There's really no such thing as a "Native" English accent, given the amount of different peoples from different regions of the globe who speak it. You will likely pick up the accent of the people you speak with the most. Many Chinese people I've met who can speak fluent English have what I would describe as an 'eastern European' accent (likely because of the high number of eastern Europeans in China with which to practice English), which is just one of many different accents amongst English speakers.

Accents don't just exist amongst non-native English speakers. The US, Britain, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, NZ, Africa, the Carbibbean, and India are all native or majority English speaking countries (or their official languages include English), but they all have distinct accents.

I think what you're looking for is better described as a natural-sounding or neutral accent. I think the best way to do this would be to listen to as many different English accents as possible, maybe by watching films or listening to internet radio programs from different countries, and taking in the subtle differences.

Yes, it's possible, but not everyone can do it after puberty.
It takes *a lot* of practice and a lot of conscious effort.
http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2008/10/14/How-to-improve-English-leve...

Stress.

English is a word stress language. The usual difference between a native and non-native speaker is the lack of appropriate stresses in the latter.

Two kinds of stress: Word stress and sentence stress.

Word stress is easy, check the phonetics in your dictionary. S

Sentence stress is more complicated as most native speakers don't even know they do it, or why. If you listen carefully to a native speaker you will notice not all the words in a sentence get the same treatment. Important words for subject and context are said stronger and slower, while all other words are said softer and faster. The language has a rhythm which is what will make you sound more "natural", regardless of accent.

Using American English for this purpose can be difficult as it is often more subtle. Brits however can often exaggerate the stress when they speak, using them as model may be easier, at least in trying to recognize the stress in the sentence.

Careful though, you may end up sounding like Richard Quest or some other British caricature.

lol,, "It's not the accent you want to be picking up anyway" for what reason? A person with a British accent can't talk to or do business with Americans? I'd pick British over American any day. Ofcourse if you want to sound native when you say stuff like "Hey Jeb.. I dropped me rock!" then by all means go yankie doodle dandy. I usually think your posts are good Wefrucar but dispite your disclaimer you messed this one up imho.

British english rules. Especially slang.
From Shakespeare to Guy Ritchie, it always has.

I'm sick of chinese students trying to mimic californian or NYC accent to sound "authentic", using "you knooowwww" and "like" every two words.

You would need to live in an English speaking country for a while.

I think it might have something to do with how much effort someone puts into pronunciation. I used to teach French in college, and the students who tried harder to get the correct pronunciation were the ones with the weakest accent.

My English teacher in high school was American and she absolutely hated hearing a bunch of French kids saying things like "zis iz a chairrr", so she emphasized pronunciation as much as she could. I don't think I speak like an American, nor do I don't not to have an accent, it just got beaten out of me. Although, after a few cocktails, it tends to come out a bit.

I think a French accent when speaking English is fine. It's part of your identity. If you're French, you speak with a French accent. Ditto with Italian, Spanish etc etc etc. It's also kind of hot. I had a female 'friend' from South America last year, and her accent was unbelievably sexy.

Don't lose your accent people. It's endearing. If you've been taught by an American or a Brit from an early age, then I guess it's acceptable. But I wouldn't lose any sleep over trying to sound like something you're not.

Meh. There's a difference between "speaking with a Chinese accent" and "speaking like a Chinese." There's absolutely nothing wrong with speaking with an accent, I agree with you... IF people can still fully understand you (and vice versa). The problem is most Chinese people can not speak english clearly enough to be understood 100% of the time. Certain syllables are hard to form, certain grammar patterns they use don't make especially make sense.

You hate when a chinese person speaks with a "native-y" accent? I personally find it impressive. It shows ability and effort. Ditto for any one from any country speaking any foreign language.
Sure, at first they have to exaggerate the accent and slang, but that's a transition. As long as they're doing it in earnest, then at worst, I find it cute or amusing.

Come on, are you seriously telling me that if you heard a chinese person speaking FLAWLESS american or australian or whatever english, you would run up to them and furiously say, "WTF you're Chinese why aren't you speaking with a Chinese accent?"

As for "whoever said they speak in a different accent" that's me, hi how ya doin. I don't see it as condescending at all. I don't have an "engrained" mandarin accent - I am constantly changing it to more closely imitate the people I talk to so as to make it more "authentic." I'm not claiming or implying that if I spoke in another accent they'd suddenly be unable to understand me. Chinese people seem to be happy when I can match their accent, and frankly I don't see why they'd find it offensive.

It's not like I speak in a fake british accent to british people.
And YET, I've had some friends who were southerners and had thick southern drawls.... but when they moved up north they suddenly lost their accents and picked up the more "neutral" american accent. They would get their drawl back when they went home. All sub-consciously.
Would you accuse them of being tools?

Well, there's a fair difference between trying to mimic an accent you don't really master - hence sounding like a silly parody - and actually slowly acquiring an accent because you spend a lot of time with people who have this accent or because you learnt the language in a specific country. When I first began learning chinese I acquired Beijing accent - but mainly because I didn't really know it was Beijing accent, it just made sense to put lots of "ER" everywhere to be understood by people.

^ Because, as I said, the difference between my English and my Chinese is that I already have an ingrained, natural accent when I speak English. I'm more conscious of the way I speak Chinese, hence it is not difficult for me to shift accents.
And yet, I bet that if I lived in England for a few years, I'd start speaking using local slang, and maybe the slightest hint of an accent would creep in. People adapt to their surroundings.

Going back to the other point. Alright so, my mistake, you wouldn't be furious. You'd be annoyed. Annoyed that a Chinese person speaks flawless English.... WHY?
What if they were born in that country but happened to be ethnically Chinese? Is that annoying, too?

This "Er" sounds horrible if you ask me and makes 国语 way more difficult to understand. But You've made your point, it's true that you catch the accent of people surrounding you, even in your very own country.

I can't stand the british accent. Sounds so uptight, proudy...!

Xelium, I have absolutely no idea what you are saying, because you're on ignore. But I imagine it's a personal attack on me. Let's say you just drop it and behave like an adult. I haven't addressed you in weeks, how about you extend the same courtesy. You have nothing to add to this thread other than resurrect feuds that are long forgotten.

Wefrucar, I'm entitled to my opinion. It's annoying to me. Is that ok with you? If people live/have lived in UK/US, of course you'll assimilate the accent. But for people who have never/have no intention of travelling to America or England, what is the point of learning American or British English? It's not like most people can tell the difference, they're just marketable tools.