Steps for Practicing to Reduce or Modify an Accent

I have been coaching non-native speakers of English to improve their pronunciation for almost four decades.  I was trained by Arthur Lessac in the Lessac Method of Voice and Diction.  Thanks to Arthur’s fine training and method, I can quickly and easily identify the sounds of English that non-native speakers need to learn.  It’s also […] Read more

How Pronouncing Consonant Sounds Clearly Makes a Non-Native English Speaker Easier to Understand

Learning to pronounce consonant sounds is vital to mastering clear, crisp, intelligible speech. This translates into meaningful spoken communication that is easily understood. Pronouncing consonant sounds clearly makes every word you articulate more precise. This in turn makes your overall message more readily understood by your audience, whether it is a small group or large […] Read more

Accent Reduction: Why Pronouncing Consonants is More Important than Pronouncing Vowels

There is no fast and easy way to reduce or modify an accent. If you are going to learn to reduce your accent, it is going to take considerable time and effort to practice. OK, now I have said it! I don’t mean to discourage you, but I do mean to help you be realistic […] Read more

Breaking Accent Barriers

  On Tuesday, October 12, 2010, The Houston Chronicle highlighted a trend that foreign-born professionals are working with voice and speech experts to reduce or modify accents so that they can be understood when they speak English. The article can be found online at http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/7243893.html.  Non-native speakers are often challenged to be understood when they […] Read more