Would you consider a speaker to be fluent in a foreign language if they have a heavy, non-native accent?

Answer 1

No, because being fluent does not just mean that you understand the language, but also can communicate with natives. There is so many words in English, that typically what I find with ESL students is, if they pronounce something wrong it sounds like a different word. If you cannot pronounce a word like a native, you are going have a hard time speaking and communicating to natives. An important part of learning a new language is being able to pronounce the words like a native. Maybe, you will always have an accent, but at least English speakers can understand you. I would recommend trying to sound like a native. You may sound different to yourself, but if you sound similar to a native to yourself, it is good. I have met several people who are ESL, but I had no idea they were until they told me, because they sounded native. Perhaps difficult, but not impossible and defiantly necessary to be fluent.