author ZealZeal
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Patrician View Post

      Your written English is perfect - better than alot of English Firsters in the USA (went to school to eat their lunch I guess)
      Haha, Thanks.

      Originally Posted by Patrician View Post

      Thank you for speaking English especially in an English speaking country. To ignore the main language is just plain RUDE and it is exclusionary to speak some foreign language in the presence of NATIVE English speakers. Nothing like feeling like I am in a strange country and/or being excluded from a conversation, when this is where I was born.
      Yes, By nature I hate being excluded

      Originally Posted by Patrician View Post


      Don't worry be happy you will be fine being sharp and considerate.
      Thanks have a good day!
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Zealzeal, you DO seem t write fine. Thunderbird is wrong. I have known people that spoke fine, and weren't musicians, and people that didn't that were.

    As for time, it definitely varies. If you are immersed, REALLY have zeal, and REALLY want to, it can be pretty quick. Others have been here for 40 years or more and STILL sound VERY foreign. I doubt they ever tried though. If you wrote that post in a short period, it looks like you are mostly there. And there are SO many foreigners here that it has even affected NATIVE english speakers in the US. One of my coworkers on my current project SOUNDS like a native speaker, except a few words peg him as FOREIGN! ODD that a person from india actually says a word like an american, and this other guy says it like an indian!

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      Zealzeal, you DO seem t write fine. Thunderbird is wrong. I have known people that spoke fine, and weren't musicians, and people that didn't that were.<snip>
      Wrong about what? Speaking fine or even superior level is not the same as coming across as a native speaker.
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

        Wrong about what? Speaking fine or even superior level is not the same as coming across as a native speaker.
        OK, by fine, I meant like a native speaker. Sorry, I just didn't want to type that so much.

        steve
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        • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
          Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

          OK, by fine, I meant like a native speaker. Sorry, I just didn't want to type that so much.

          steve
          My experience is only anecdotal. I'm hardly an expert. I don't speak English like a native speaker and I *am* a native speaker.
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          • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
            There are many so called native speakers i cannot understand anyway
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            • Profile picture of the author retirewithsandie
              Originally Posted by Patrician View Post

              Your written English is perfect - better than alot of English Firsters in the USA (went to school to eat their lunch I guess)
              LOL! Being on Facebook I read some of the posts from my former classmates and have to smh. I read their posts and think "uhm we sat in the SAME GATE English classes and your writing is currently embarrassing! You're not a teeny bopper stop writing like one"
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            • Profile picture of the author Patrician
              if you go and live in a country it would be much easier for everyone including you, if you learned the language and use it so you will get used to it. This is where you are now.

              with that said I don't imagine it is easy to learn a second language and especially English.

              people who come here used to come to 'join us' - to be a part of our country. now they just want to change it to be like the country they left and exploit the resources here.

              we are now instead of 'one nation under God' - a divided house.

              (which won't stand)

              'don't build your house on the sand'

              Quite Frankly,
              Sheeza Radical

              posted by a "so called" native of the country i was born in and have always lived in, although i can't say it is 'my country' anymore... (not just behind this issue of foreign languages but our very government that condones it ...)

              (we did it to the American Indians first - thank God you come in peace) and let us "so called" natives run free (so far). maybe we will have reservations where we get to speak English only.


              Originally Posted by oncewerewarriors View Post

              There are many so called native speakers i cannot understand anyway
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  • Profile picture of the author matsanti
    Hi, it is good that you want to learn the accent and blend in so as to speak. However being a native speaker of a language that you were not used to when you were still in your childhood would be quite difficult if not impossible. Even the American English is different than that of the English in UK, I have once heard the phrase America and Britain are two nations divided by the English language.

    Since you would be going to either UK, Canada or the US for studies, just communicate with the people around and a year or two of immersion, you will find that your accent would be comparable to that of your peers.

    There is actually no need nor pressure for you to speak with the accent, just know and understand the language and that would be fine. People would not mind if your english has an FLI or first language influence, what is important is that you are able to communicate the language.
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  • Profile picture of the author dagaul101
    Ofcourse it's certainly possible, immerse yourself in the culture, and in no time no one will be able to tell you from the locals
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