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Have a good vowel movement lately? I read many books about accent modification (and I really should write on of my own). What I see in most books are lengthy (and in my opinion mostly unnecessary) explanations of all the different types of vowels. Some books even begin with an overview of every vowel sound in American English. There are between 15 and 23 depending on how you say certain words, whether you add an “r” to some of them, and which reference you use to verify this. Truth is, you’re going to learn to produce vowels the way your instructor teaches you to say them. And your instructor is going to teach you the way he or she considers the accurate way to say them. So in one area of the United States you may learn that the words caught and...

Hollywood actors do it all the time. Nicole Kidman. Collin Farrell. Ewan McGregor. Daniel Craig. Pierce Brosnan. Heath Ledger. Russel Crowe. Christian Bale. Gary Oldman. Anna Paquin. Jim Sturgess Robert Pattinson. Emilie de Ravin. Matt Damon. Hugh Laurie. Don Cheadle. Clive Owen. Everyone on the list has demonstrated impressive, convincing and seemingly authentic skill at speaking with an intonation, rhythm and style that is not truly their own. They can turn it on or off as needed. And they used this skill for career advancement. Are all of them just smarter and more talented than you? No. But they each devoted time to learning some very specific speaking techniques. Techniques anyone can learn and apply. I am repeatedly told by my clients, usually after the...

Say it clearly, and don’t let a distracting accent say it for you. Whether consulting with a co-worker, customer or client, if your accent is distracting it can have a serious and unwanted impact. It makes difficult interactions tougher, detailed explanations difficult, and your ability to influence diminished. Your work might be unappreciated and misunderstood all because of the difficulty others are having making sense of what you say. And no one is going to tell you about it. (Most people consider it rude to openly bring attention to your accented speech.) If you’ve become curious about working on the clarity of your speech and doing something about a distracting accent that is foreign to American ears, here are some guiding principles to keep in...

Audio turn-taking. Personalized coaching. A safe and easy way to invest in presenting yourself clearly. It’s the accent class without the classroom. Audio Correspondence Coaching (ACC) is a new, unique and budget-friendly way to experience the benefits of personalized instruction in accent modification. The ACC system is designed for students and professionals – individuals just like you – who have learned American English, have a strong need to communicate clearly, but are still struggling with pronunciation. Much like the Accent Teleclass Coaching services, the Audio Correspondence Coaching program begins with a personalized assessment of your current pronunciation skills, delivers customized instruction and support for greater clarity and...

Complete a Compton P-ESL Online Screening to get valuable feedback and an introductory analysis of the clarity and accuracy of your American English. If you’ve been thinking about finally doing something about the trouble your accent is giving you, this is the perfect first step. There’s no obligation to invest in an expensive training program. With one more click of your mouse you can begin a short set of tasks that will send a sample of your recorded speech to a live American English accent instructor. You’ll be given easy-to-follow instructions on how to record a short set of words, a short reading selection, and a brief recording of your own spontaneous, conversational-style speech. When you complete the tasks, click the submit button at the...