Travel. Language. Life Experience. Education.
Take Your Accent Overseas
Your voice suddenly becomes unique — and that’s empowering
We all have an accent. But when surrounded by the same accent at home, we take little notice of our voice.
Travel abroad and you see things differently; to others, you sound different.
“Life experience is the best teacher.” — David Letterman
An Accent is a Conversation Starter
A person notices your accent and bang, banter is off and running — you swap travel stories, talk about differences, can ask questions. You never know where it may lead.
I spent years, decades, living down the freeway from Hollywood, yet never had an acting gig. Not that I ever tried to be an actor. I don’t enjoy waiting tables.
When I moved to a small Australian town, some 12,000 kms (~ 8,000 miles) from Hollywood, bang, I’ve been on TV twice — including a big budget beer commercial — and got a voice-over gig simply because someone overheard me talking in a fish and chips shop.
Often, people will just want to talk to you to hear your accent. If you’re in a foreign language country, they may want to practice speaking to you in your language.
“Do you know what a foreign accent is? It is a sign of bravery.” — Amy Chua
Better Yourself and Enjoy Your Life
Want to learn another language? Go overseas and immerse yourself in it. Nothing like survival to teach you quick. And you’ll come away with an even better understanding of your mother tongue.
Want to taste a different life? Travel internationally and view the world from another spot on the planet. See the world through other people’s eyes. You’ll end up learning a lot more about your homeland at the same time — both the good and bad.
Want to find romance? Take a trip abroad. Your accent will get you noticed. Still need a little boost? Learn to play guitar and get a puppy.
Occasionally the language barrier can be problematic, even when you’re speaking the same language. Someone may look at you like you’re ignorant. They may ignore you as an outsider because you don’t speak their language.
Someone may say to you, “Speak”. I’ve had that happen too. The blunt tone left me thinking, ‘What am I, a dog?’ I kept my mouth shut. But with differing accents come cultural and social differences too.
“Never regret. If it’s good, it’s wonderful. If it’s bad, it’s experience.” — Jean Plaidy
My grown step-daughter messaged her mum one evening while she was watching Tom Hanks being interviewed on TV.
“Watching Tom Hanks is like listening to Will talk. Same talking!”
“You mean, the California accent?”
“No, it’s all of it. Kinda lame and polite, but also measured and funny.”
I thought it hilarious and a reasonable comment. I didn’t take offence; I screen captured the conversation. Hell, I cop worse insults from fellow Americans for being Californian.
Takeaways
Accents aren’t restricted to foreign languages. Within a language there are different inflections and rhythms, various dialects and words. But the fun is in those differences.
Experience life. Find your voice and build confidence.
When overseas, your voice is suddenly unique, and that’s empowering.
I can’t hide my American accent, nor would I want to hide it. It feeds my ego and makes my life interesting.
And when I’m back in the States? They hear an accent in my voice now too.
Once you enjoy a world outside your own, you see yourself not as an American citizen or an Australian citizen or an <insert citizenship here>, but as a world citizen.
Or at least, that should be a goal. Shouldn’t it?
Thanks for reading.
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