Is it possible to completely lose my accent?

It is absolutely possible to greatly improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and clarity to the point that there is no barrier to communication and people rarely, if ever, comment upon your speech. My goal for clients is not perfection but excellence. I don’t see accent training as an elimination of an accent, but rather as an addition of a new speech skill.

How does accent training work?

Accent training involves changing speech patterns through intensive habit training. The goal is to establish new habits through repetition and developing awareness of sounds and rhythm. I use a similar training technique that actors use when learning a new accent for performances.

Why should I hire an accent coach?

It can be difficult to hear patterns in your own speech because of bias. Wouldn't it be great if someone could listen to your speech and tell you EXACTLY what sounds to change and how to change them? That's what I do. Hiring a coach is also a great way stay motivated and stick to a plan.

How is accent training different from ESL class?

Accent training is more advanced and personalized than ESL class. I provide intensive training in advanced topics, including subtle sound variations, rhythm and intonation, word linking, and idioms. For example, did you know there are at least six ways to say the "t" sound in American English?

Who can benefit from accent training?

Accent training is for adults who are currently or who are preparing to live and work in an English-speaking environment. My clients include international professionals from many fields such as tech, business, medical professions, real estate, and entertainment/acting.

What’s an example of something you work on in accent training?

The most common topic I work on with clients is rhythm. That's because rhythm is the #1 reason that non-native English speakers or speakers of different English dialects are often misunderstood. This topic is rarely covered in ESL classes and I don't know why because it's so important.

What is speech rhythm?

Not every part of a word is spoken with equal energy/stress. For example, reCORD is a verb and REcord is a noun. To stress a syllable, make it louder, longer, and higher in pitch. Every English word has its own stress pattern you must learn or listeners may misunderstand you.

English is my first language but I speak with with a different accent/dialect. Is accent training for me?

Yes! Many English speakers choose to learn a new accent for personal or professional reasons. Just like an actor learns a new accent for a role, you too can learn the General American accent for work and play.

I like my accent and don’t want to lose it. Will training make me lose my original accent forever?

Absolutely not. Your current accent/dialect is an important part of who you are. Training will help you learn a new accent, just like actors do. You will always have your original accent or dialect and can switch into it whenever you'd like. Linguists call this "code switching".

What times are you available? When can we meet?

All meetings are conducted over Zoom. My general availability is (Pacific Standard Time U.S.) Monday-Friday 8AM-12PM, Wednesday/Friday 1-5PM. If none of these times work for you, please message me and we can discuss finding a different time.