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Speak English
Johnson program helps English learners
Cheyenne McKenna, 10, doesn't always understand what Luis Mendoza is trying to tell her; but she knows with a little patience, she can help him improve his English.
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What percent of people in Shanghai speak English?

What percent of people in Shanghai speak English? Is it difficult to live in Shanghai for people who know only English?

I don't know an exact guess but it is far less than 1%.

English isn't common at all there. In most countries, the people servicing the tourism industry (ie hotel clerks, etc) can all speak English. It isn't common even in that industry in China.

BTW, the other poster is completely wrong. While there is an awful lot of outsourcing of manufacturing jobs to China, there are virtually no telemarketing jobs there. I think he is confusing China and India -- where quite a few call centers are located.

India was a British colony until 1947 so quite a few people learned to speak English and it is still commonly taught and spoken there.

China isolated itself from the outside world until the 1970s so there was little reason for schoolchildren to learn English.

Also I'd note that unlike French or Spanish, Mandarin Chinese contains no common ancestry with English. You don't find words that remind you of similar English words like biblioteca and bibliography. They don't even share an alphabet.

Shanghai is an international cosmopolitan city...so it would be a lot easier than the rest of China, but China is one of the most difficult places for an English speaker to adjust to.

An accent reduction coach can tell you which sounds and patterns you currently use that contribute to your accent. Then you can focus on the areas that are problems for you and help you learn the sounds and patterns of spoken English.

People from many different fields are now looking for ways to improve their American English pronunciation and reduce their accents. These include: doctors, nurses, clergy, business executives, engineers, professors and call center employees. They understand that clear spoken English will allow them to communicate more effectively with business associates, customers, colleagues and friends.

You may be one of the many people learning to read, write and speak English in your native country. Chances are that your reading, writing and grammar are excellent. However, you may have found that your spoken English is so accented that American English speakers don't always understand you when you speak. Your foreign accent prevents American listeners from understanding you, causing frustration and breakdowns in communication.

Accent reduction involves changing or modifying some of the sounds and patterns in your current speech to make you sound more clear and comprehensible to American listeners. By learning to recognize and change the sounds and patterns that you unconsciously transfer from your own language to English, you can learn to speak in a way that will allow American listeners to understand you more easily.

An accent reduction coach can identify the pronunciation feautures that keep Americans from understanding you. Then she can help you learn the sounds and patterns of spoken English that you need to adapt in order to sound more American.

After each session with your coach you simply must practice your pronunciation every day for 20-30 minutes, even more if you can. This will help the new sounds and patterns you are learning to become natural for you. Most people actually begin to both hear and speak English differently once their coaching sessions begin.

People who take accent reduction courses are usually highly motivated individuals who are looking for better job opportunities or promotions. increased social opportunities and better cultural understanding. If this sounds like you, it may be time for you to investigate these kinds of classes.

Susan Ryan is an American English pronunciation and accent reduction instructor in Washington, D.C. Visit her blog to read more about Accent Reduction Coach.

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