"I want to speak English like a native speaker"

One of the most common comments I see and hear from English learners is “I want to speak like a native speaker.” Let’s have a think about whether this is possible or even necessary.

1. What is a native speaker?
First, I want to make sure that everyone understands the meaning of “native speaker” and clear up one or two misconceptions.

The Cambridge Dictionary says a native speaker is “someone who has spoken a particular language since they were a baby, rather than having learned it as a child or adult.”

So a native speaker is usually somebody who grew up in an English-speaking country, such as the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and so on.

But this isn’t always true. What matters more is the language (or languages) spoken in your home when you’re growing up, not simply where you were born.

For example, my father was born in South Africa, in an area where Afrikaans was the main language. His parents were English and they spoke English at home. They moved back to the UK when Dad was a child. He wasn’t born in the UK but he’s a native speaker.

And being a native speaker of English doesn’t mean you’re white. In every English-speaking country, there are people of many different ethnic backgrounds. If you grow up speaking English as your first language, you’re a native speaker – regardless of the colour of your skin.

2. Is it important to speak like a native speaker?
When English learners say they want to speak like a native speaker, they are often talking about wanting a British or American accent. “Accent” means the way you speak which shows where you’re from.

In my opinion, this is not very important, unless you want to be an actor or an international spy!

People might also be thinking about speaking without grammar mistakes or knowing how to use idioms and slang.

Here’s what I think:

⭐ If you speak English with a French, Japanese or Turkish accent (or whatever accent you have), that’s fine as long as people can understand you. You just need to focus on speaking clearly and working on any sounds which are difficult for you.

⭐ Clear pronunciation is important. Your accent is not.

⭐ Your accent is a beautiful part of who you are and you don’t need to change it.

⭐ All native speakers speak differently anyway. There are different accents and other differences between one region and another.  

⭐ I know that some people are judged on their accent, unfortunately. I wish this were different. All I can suggest is to try not to let judgemental people upset you. We can’t change the world overnight but maybe we can all play a tiny part in changing this attitude. 

⭐ Trying to speak like a native speaker is an unrealistic goal for most people. You might never change your accent or learn all the idioms. But that’s OK! You can still communicate extremely well, even if you make a few mistakes, forget a word or have an accent.

⭐ Focus on good communication, not perfection or impossible goals.

⭐ What about fluency? It absolutely IS possible for a non-native speaker to become fluent in English! It takes time and effort but it’s definitely achievable if you work hard and practise a lot.

⭐ And what about grammar? Remember that native speakers make mistakes too. Nobody speaks perfect English all the time.

⭐ What are your goals for learning English? If you want to live and work in an English-speaking country, or if you want to understand British or American TV, then it makes sense for you to learn the local idioms and slang. But for most learners, there are more important things to focus on, like fluency, vocabulary and grammar.

⭐ But if your goal is international communication, you should focus on English that is internationally understood. After all, there are only 370 million native speakers of English in the world but there are maybe a billion non-native speakers of English.

3. Native speakers are not always the best example!
I can think of plenty of native speakers I’ve met who have poor communication skills!

I’ve met native speakers who miss out important pieces of information so I don’t know what they’re talking about.

I know people who never answer the question you asked, only the question they think you asked! Or perhaps it’s what they wish you’d asked!

There are people who talk too fast or too quietly so I can’t hear everything they say.

On the other hand, I’ve met intermediate-level students who are excellent communicators. They can communicate extremely effectively using the language they have and we can talk easily and comfortably for a whole hour on Zoom.

I even remember an elementary student I taught over 20 years ago who was really good at telling jokes in English. He didn’t have much grammar or vocabulary but he was full of confidence!

So if you’ve ever thought “I wish I could speak English like a native speaker”, may I suggest a better goal for you?

Instead, try thinking “I want to communicate effectively in English.”

This is a much more useful goal – and it’s also easier to achieve.

If your goal is effective communication in English, try focusing on these things:

💙 Listen carefully to the other person.
💙 Focus on explaining things clearly.
💙 Don’t worry about making mistakes.
💙 Don’t worry about your accent.
💙 Take your time and don’t speak too fast.
💙 Practise using the language you already know to build your confidence.

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​Would you like to learn how you can improve your speaking skills in 30 days? My English Speaking Challenge e-book is for you. You can get it here.