You're like a machine that constantly pumps out bad advice. There's no thought to it, really. Somebody just pulls a lever and turns a knob, and out comes a tiny Terash Cas holding a business card with a 1-800 number for bad advice.

And then I run into the thread with my truckload of negativity and all is well in the universe.

There is always Howard Cosell.

The way I learn any accent is just imitating it. Watch an American film and just speak exactly the way the actor speaks. Don't try to say the word the person is saying, make the noise the person is making.

There might be a few YouTube tutorials, so you might want to check those out.

This is..... acceptable.

Oh look. a [censored].

On topic: American's don't have accents!
Kidding of course. One thing I notice that I do, is I pronounce the "T" sound at the end of some words. Like "Don't", sounds like "doen TUH". That said, most people I know don't say it like that. Here in Kansas, most words are slightly slurred. Instead of "doen-tuh" we say things like "I doen-do that" instead of "I don't do that". So I guess basically, just mash up words that can 'flow' into each other, if that makes sense. And then mash up some words that really don't flow
Like "each other", I always say it "eech-uthR", just mashing both words into one.
That would be the best advice I think I can give, over text anyways

Though I've never read the book, I once saw an excellent film adaption for Of Mice and Men and I have to say that even as an American I can't mimic any of the accents in that movie correctly without sounding like a moron. That said, it's worth pointing out that there are dozens of different accents in America, not one single "American accent."

Whenever I try to do an American accent, I generally don't pronounce some ending letters - such as the T in don't. But, as far as I am aware, this doesn't seem right.

Well, I want to do an old 1930 American accent, so it is going to be difficult.

Try watching Fargo, eh?

Try watching 50s television, like the George Burns and Gracie Allen show. Accents can't really be clearly delinated by decade, but imitating 50's television may let you produce an "antiquated" american tone that would help convince your evaluators of the "authenticity" of your accent.

Looney Toons might be best...

Don't remember seeing any movies from the 30s that use California

Don't you mean http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSocSgw0x3E?

ya... Beverly hillbiliies or maybe that episode of Twilight Zone that has the old hunter and his dog with satan using a vaccuum cleaner to scare the dog into hell

Nyaaaaa, what's up Doc?!

That's not a Californian accent, that's a Brooklyn accent.

Haha, I know, I'm from LA. I just felt compelled to type that when I read Loony Tunes.

Thanks for all the advice, but it doesn't have to be perfect. I am not, for the life of me, going to spend hours watching American movies from 1950. I just want some basic tips.

"Hi, guys. There's this thing I want to do, but I don't want to actually put forth effort into doing it. I just want it handed to me."

Are you sure you're not American already?

/tongueincheek

Don't worry there will be another thread in a few hours.

We take what we want and leave the rest…just like your salad bar

The only place you can find an "American Accent" is on American broadcast news. Some television shows use it as well. Truth is, Americans have tons of different accents, from all sorts of different regional varieties to varieties spawned of immigrant groups. New York accents are heavily influenced by Italians, just like other accents in New England are influenced by the Irish, the Germans, the Scotts, and the British.

Chicago is just wierd.

Try doing a cowboy accent just for fun. They exist for real in Texas. Try doing something southern rebel, if you want to feel like you are from Alabama. Give it a little cajun creole mix if you want to act like you grew up in Louisiana.

Hahah, truth is, every American has their own accent.

*insert random joke about Americans"

no idea but ask the accent classes thingies

No. I just said I don't have time to sit down and watch hours and hours of movies. The presentation is in two days time...

1930's... Like "Give 'em the ol' twuny three skidoo!"

Also since it is a presentation I'm assuming you know what you want to say, so post a sample and maybe someone could help you from there.

If I had a webcam or mic I'd help. Maybe you can write the monologue out and get someone else to read it in their American accent, so you just need to imitate them using exactly the same words you need to in the presentation.