I'm often asked this question. And sometimes, because I train people to speak English with an American accent, people will presume that I think American English is better than other varieties of English. 

Of course there are many varieties of English. Most people think first of the "Big 5" English-speaking countries... Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US. And then there are many other countries where English is officially and/or commonly spoken, including India (which is bigger than the "Big 5"!), Singapore, Hong Kong, the Caribbean, and many countries in Africa... along with a large number of countries where English is not commonly spoken, but is widely studied. And in each country (and within each country!), English is spoken with unique accents.

I'm always quick to tell my clients that I DON'T think that AmE is superior to other Englishes... and I really enjoy listening to non-American English. (In fact, if pressed to name my favorite, I would probably say Aussie English or Irish English!) I believe that all accents are equally valid — one is not better or worse than another. There's even a relatively recent movement toward recognizing and teaching an accent-agnostic International English (or "Global English"), which can be especially helpful when non-native speakers communicate with one another in English.

So when I'm asked the question, "Which accent is best?", I suggest that their question should be "Which accent might be best for me?"... because it really depends on why you have chosen to learn to speak English as a second language, and where (or with whom) you plan to use it. Most of my clients are working to adopt an American-sounding accent because they are living and working in the United States, along with a few others who live overseas and travel to the States often, or they participate in professional conferences around the world where American English is dominant. In any case, they have chosen to adopt an American English accent because they interact with Americans and want to be better understood by them.

So, what's your favorite accent to listen to? Why are you interested in adopting a new accent? Which accent is best for you??? Please post a comment with your thoughts!