FREE ACCENT EVALUATION
Here are the answers to some common questions about Accent Reduction / accent modification.
What is an accent?
An accent is the way in which a language is pronounced. A person's accent depends on many factors, but can classified as regional or foreign. A regional accent is determined by where the person lives and what social groups they belong to. People who live in close contact grow to share a way of speaking, or accent, which will differ from the way other groups in other places speak.
A foreign accent occurs when a person speaks one language using some of the rules or sounds of another language. Having an accent is natural for speakers of second or third languages. How do accents affect communication?
An accent often reflects the unique background of each person and many people take pride in their individual accent and style. However, having an accent may cause some difficulties in communicating with other native speakers. For example, when a person has trouble pronouncing some of the sounds of a second language they're learning, they may substitute similar sounds that occur in their first language. This may not sound right to native speakers of the language and can make it difficult for the listener to understand.
Ineffective communication due to a strong accent can create barriers in business, have negative effects on job performance, cause missed job opportunities, affect educational advancement and everyday life activities. It may also affect your self esteem. It is for these reasons that some people decide to modify or learn how to change their accent to improve their overall communication. What improvement can I expect from completing an Accent Reduction program?
Upon completion of an Australia English Institute Accent Reduction (or accent modification) program, you will have your accent assessed again. The results are then compared to the initial assessment so the extent of your improvement can be determined. Past comparisons show that a student who attends all the appropriate sessions and practices diligently as directed in their homework program, can expect to experience at least a 50% change in their accent or dialect. How does the Accent Reduction program work?
Accent reduction training (or accent modification training) is very different from learning English grammar and vocabulary. An accent reduction program focuses on specific language pronunciation skills that influence your ability to communicate clearly. You will work on speech patterns and habits of your English pronunciation that affect other people's ability to understand you.
First you will complete an Accent Evaluation. A program will then be designed to meet your individual accent reduction needs. Training sessions are then conducted according to your location, preferences and job related requirements.
What are my training options?
Our training sessions are designed to meet the needs and time constraints of our clients.
Online programs (by the internet) and tele-classes (by phone) are available for clients who want to train in the privacy of their own home or office. This means you can access our Accent Reduction program from anywhere around the world.
Both individual and small group training is available. Sessions can be conducted on-site at your workplace.
We also offer intensive weekly and weekend workshops.
How many accent modification sessions will I need?
The number of sessions you will need will depend on your needs as identified in your Initial Accent Assessment. Often clients will see improvements after 6 sessions. Most accent modification clients enrol in a 12 session program.
How will I know what to practice between sessions?
The amount of practice you do is vital to your success. To modify your accent takes hard work and dedication and cannot be done in the class alone, To achieve the greatest possible improvement, you must practice outside of class using the accent modification material you will be provided. Our program is well structured and each week you will receive all the information you will need to practice between sessions.
How can I begin an accent modification program?
The accent modification program begins with a personal assessment of your speech. This reveals how your pronunciation varies from standard English and identifies specific areas to concentrate on. The assessment also assists in determining whether a group or individual course is more appropriate, as well as the number of sessions required.
A certified accent modification trainer then teaches the appropriate speech modification techniques, as well as the basic sounds and principles of English.
To begin an accent modification program, or to have a FREE no obligation evaluation of your accent, please CONTACT US |
"I am really glad that I had the opportunity to work with a professional and outstanding teacher. She helped me a lot and my English pronunciation has improved significantly." (Roberta, MBA, Italy)
"It was a wonderful and valuable experience for me. The course helped me to gain confidence in improving my English accent. I believe it provides me a tool to continually improve my English accent for the rest of my life. I really enjoyed the whole course and appreciated the teacher's kindness, patience and encouragement during the course. It's flexibility was suitable for my busy schedule and by attending to the constructive weekly assignments, it showed me a new angle to understand English. I would highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to improve their English accent." (Mrs Lin, Accountant, China)
"I now feel more confident and no longer have to repeat myself when I speak with patients or other staff." (Dr K, India)
"The course was great, it gave me confidence and all the practical tools I needed to improve my English and reduce my accent". (Mr Acosta, Columbia)
"The accent reduction course has improved the pronunciation of my daily vocabulary. It has made me aware of the importance of language in communicating with other people especially in my sales job. It has now given me the confidence to speak clearly". (Ms Lai, China)
"When I had a job interview, I was given feedback that I needed to reduce my accent. That’s how and why I decided to enrol in the accent reduction program, which suited my objectives. I was taught how to make correct pronunciation for each sound and how to produce and project my voice effectively to listeners. I achieved more than 80% improvement comparing my accent at the beginning and end of the program. I found a job towards the end of the program, which played an important role in achieving the outcome." (Mr Takeshima, Engineer, Japan)
"The program was excellent. It was designed for my specific needs and fully met my expectations. For years I wondered why my English sounded foreign, but it took only one session with my teacher to find out why. At the end of my course the difference in my sounds and intonation patterns and rhythm was most gratifying - a real confidence booster". (Venie, Russia)