What is the most effective way to practice an accent?

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Hello.

One of my goals is to develop an American accent. I am very confident in my pronunciation and have no problems with letters, vowel sounds, word formations, etc.

What I am struggling with is the proper word stress and rhythmic patterns of American English. Simply put, I can accurately say something in American English when it's one word or something like that, but sentences are difficult, because I don't fully know how to convey these stresses and rhythms, so what I end up with is monotone speech and general inconsistence.

I've been speaking English and have been around the English language continually since I was 4 or 5 years old, so pretty much my entire life. 90% of what I watch and listen to are in American English and I understand and know exactly what the concept of rhythm & stress in accent are and can pick them up when hearing an American Accent.

I just need a proper framework to begin practicing more effectively and productively. I'm already working on having the right mindset (not to doubt myself and give up after one or two tries - pathetic, I know!), and I have tried listening and repeating as well as reading aloud (which I found helps more for pronunciation training), but it's so inconsistent and random, that I've been going nowhere with it in the grand scheme of things.

I just need a consistent, solid framework to work with. Something I can practice daily.

What is the most effective way? Also, would you recommend jaw/tongue/vocal warm up techniques as well?
 

Tdol

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Have you tried classes with a specialist in accent reduction?
 

emsr2d2

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Welcome to the forum. Please check that all the information in your member profile is correct. It says your current location is Hungary. That does not appear to be the case.
 
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