accent (fwd)

[Ann Peters]

Dear colleagues,
This query doesn't really fall in my area of expertise. Can any of you
help?
thank you
ann

****************************
Dr. Ann M. Peters, Professor
Department of Linguistics
University of Hawai`i               email: ann at hawaii.edu
1890 East West Road, Rm 569         phone: 808 956-3241
Honolulu, HI  96822                 fax:   808 956-9166
http://www2.hawaii.edu/~ann/

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 15:51:54 -1000
From: Emily <emily at china10k.com>
To: ann at hawaii.edu
Subject: accent

Dear Ann

I got your name from the web-site of hong kong university.

I am a Hong Kong Chinese education in the US.  I graduated as top of
engineering school at stanford and have an MBA from harvard.  i worked for
years for a US firm.  while my own english is ok-american accent, i have
noticed the immediate discrimination american firms have against people with
accent.

I am thinking of starting an accent school in china.  Looking at my own
experience, I think it's hard to change accent when a person is older.
therefore, instead of force-feeding adults, i am thinking of starting by
giving young kids (age 5 to 7)a chance to listen and speak to natives.  I am
trying to get advice from liguists like yourself to see if this is the right
approach. What do you think?

I don't know if this is your area of expertise.  If not, could you please
give me some suggestions as to who to contact?

Thanks
Emily Yau