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English Spoken with a Foreign Accent is Still English — Or is it?
How volunteering made me a better person
Seven years ago I went through an upheaval in my personal life that led me into a downward spiral into depression. My doctor suggested I try volunteering to take my mind off things. So I looked around and found out that an assisted living facility in my town was accepting volunteers. I decided to give it a try and am happy to say that I have never looked back since.
I enjoy volunteering so much that along the way I grabbed another opportunity that came knocking. This was as a tutor for immigrants who have little to no English. My work includes coaching those who need help with their English in order to attend job interviews or to obtain a better job.
“Do you know what a foreign accent is? A sign of bravery” — Amy Chua
When I first came to the U.S (NYC) many years ago, the biggest hurdle I experienced was trying to understand what people were saying and trying to be understood. I could say my English is good but since I came from a different country, my accent and pronunciation put me at a disadvantage.
Have you heard a New Yawker Tawk?
