Reynaga: There are a few reasons. First of all, so they may communicate more effectively and be understood better. As everybody knows, there are people who discriminate against foreigners, not only Hispanics or Latinos. They hear an accent and think “Oh great, a foreigner. They’re not going to understand me and where I’m coming from, and I’m going to have a hard time understanding what they’re saying.” On the phone, people with accents can experience so-called “linguistic profiling.” Linguistic profiling is when people use speech to identify a person’s ethnic background or race. This can hurt their ability to function in society – to rent or buy a house or to get an interview for a job, etc.

I also think that if you live in the United States, you should try to assimilate into US society. Attaining a good accent is a sign of your effort and willingness to do that. I don’t think it’s a good idea to stay in a Spanish world while living in the USA because that puts cultural and social boundaries between individuals. It limits them to a small world. On the other hand, those who use so-called “Spanglish,” because they master neither English nor Spanish, are running the risk of becoming a sub-cultural group that can easily be marginalized or segregated. Therefore, Spanglish hinders their professional growth and their ability to improve their standard of living.

Editor: Some people think that as long as they can make themselves understood - even if they still have a strong accent - that's good enough. Do you agree?

Reynaga: I think that can be true in some cases, for example when people have extraordinary skills or they excel in a particular field. Those abilities or talents can make up for a bad English accent. But in today’s competitive world, it’s important to present yourself in the best possible light. Appearances do count, and your speech certainly contributes to appearances.

It also depends on your occupation. If you are in contact with lots of people (audiences, customers, students, etc.) because of your work, it is crucial to have a very good accent. I lived in New Hampshire for a couple of years and commuted to Boston daily. I used to read the Boston Globe. Once I read an article that was shocking. Some students at a a prestigious university in the Northeast were complaining that they were not able to understand their foreign professors’ lectures. Students were complaining that they paid nearly $40,000 a year in tuition and attended one of the world’s most prestigious universities and that they deserved teachers they could understand. They also mentioned that those professors were probably excellent in their fields, but if they couldn’t communicate effectively, they shouldn’t be teaching.

Editor: What are the biggest problems Spanish speakers have when speaking English?

Reynaga: They are very often unaware that English has sounds that Spanish does not have. They frequently acquire bad pronunciation habits. Also they are not aware that Spanish grammar and English grammar are different, so sometimes they make literal translations from Spanish into English and their message is not understood. Also, we have the “false friends” – words that sound very similar in two languages but have very different meanings. In my book, I give a list of those words along with explanations.

Editor: How does your new book and CD system help Spanish speakers improve their accents?

Reynaga: Because I compare the English sounds with the Spanish sounds on audio CD, the learner can easily recognize how some sounds differ. Additionally, the written explanations comparing the sounds are very helpful. The lessons are simple and short with many helpful examples.

Editor: Is it really possible to improve your accent on your own?

Reynaga: Absolutely, and I speak from personal experience. I did it myself. You need to use audio material and practice as much as possible. In my experience as a teacher, I’ve noticed that some students grasp the English sounds faster than others. Maybe their brains are better prepared for learning new sounds. People are different. But, in general, I can say that “practice makes perfect.” I mean some students may require more time than others to learn the sounds. Eventually, they will be able to improve their accents if they practice consistently, assuming their speech organs are in good condition. 

Editor: You've taught English for 13 years. What tips do you give your students when they're learning English?

Reynaga: There are several. First of all, I should mention that there are different aspects in learning English. In my book, I encourage the learner to attend English classes, because it’s the interaction with the teacher and other students that will give you the intended fluency or communication skills. On your own, you can learn a lot of vocabulary by reading and consulting dictionaries. I always encourage students to use dictionaries as much as possible. You can study grammar books on your own as well. In addition to using my book, you can also improve your pronunciation by listening to songs in English and by trying to imitate the singer. Now it is possible to get the lyrics of songs at the Internet. Interacting as much as possible with native English speakers and attending classes helps bring all these aspects of the language together – grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation.

Editor: You've probably seen and read other pronunciation books and systems. How is your course different from these?

Reynaga: This is a very good question. You are right, there are other pronunciation books on the market. For Spanish speakers, there are two categories of books. The first one is general English pronunciation books for anybody from any language, written in English of course. Most of them are very good. But because they are in English, they can only be used by intermediate or advanced students (many of whom have already acquired bad pronunciation habits) and they do not compare English sounds with Spanish sounds or talk about Spanish phonetics.

The second group is almost non-existent: English pronunciation books specifically designed for Spanish speakers. I have visited bookstores in Boston, Washington D.C., Miami, and San Francisco and in Lima and didn’t find any pronunciation books for Spanish speakers. At Amazon.com, I found six titles, which, believe it or not, are sold with no audio material! They are also too simplistic. Inglés ¡Qué Buen Acento! thus fulfills a critical need. In writing the book, I draw on both my personal experience getting rid of my accent and my 13 years of experience helping hundreds of students do the same. I hope learners from throughout North America, as well as South America and Spain will enjoy using this system and will speak English with a new level of confidence.