Foreign languages and accents

[Mattk]

When we speak French for example we are taught to speak in a French accent so how come the French don't speak English with an English accent?

I ask from genuine curiosity as I may purchase the rosetta stone language course.

[mike11111]

Had to Google that one. Not sure if I'm being insulted here.

[MarkRae]

Why would I do that...?

[mightyWBA]

My French teacher was from Barnsley.
Our class spoke French in a strange Yorkshire/Black country/French accent.
Avez-vous un cuppa? ..Aer kid :-)

[mike11111]

"Avez-vous un cuppa?"
I remember the PG chimps too.

[DTCwordfan]

oui-up get the bouilloire electrique on, svp.....

[CailinDeas]

Do Americans or indeed Australians New Zealanders et al , speak English with an English accent?

[DTCwordfan]

talking about Barnsley reminds me they are more famous for their gin bottle manufacturing than tea.....probably explains the French with the local Tyke dialect.

[NOX]

I think it depends on how old you are when you learn and whether it's because you live there and are immersed in the language or if you are taught it at school by a random non-native speaker. Both my daughters have now lived in Germany for a couple of years, one is 12 and one nearly 5. Although they both are bi-lingual now and the twelve year old is fluent, the four year old speaks German without any accent whatsoever and English perfectly fluently but with something of a German accent, which is a bit random. The twelve year old speaks I am told with only a trace of an accent wheras my ex although quite fluent has a heavier accent- so it's also clearly about age at learning, not simply where you learn.

[sidkid]

Pas d'elle yeux Rhone que nous....

[MarkRae]

http://www.aescon.com...lting/french/num1.htm

[Dhabi]

Every language you learn you should learn WITHOUT accent. I don´t think you speak French completely without accent, do you? Also Frenchs who learn English TRY to speak without accent.