Accent Modification

Everyone has an accent.

Accents represent our background, where we come from, and who we typically interact with on a regular basis.

Many of us are proud of who we are. Our unique cultures and experiences make for a melding of experiences with one another.

Otherwise, it would be rather boring if we were all the same.

Generally, there are two types of accents. One is a regional accent that is related to a geographical area. For example, in the United States, we have broad categories of accents, including Southern accents, Northeastern accents, and a general American accent.

The second type of accent is a foreign accent. This accent occurs when you learn English as a second language. Thus, your pronunciation is influenced by the pronunciation of your primary language.

You may be completely fluent in American English; however, you may be experiencing self-doubt when it comes to your pronunciation skills.

Shaping who we are…

Meet Jan*.

She recently graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and is excited about upcoming opportunities and starting her professional career.

However, Jan has reservations and anxiety about her speaking skills when it comes to interviewing with potential employers. She grew up speaking Cantonese and English growing up in Hong Kong. Now that she lives in the U.S., she noticed that while speaking with others in casual conversation her listeners will often ask her to repeat herself.

It didn’t bother her at first. But as she started to think about her prospective interviews, it dawned on her that she should work to improve her pronunciation skills to leave a positive, lasting impression.

This is Rayna*.

She grew up in a small town in the southern region of the U.S. For as long as she could remember, she has always wanted a career in media whether working as a news anchor, hosting a television show, or even hosting her own podcast.

Rayna knows that she has a strong southern accent. But she wants to do an accent training program to help adjust her accent to sound more like the general American accent. She wants to be able to switch her southern accent on and off between professional and social situations.

An accent is not a disorder.

It is a communication difference.

My services for this specialty are considered coaching or training. They do not fall under a medical diagnosis which is why it isn’t categorized as therapy.

My method of teaching is the Compton P-ESL program. This program is tailored specifically to fit your needs.

After a brief assessment, we determine your speech goals which are then targeted weekly, with homework provided accordingly. The assessment looks at specific sounds that you need to improve or adjust to be more intelligible.

For example, the American TH sound does not exist in many other languages. We will work on how this sound is produced in the mouth. From there, we practice that speech sound goal intensely until you are comfortable and able to do it in sentences and conversations. We follow this routine with each sound you find difficult or troublesome until we’ve reached all your goals.

Also, note that we will be recording your responses on a regular basis. It helps to hear yourself so that you can hear the differences in your speech skills.

When you have completed your program, a small online group session is offered to provide a structured place for you to practice with other people working on similar goals. It’s a supportive place to get feedback and perfecting your newly learned skills at a conversational level.

Let’s see if this is a great fit for you.

Taking the first step to change is scary. However, I offer a free 20-minute consultation to see if this program and my coaching style is right for you.

Ensuring that we are the right fit for each other is important for your success, especially since we will be working together frequently and intensely for several weeks.

Feel free to contact me at (720) 808-0450 to set up a time to chat, or you can fill out my contact form below. I will reach out to you immediately.

I’m here to help you be your best self and improve your connections with others.