Over 62% of test-takers for Indian English fear that their Indian accent will impact their performance negatively in speaking tests, according to a recent survey by Pearson. The survey on social attitudes towards English ability testing points out the need for more balanced testing systems that probe skills and information rather than language biases.

Issues regarding accent in English Proficiency Tests

The survey questioned 1,000 men and women who have already taken or plan to take an English proficiency test to secure a job, study at a university abroad, or enter a foreign country. Interestingly enough, 96% of all respondents had also given an English language test written by a human examiner in the past. Fully 63% of test takers feel that speaking English free of an Indian accent can guarantee better scores, and this feeling was strongest in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Additionally, 64% of respondents feel that speaking with a particular accent improves their speaking exam score. A regional breakdown of preferences showed that 35% of test-takers—especially from Tamil Nadu—believe an American accent aids performance, while 21%—mainly from Uttar Pradesh—favour a British accent.

Prabhul Ravindran, Pearson India's Director of English Language Learning, highlighted how fears regarding accents continue to influence careers and global opportunities. "For decades, people's anxieties about their accents and looks have impacted their ability to earn by deciding what opportunities are open to them in India. "Even in the most desperate situations, where individuals' lives are often at stake, we have seen this play out."

Student experiences: dealing with accent anxiety

To the majority of Indian students appearing for English proficiency tests, concerns regarding how their accent can affect their scores are real and personal. Dokwal, a master's student in Design Innovation and Technology at RMIT, who has scored 7.5 bands in IELTS, recalled how he had to make adjustments to his speech while taking the test. "Yes, more importantly, how clearly I was talking. I took two attempts, and I tried to make my words more clear while also trying to pronounce words that would make it easier for the invigilator to understand," he said.

Aarav Sharma, a master's student in Canada, shared similar sentiments, confessing that he was extremely aware of his accent during the IELTS speaking test. "I felt that the examiner would think that a strong Indian accent is a negative point, so I attempted to neutralise it." This affected my confidence because I was focusing more on how I sounded rather than the content of my answers. Looking back, I think clarity and fluency matter more than trying to sound 'Western.'"

Aakash Surve, pursuing a master's in micro and nano systems at TU Chemnitz, Germany, acknowledged that while his accent has not directly impacted his English language score, the pressure to adjust pronunciation was always there for students. "I don't think my accent played a role in my test scores. Students lose confidence in their language only when they are in an environment where their accent is criticised or they can't understand the accent of the new place they are now part of. In Gujarat, the bigger problem is about not knowing grammar and vocab than accent."

Adjusting to Foreign Communication Styles

For the majority of students, adapting their speech does not stop after the proficiency test; it extends when they are abroad. Kanishk said that while he did not face any major issues, he had to get used to the tone of conversation and new slang in informal talk.

Aarav, however, experienced some difficulties in group discussions when he first arrived in Canada. "People sometimes asked me to repeat myself, which made me self-conscious. But over time, I learnt to slow down my speech and listen actively to different accents, which helped me adapt."

Akash said, “In Germany, here we do learn new things about German dialects and accents. But English accent doesn't play a role.”

Should Indian students receive more guidance?

Most students believe that more preparation for English proficiency tests should aim at pronunciation and fluency rather than accent neutralisation. Dokwal opines that although most students find it convenient to communicate in a foreign environment, others lack the ability to comprehend various accents. "I have friends who feel uncomfortable or have a hard time picking up on the accents here. I believe even things like watching films with subtitles of the place you're travelling to could help pick up on the accent!"

“Indian students who are moving to English-speaking countries can gain from accent training, but not for IELTS. IELTS speaking mocks could have helped me, but just to increase fluency, not accent. Like you can observe Dhrishti IAS mock interviews on YouTube,” Surve said to FPJ.

Sharma stressed the importance of more instruction on pronunciation and fluency, as opposed to attempting to remove an accent. "Indian students should receive better guidance on pronunciation and fluency rather than just 'neutralising' their accents. It would be great if test prep courses included more exposure to different global accents and interactive speaking practice with AI or native speakers."

(Inputs from PTI)