Get your Intonation Right

When we start to learn a language, we tend to focus mainly on the goal and learning vocabulary and grammar. While those are crucial to improving your level in said language, they cannot suffice to actually speak the language well.
While, after learning a long list of vocabulary and grammar points, you may feel comfortable in a language, the people listening to you will always end up slowing down their speech rhythm or lower the level of vocabulary they will use with you.

Why? you may ask. The answer is simple: your Accent.

If your native accent is too strong when you speak this new language, then the person listening will always feel a bit unease and believe your skills are not yet there.

I, as a French person, have seen many people who had learned French to some extent. However, whenever I speak with someone who has a strong knowledge in French, if their accent somehow “doesn’t feel right”, I subconsciously will use simpler vocabulary. It usually won’t be a conscious choice, but I will realize it after finishing the conversation, wondering if my point came through due to the simple vocabulary I ended up using.

On the other side of the spectrum, the first time I came to Japan, 6 years ago, I believed my level was quite high (it was close to JLPT N2). However, whenever I talked with someone, I felt that it was just “too easy”. There wasn’t any challenge. However, after a few months, I started seeing more and more challenges in conversations. When studying a…