The program begins with a Personal Phonetic Analysis of your speech. This is done via the Internet, through our website, using a microphone and an on-line recording device. The recorded information is then analyzed by your Speech Works speech professional who determines exactly how your pronunciation varies from standard American English and identifies specific areas of concentration. Your speech professional then teaches you the appropriate speech modification techniques, as well as the basic sounds and principles of American English. You learn to discriminate between different speech sounds, with special emphasis placed on:
- Pronunciation
- Complete word production
- Voice projection
As a Speech Works client you will receive the Compton P-ESL accent modification Training Materials. These materials include a practice workbook, and cassette tapes or a CD-ROM, which is a unique, interactive aid for practicing the modification techniques. An optional item, if you need it, is a microphone for recording your speech on your computer.
Once a week your speech professional will recommend specific exercises, from your workbook, for you to practice independently throughout the week. Verbal examples will be provided on your cassette tapes or CD-ROM. Every week you will record your list of words and/or phrases using the on-line audio recorder provided on our website. Your speech professional will assess the results and send a recorded message back to you. This will include suggestions and specific examples where improvement might be needed.
To modify a foreign accent or regional dialect takes hard work and dedication. To achieve the greatest improvement possible, you must practice one hour per day for 7 to 12 weeks. The duration of the program is determined upon initial analysis of your speech patterns. Upon completion of this program your speech is analyzed again. The results are then compared to the initial analysis so the extent of your improvement can be determined. Past comparisons have shown that people who practice the recommended exercises, for one hour every day, can expect to experience at least a 50% change in their accent or dialect!
Training Materials