About Accent Coaching

What is an accent?

An accent is a distinctive mode of pronunciation of a language, especially one associated with a particular nation, locality, or social class.

Accents are made up of the sounds, rhythms, and intonations from a person’s native language or region that he or she uses when speaking English.  If these substitutions are not what the listener expects to hear in English, the listener hears an accent.

The word accent comes from the Latin term “accentus” which means “the intonation of singing.”  You can learn the “music” and intonation of American English so that listeners will understand you better!

What causes an accent?

You have an accent because your English pronunciation is influenced by your native language sound system.  We learn and master our native language phonology at a very young age.  Before infants can differentiate words, they begin to recognize and learn the “sounds” they hear from those talking to them.  Eventually neural pathways are established in the brain that link each sound with a meaning. The more frequently a sound or word is heard, the more its connection is solidified. Each language contains distinct sets of sounds.  By about 12 months of age, human infants are able to pick out which sounds they need to learn their specific language.  Babies begin to babble using the sounds they have learned related to their native language and eventually put those sounds together to form first words.  Now, you are trying to use that same set of sounds when speaking a different language, creating an accent.  Native English listeners are not hearing the sound system they are accustomed to when you speak in English, making it more difficult for them to understand you at times.  With training, anyone can learn a new sound system.  You can learn how and when to use the sounds of English to make your English sound more natural to native English speakers.

Is it bad to have an accent?

Your accent is not bad! It is part of who you are and reflects where you are from and your heritage.  I think that’s a great thing!  An accent may only be a problem if people you are communicating with are having trouble understanding you.  You may also simply desire to sound more American so that others listen to what you are communicating, not being distracted and focusing on the way you sound. 

I’ve taken ESL classes before, why am I still hard to understand?

You’ve worked hard to learn English and have become proficient with the language.  Why do Americans still have trouble understanding you?  ESL learners are often not taught the phonology (sound system) of American English.  Now, it’s time to take your English to the next level!  The phonology from your native language will naturally carry over into your English pronunciation.  With more specific training, you can learn the English sound system to help you sound more like an American and be more understood during your interactions!  

Who can benefit from English accent training?

  • International business and tech professionals
  • Non-native speakers of English
  • International students
  • Actors
  • Speakers of regional English dialects

Meet your accent instructor

I am an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist who has been helping clients improve their language and speech pronunciation for over 30 years.  As an SLP, I have extensive training and experience working with speech sound production and articulation.  Personally, a passion for learning about international cultures motivated me to want to help international, non-native speakers in America who want to learn to communicate more clearly and confidently.  Many international students and professionals in America have a solid foundation speaking English. Despite this, there can be frustration because of not always being understood by others.  I became certified in The Accent Channel Method for accent training so I could learn more specific teaching tools to help non-native speakers of English communicate more confidently and effectively.  

Let me help you learn the pronuciation, the rhythm, and intonation patterns of the General American Accent for you to sound more natural in English conversations.

I look forward to helping you find your path to more effective communication in English!

Let’s chat soon!

Devani

Why go to a certified speech language pathologist for accent services?  

As communication specialists, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are uniquely qualified to provide pronunciation and accent training.  SLPs have strong technical knowledge to explain the anatomy and physiology of speech production.  They have a background and clinical experience in  listening, identifying, and remediating speech sound production.  SLPs also receive special training in voice, resonance, and the suprasegmental aspects of speech, such as word stress, sentence stress, rhythm, intonation, and word linking, all important factors when learning English as a non-native speaker.  SLPs also recognize the importance of nonverbal communication skills, such as facial expressions, gestures, body language, speech volume, and tone of voice.  Nationally certified and licensed SLPs hold a master’s degree, requiring years of training and experience, making them specialists in helping clients achieve their maximum communication potential.