Can I Speak a Foreign Language Without an Accent? Part 2.

In part 1 of this post, we discussed why it’s important to learn the pronunciation of words alongside their written forms. Learning how words sound constitutes a special kind of learning called phonemic learning. Children learn the sounds of their language very early in life, before they start to speak.

But can we learn the sounds of a new language as adults?

Yes, we can!

The whole process of learning, on the brain level, consists of building new connections between brain cells. The brain constantly forms new brain cells and new connections between these cells in adults as well as in children.

If you want to speak without an accent, you have to record new ‘software’ in your brain that recognises the sounds of the language you are learning.

Once this ‘software’ is recorded, you will be able to distinguish foreign sounds from those of your first language. By hearing sounds correctly, you will be able to pronounce them exactly as native speakers do. Therefore, you will be able to speak without an accent!

Rules of Phonemic Learning

However, phonemic learning has its own rules, and there are a few important things to remember:

Firstly, the formation of brain connections is a physical process that requires brain resources and takes time, so you shouldn’t expect immediate results. The time it takes to learn new sounds varies from person to person. Some people might hear new sounds correctly with just a few repetitions, while others may need 30 or more. Don’t be discouraged if phonemic learning seems challenging—you might excel more at grammar, vocabulary, or meaning.

Secondly, consistency is crucial. You must support your learning by practising regularly over time. Studies show that if learning stops, the brain quickly reallocates resources, and newly formed connections may disappear.

Thirdly, it's essential to listen carefully to native speakers. For accurate learning, choose speakers with a neutral or widely accepted accent. For example, this might be Received Pronunciation (RP) in England, General American in the US, or Parisian French for French learners.

Fourthly, adopt a piecemeal approach. Learn a little at a time to avoid overwhelming your brain. Remember, forming brain connections takes energy.

Try to enjoy your learning journey. Imagine you’re listening to music—learning just two new sounds a day that you didn’t even know existed! Each new sound you recognise and pronounce correctly is a small victory. Celebrate it! The next day, you might learn how these sounds are written.

And if you stay persistent, you will achieve your goal—even if your path is a little longer than someone else’s. Keep going, and enjoy the journey!

An App for Learning Received Pronunciation

If your aim is to improve your British English pronunciation, you can start your learning journey right away. We’ve developed a free application to help you speak with Received Pronunciation—a clear and neutral accent of British English.

The app is based on the principles of phonemic learning, such as a piecemeal approach, a systematic method, and includes examples recorded by native speakers.

Learn in Four Stages

• Stage 1: Listen to individual words, each highlighting a specific phoneme.
• Stage 2: Learn to recognise similar-sounding phonemes in pairs of words.
• Stage 3: Practise identifying phonemes using tongue twisters.
• Stage 4: Use our specially designed software to recognise phonemes in short poems and native speech.

After completing these stages, you’ll be able to practise independently, recognising the phonemes of Received Pronunciation in real conversations.

And of course, you must practise your pronunciation. It's especially helpful to listen to native speakers after learning a new sound and try to recognise that sound in continuous speech.

Amazing things can happen—especially for intermediate learners who may not fully understand what’s being said. When you tune your ears to the sounds of your target language, you might begin to understand the meaning of speech—even without actively trying!