IMO, slight accents are not a problem. Very thick ones are (such as not being able to understand individual words because the vowels and consonants are so badl

IMO, slight accents are not a problem. Very thick ones are (such as not being able to understand individual words because the vowels and consonants are so badly mispronounced). I am a native speaker, but I have a regional accent. When I teach classes, I consciously minimize my home accent because it is difficult for non-native speakers to understand my English if they are not familiar with its sounds. Why shouldn't an ESL speaker do the same? When I go to other countries whose language I have studied, I try very hard to mimic the national accent, and people appreciate the effort. I think of it as a way of showing respect to them, their heritage, and their culture. If I disregard it simply because I don't have time or can't be bothered, then I am being extremely rude. And so, yes, when I have gone to Mexico, Brazil, France, and Germany, I have tried to speak those languages as authentically as possible.