Resources to help you learn English and /Or Improve your Accent

Good communication is one of the most important skills to help new immigrants settle. It is key to getting a job and to forming new relationships.

Here are some resources to help you learn English

• http://www.usalearns.org/index/welcome.cfm?: This is a free site where anyone can set up a profile and learn English. 
• http://www.accentschool.com/: This free resource helps you improve your accent. Canadian immigrants can also go to http://www.extradollar.net/free-accent-reduction.html for language resources. 
• Your local library has many free books and DVDs that you can check out to help you learn or improve your spoken English
• The local community colleges also have ESL classes which are useful for learning the language and also for cultural integration. Classes are also available at your local libraries and online. Click here for an online ESL lab.
• Friends and family can also be a great resource as they share their experiences and lessons on communication. 

Our accents are a wonderful part of who we are as immigrants; they tie us to our past. I am not advocating changing them but learning how to tweak them to help others understand us and improve our overall communication. This is especially important for new immigrants because communication is the human connection we need to navigate our new waters.