Is pronunciation important?

Speaking clearly is important in order to maximize communication. But having an accent that is the same as another person is not important, unless it is required for a specific job.

Many students have an unrealistic goal to speak native English. Only native speakers can speak native English. Even then, there are numerous dialects and accents, and every English speaker has a unique voice.

The goal should always be to speak in a clear way in order to be understood.