There is no such thing as a better accent. It really depends on where you live, and who you speak English with. What accent would be easier for THEM to hear? We all want to be understood. We want to be accepted by the society or entourage we live in. Having said that, I know for a fact that most English learners out there prefer the American accent. Why? Because they LIKE it. Aha! Now that’s a whole different story. We are talking about likings here and that is not the same as saying one thing is BETTER than another.
However, the fact that the majority of English learners prefer or like the American accent could imply that they see a number of benefits not necessarily offered by other accents. I guess one of the main benefits is PREVALENCE. That is a fancy way to say that the “American accent” is just everywhere. It’s in movies, songs, the internet, and let’s not forget that it is the accent used by what is still regarded by many as the most powerful nation in the whole world.
It would be rather interesting to see whether the American accent could maintain its status quo despite the United States’ increasingly declining influence on the world’s economy and politics coincided with (or even caused by) the sudden rise or awakening of the sleeping Asian giant, China.
Some teachers and students continue to believe that English learners who speak with an American accent could enjoy greater leverage in job searching or in their career in general. In a country like Japan, where I coach English in companies and schools, I have met a large number of Japanese students who clearly prefer and sometimes even demand the American accent. That is not very surprising given the strong influence of the United States on the modern Japanese culture. I have heard similar stories from several English teachers in Korea. The funniest and most mindboggling thing about all this for me is that neither Japanese nor Korean learners can ever distinguish between the American accent and, say, the British accent. Many of them are not even able to speak fluent or intelligible English, yet, they insist on being taught with an American accent, which, fortunately, I have always taught with.
Look, the American accent is quite popular for many reasons mainly due to the power of the American politics, economy and media. Many English learners find it more convenient and easier to learn because they are more exposed to it than to any other English accent in the world. But, if you happen to be a clear and fluent speaker of English, neither native nor non-native English speakers will ever have a clue or give a damn about what accent you speak with. Just Get Talking.
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