I often help Hispanic folks learn English pronunciation.

Frequently, they will ask, “Can you help me with my accent?”  Actually, they really mean, “Can you help me get rid of my accent?”  My answer surprises them.  No, I don’t need to.  I just need to show you the differences in the two sound systems.  Don’t worry about your accent.  We all have an accent — it is a part of our life story  –it’s matter of identity.”

Recently I had the opportunity to visit the north coast of South America.  Now I can speak Spanish más o menos –more or less. Yet I never heard any Spanish like north coastal Colombian Spanish.  The people from the other cities like Bogotá, will tell you that they have their own accent.

However, many adult learners of English seek to speak an accent-free English, forgetting that they do not really speak an accent-free Spanish.  Why then this obsession over accent? Because they have been treated rudely.  Often first generation USAmerican citizens, they nonetheless are treated as second-class citizens, and they think it is because of their accent.

If it were that simple.  Yes, I can help them to “unroll” their R’s, and to learn new sounds, like the sound of our “short I”.  I can help them be more confident speakers, while explaining that I am really not trying to take anything away from them, but only wish to add to what they already have.

However I do not know how to tell them that sometimes the negative energy they are receiving from Anglos is not about their accent — it’s about their identity.

I realized something interesting recently.  Jesus spoke with a thick Galilean accent.  One of his disciples almost wasn’t when he heard the accent and knew Jesus to be from Galilee.

Later just after Jesus’ arrest, a young woman identified Galilean Simon Peter as speaking with the same distinguishable accent, which caused the fearful Peter to temporarily disown his friend and teacher.

So when Jesus came into Judea, the province containing Jerusalem, it was somewhat like the Alabama boy going to New York City.

So, yes, Jesus came to speak words from Heaven in a Galilean accent.  Was it that God has a unique sense of humor?  Or is the message simply that if you’re going to respect a fellow human being or God Himself, you’re going to have to look beyond the accent!