The online accent reduction program

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The Initial Evaluation

The first step is to complete the online evaluation. I will send you a link in an email. The evaluation includes recording yourself saying specific words, producing sentences with these specific words, reading aloud, and answering some general questions spontaneously.  I will analyze how your speech and pronunciation vary from Standard American English. I will then determine the strength of your accent, identify any grammar issues, and set a baseline that will be used to measure your success throughout the program.

 

Developing a Customized Learning Program

The speech-language pathologist will create a customized individual learning program for you based on the analysis of your speech. Instruction is based on the Compton P-ESL Accent Modification Program, developed from 20 years of research aimed specifically at helping non-native English speakers and English speakers with regional dialects to reduce their accents while increasing their Standard American English pronunciation skills.

 

The customized program designed for you will address voice projection, grammar, intonation issues, and Standard American English pronunciation.

 

Clients are expected to attend all sessions throughout the program and practice diligently (approximately one hour per day). Clients who do this can expect to achieve clear, understandable speech, and at least a 50% improvement in reducing their accent by the end of the training.

 

Measuring Success and Continuing Improvement

At the end of the course, a final re-evaluation with the speech and pronunciation test will be completed to measure your success.

 

A self-study program for continuous improvement will be designed for you to carry on with your studies. By continuing to practice your pronunciation of English words, your accent will gradually become less prominent.

 

No two individuals are the same. The rate and degree of improvement depend on several factors, such as the extent of the foreign accent or regional dialect, additional needs such as voice projection training and grammatical correction, and commitment to the program.