What are the biggest problems Spanish speakers have when speaking English?
Reynaga: They are very often unaware that English has sounds that Spanish does not have. They frequently acquire bad pronunciation habits. Also they are not aware that Spanish grammar and English grammar are different, so sometimes they make literal translations from Spanish into English and their message is not understood. Also, we have the “false friends” – words that sound very similar in two languages but have very different meanings. In my book, I give a list of those words along with explanations. Editor: How does your new book and CD system help Spanish speakers improve their accents? Reynaga: Because I compare the English sounds with the Spanish sounds on audio CD, the learner can easily recognize how some sounds differ. Additionally, the written explanations comparing the sounds are very helpful. The lessons are simple and short with many helpful examples. Editor: Is it really possible to improve your accent on your own? Reynaga: Absolutely, and I speak from personal experienc
