How Hard Is It To Adjust My Áccent?

It is not as difficult as you may think!

With the right kind of training, it does not take too long to improve even heavily accented speech. Pronunciation is a physical skill. Similar to learning how to play a new sport, you are never too old to start exercising new muscles.

While it is true that you will never completely lose your accent, a good training program will help you gain a level of "comfortable intelligibility" that will ensure that nobody asks you to repeat yourself.

How does it work?

Graduates of accent adjustment programs have worked through a customized, client-centric curriculum that is easy to follow and easy to learn. Their program is based on a comprehensive assessment of their accent, education, work, and social background, communication priorities, and any gaps in language skills that cause communication issues. They have learned how to recognize the differences between their own accent and the American English accent. Following a simple framework, they are taught the common speech and language patterns - and not the archaic patterns they were taught in school. They learn how to create a new “default mode” that allows them to immediately put their newly discovered articulation muscles to work each time they speak English.

Within a few weeks of regular, guided practice, students make a breakthrough and have overcome the main areas of accent “interference." They start to hear how they speak, correct their own mistakes, and take more risks in oral expression.

Their initial investment starts to pay off and by the time they've completed the training their new pronunciation patterns have become second nature. They know they've reached success when nobody asks them to repeat themselves any more.

The key to success

In addition to completing an accredited training program, the key to achieving life-long success is knowing how to consistently integrate passive and active learning practice into your every day work and social life. Unlike schools with "cookie-cutter" courses, accent adjustment specialists are trained to work with the client within their work and social contexts to ensure that they can practice and apply new learning appropriately. Instructors help clients integrate learning into work, home, and social situations in highly efficient and effective ways.

How does this sound?

Most accents are comprehensible, and most listeners automatically attune their ears to accented speech. However, whenever a heavy accent interferes with verbal communication and reduces productivity, it may be time to invest in an expert.

You'll sound clear and confident - for the rest of your life.