Would you prefer teaching British English than US English?

[KL]

I'm trying to get a feel as to how many of you would prefer to teach your child using British English instead of US English.

As most of you probably know, the voice pronunciations we use on Little Reader and Little Math have a US accent, and the word usage and spelling are also US.

We are thinking of doing a set in UK English, so the pronunciations will be by native British speakers, spellings will be like "colour" instead of "color", and you'll see words like "jumper" instead of "sweater".

How many of you would prefer that?  If you do, please also let us know your background (like where you're from, or where you're located).

Any other general comments also welcome!

[purplefungi]

Ha ha! My sister and I were just talking about this, but not in a serious manner. We thought that it would be funny to teach my son to speak in British accent and such instead of American English (we live in Michigan). We are just nerds, though, talking.

I prefer American English because British English makes me cringe, but this is just me because I'm funny about how things are spelled.

[Tanikit]

I am from South Africa and we use British spelling but I couldn't care less about the accent. To be honest though I think my daughter will have to learn to spell both the British and American way as they both come up regularly on imported products. I think it would be nice to have both sets so that people can choose or even show both.

[purplefungi]

I agree with Tanikit. We should include British versions.

[nohayo]

I think it would be great to include British versions too so that the baby can recognize a british accent and understand british words like "jumper" ...

I live in Dubai and we hear lots of british and australian words around here so that would most certainly be useful !

[Sapna1322]

Yaa it is great idea to include british accent.....so that our kid can survive any where in the world.....


Sapna

[vivianbkk]

This is also a question we discussed in our family. Finally, we reached an idea that we probably will teach American English first, since we can get resources easier than teaching British English.

I think kids who are taught with American English should easily understand British English too, and vice versa. American English and British English are like different dialects of a language. When we learn one, we can understand the other without effort. maybe just a little bit. should be very easy.

What do you think?

[Nikita]

I'm quite acclimatized to the American accent, but there's just nothing to beat the Queens' English. Mind you, being in Australia, no amount of hearing any other accent will make one iota of difference, an Australian accent WILL happen, it's unavoidable. It would be of most use to non-English speaking countries to try to develop an accent of a particular English-speaking region, but personally I dont know why anyone would want to get a certain accent. I think a variety of spellings and pronunciations is best, as it's all English in the end. Personally, if I was from India, I'd be happy to speak English with an Indian accent. Why would I want any other accent? If I learn another language now, it'll have an Aussie accent. And what's bad about that...I'm an Aussie...I should have an Aussie accent!!. People will sound like the people they live around. I grew up In Vanuatu speaking the Queen's English with a plum in my mouth, but at 10 I moved to Australia, and speak like an Aussie, though I still pronounce some words a bit posh. (Like France is Frahnce, ample is ahmple). There are some languages that tend to have particular accents, and you want to sound authentic, but English is so widely spoken with so many accents, even within England, that WHAT constitutes an authentic English accent? A singaporean English accent or a South African English accent are vastly different, but they're still truly English. A person no matter what English they're exposed to will have their countries accent. And the other English speaking people in their country that they meet will have the same accent. So I say expose them to a variety of English accents, including Scottish, Irish, New Zealand and Australian aboriginal. So they recognise English by whomever it is spoken, no matter how clipped or broad. And people should know that there is more out there than just British and American English!!! (And for the record I was raised to believe that the Americans had ruined the English language and corrupted its spelling. But I now see that as progress. That's what happens when a country splits and some members go to distant lands. It doesnt mean the mother tongue is superior).

[Kimba15]

I would definetly prefer to see both types of english used. In Australia we are taught British English but more and more words are beginning to be spelt in American english. I think it is important to teach both, and hearing a nice english accent would be good for a change. (No offence to US accent)

It would also be great because we do spell words differently, and it would be nice to teach my daughter the british english spelling as that is what is used in Australia.

So I guess its a big yes vote from me.

[Nikita]

I guess what I am trying to say is, why is the competition between American and British English?? British English is the true English. So why does American English get a look in, as if it is the Be all and end all Of Englishes, even above the True original English? And why dont all the other Enlishes get considered?? It's discrimination!! (Aussie Aussie Aussie. Oi! Oi! Oi!)

[Tanikit]

Lol - I guess what we are trying to say is "variety is the spice of life" - please give us as much variety as you can!

[purplefungi]

I have a great Minnesota accent if that is ever required!

I can fake a southern accent too!

I can't do a Brooklyn accent, though!

[Nikolett]

My kids laugh at different accent of English they hear in presentations and try to guess what country the person is from. I don't mind as long as you can understand the word I don't put my Russian accent into mine, though

British is fine, jumper, sweater, sweat shirt, or pullover  esp. if they are followed up by some phrases or a story...

I think I was taught to spell British...

[nhockaday]

I only want my son seeing presentations and flash cards in American English. We are in America, and that is what we use here. You just don't see or hear anything in British English, unless you watch BBC. I feel that it would be counterproductive to teach him both at this point. I want him to learn how to read what he needs to read, and when he gets older, and he has already learned how to read, he can learn some British English.

[saniso]

Well , personally I would not mind any, considering my accent . But honestly we were used to British English Spellings (not accent) and when I started working in US , I had difficulty in communicating with my patients, ,my colleagues , over the terms used not so much about my accent. I still write "colour" instead of "Color" when I am not really thinking about spellings . But as they say, "when in Rome....So I am trying to adjust to American English. e.g. I preferred saying "pacifier " instead of "dummy". But for sure I am not saying "y'all"

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