The question of how much effort to put into accent reduction should be up to
the learner. Certainly making learners feel confident and relaxed about
their learning is a good idea. We have had great success with the following
"Manifesto". Some learners carry it in their wallets and look at it daily.

The Language Learner's Manifesto

Have you tried to learn another language? How did it go? Are you still
afraid to speak that language? Read this in your own language and then learn
it and repeat it to yourself daily, in the language you are learning.

I can be *FLUENT*. My goal is to be *FLUENT*. My goal is not to be perfect.
My goal is just to be *FLUENT*. I can be *FLUENT* and still make mistakes.

I need to make a fresh start. I will not think of rules of grammar. I will
forget about quizzes and tests. I will forget all the times I made mistakes.
I will forget about my native language. I will forget who I am. I will
become a new person, speaking a new language.  I will have fun with the
language. I will focus on enjoying myself. That is how I will learn to
become FLUENT. I know I can do it.

I know how I will learn. I will listen often, every day. I will listen in
the morning. I will listen at night. I will let myself go. I will listen and
let the language enter my mind. I will choose content that I like to listen
to, where the voice is pleasant. I will listen to the sounds and the rhythm
of the language. I will listen to the words and the phrases but I  will not
worry about what I do not understand.  I will continue listening and
enjoying the language. I will take my listening with me on the bus, on walks
and even when I do other chores. Listening will help to make me FLUENT.

I will read what I am listening to. This will help me to understand.
Sometimes what I read will be full of words and phrases that I do not know.
I will save these and review them regularly.  It does not matter that I
quickly forget the meaning of these new words and phrase. If I keep
listening, reading and reviewing the new words and phrases, they will
eventually become a part of me. Sometimes I will read easy content where I
know most of the words. I will do this for fun, and because it is helping
the language become natural to me. Reading will help me to become FLUENT.

As I continue listening and reading, I will understand more and more of the
language, naturally. This gives me a sense of achievement and power, as my
brain gets used to the new language. This will encourage me to continue. It
is important to continue, with energy and enthusiasm. It takes months to get
used to a new language. It takes months to become FLUENT.

I am patient. I do not mind spending the time to become FLUENT in the new
language because I enjoy doing it. I know that as I notice more and more
words and phrase, I will be able to understand more and more of what I hear
and read. If I understand  what I hear and read, I will soon be able to
speak and write. Until I can understand what I hear and read, I will not be
able to speak and write well. But there is no hurry.

Even if I do not understand everything, I can practice repeating what I
hear.  I can repeat words, imitating the sounds. I can repeat phrases and
sentences, imitating the rhythm.  I can even read out loud. It does not
matter that my pronunciation is not yet natural.  Just repeating and reading
out loud will help me to hear the sounds of the language and make me more
comfortable. Gradually my pronunciation will improve and I will be able to
speak with confidence and become FLUENT.
I will never say that I am no good. When I read and listen I will tell
myself "nice going", even if there are always some parts that are not clear.
When I try to pronounce the new language and still make mistakes, I will not
care. I know that I am improving, naturally. I will always be nice to
myself. I will try not to be nervous. If I make a mistake I will say "never
mind". If I forget a word I will say "never mind." If I have trouble saying
what I want to say, I will tell myself " no problem". I will continue until
I am FLUENT.

I will trust myself. I will be confident.  I will treat myself with respect.
I just need to keep going, no matter what. The more I listen and read, the
more I study my words and phrases, the more I repeat, the more I enjoy the
language, the sooner I will be FLUENT.  I know I will succeed. I know I will
achieve my goal.




-- 
Steve Kaufmann
www.thelinguist.com
1-604-922-8514
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