09/10/2026
I have met some brilliant international students who wouldn't say a word in the class or any academic environment. Not because they didn't want to say anything or contribute but because of internal battle with self.
The truth is, for one to get admission into any university in the U.S as an international student, the person must be brilliant.
But, one thing is to be brilliant, another thing is to be expressive and shine that brilliance without self-restrain.
Thinking someone will laugh at you, mock you, or cajole you when you speak, is in your head. The truth is: nobody truly cares. It's even when you speak differently you become more interesting.
Some confided in me that the problem is that they could not speak like Americans. They feel their English isn't well-polished. They don't have American accent.
"But I can hear you clearly and understand your communication, completely. In fact, you speak so well," I would say. "If Americans are to speak your language, they will speak with their accent too. Having an accent isn't a problem. That's your identity. But ability to communicate clearly is where one should focus on."
I have assisted some international students I encountered with this problem, to regain their pride and express themselves.
These people speak very well and communicate well in English, but self-doubt.
Listen, you don't have to twist your tongue to sound like anybody. Speak clearly. Pronounce words correctly.
Accent has nothing to do with brilliance and intelligence. Accent isn't a bad thing. Everyone has an accent.
I have toured the North, South and Midwest of the U.S and discovered variations in accents. There are different accents in French speaking countries. Similarly, in the UK, there are various accents. Irish, Scottish, and English (England) have their accents and variations in tongue. Outsiders may not notice, but insiders know. Those who are aware know too.
From interaction with multicultural and multilingual people, I can deduce which country one comes from based on how they speak. That's accentual identity.
From my experience as a linguist, folklorist, and literary scholar—someone who is assertive or rather confident in his craft — the world takes you more serious when you don't force yourself to fit into a tongue or identity meant for another person.
Your tongue opens door of interaction and communication. "Where are you from?"
Then you say. They want to learn more about your place and your culture. But how would anyone learn anything about you when you aren't even proud of yourself and identity?
Kids can develop accents or various accents based on languages they are exposed to at certain early stage of their lives. The language acquisition devices according to Noam Chomsky, an American linguist and theorist, help a child within certain age to develop and speak languages with accents they are exposed to. But as an adult, a naghị amụta aka ekpe na nka.
Like I told one international student, if people could have the trouble in pronouncing Ogbonnaya, why then should I be bothered when I don't share the same tongue, but still pronounce what they could hear and understand clearly?
After I gingered her, she became excited and took up a position to teach — something she was scared of doing before because she thought American students wouldn't understand her. Eventually, the students loved her teaching because she's bringing in various experiences new to them. She too, began to enjoy classroom interaction.
Of course, you can't come in contact with me and have a self-doubt. I wouldn't allow you succeed: doubting yourself when you should be proud of yourself.
The problem most people have isn't because they cannot do it, or have what it takes to do it, but they have this self-doubt about their ability to do it. The feeling of not good enough is dangerous. It keeps you stagnant and make you lose your pride. You start thinking others are more deserving. It creates inferiority complex and retrogression.
Don't do it. Never allow yourself to be a stumbling block to yourself.
Go out there. Express yourself. Bring to the table, your uniqueness — that's what the world cherishes. Everyone knows you are fake when you fake accents. You sound so horrible, and they would just be like: this mumu want force emself.
Speak, everyone will hear you. Just know what you are saying and be convinced about it. When you have something to present on the table, everyone pays attention.
Isn't that why our ancestors had a saying that when an elder holds a kola nut and clears his throat, the spirits listen attentively?
I Paused!
