American Accent Training for all Nationalities

Sovereign Education Media is the new publisher

NEW BOOK SERIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES & CHRONIC DISEASES

Our publisher Sovereign Language Press has now merged with Sovereign Education Media to bring you a lot more variety and valuable content.  Sovereign Education Media has published the first volume of a new series for people with disabilities and chronic diseases

Disabled World Travels

Do you feel inspired or intimidated when you think about traveling?  Have you or a family member experienced the run-around or felt that you were ignored in the past when you traveled?  Do you still want to travel but feel that your disability limits you? 

This education series is loaded with travel tips that will improve the way you plan your next trip.  The author discusses in each chapter some of the problems with specific disabilities and then reveals the solutions so you can have a more successful travel experience locally or to more exotic locations. There are also helpful resources and forums that connect you to other travelers with disabilities and chronic diseases.

Some of the specific disabilities discussed in the first volume include tips for the visually impaired, hearing impaired, wheelchair accessible solutions, traveling with mobility issues, traveling with oxygen, traveling with medication, and so much more.  Additional series will include information on arthritis and numerous disabilities and chronic health conditions.

Here are some of the Benefits:

• Learn how to save  $$ and have your personal assistant travel for free
• Hearing and users now enjoy increased clarity with speech
• Be informed and have less stress with travel preparations
• Low vision travelers experience increased visual acuity
• Discover how to enhance your lip-reading and listening skills
• Easier wheelchair travel with less fatigue
• Never run out of oxygen when traveling
• Learn how to swap and rent accessible homes worldwide
• Join a free club that will deliver your luggage to your destination

 

Click on the blue underlined words to check out Disabled World Travels Website for news, updates, articles, and helpful products that can help you.   The entire series is available on Amazon.com   

 

American Accent Training for Health Professionals

Are you a foreign born health profession who struggles with the American accent?  Do people ask you to repeat yourself?  Have you tried purchasing books and tapes and find out that the materials did not help you?

Effective communication is a critical component in the medical setting among health professionals.  Many foreign born nurses, physicians, and other health professionals move to the United States seeking greater job opportunities and a new life.  Many bring with them mastery of English, however individual speech patterns may limit their ability to be understood.  Fortunately a way exists to relieve a lot of the frustration and isolation feflt by these individuals because of their accents.

A comprehensive accent training program for medical professionals must do the following:

1. Integrate the impact of language, culture, and communication skills.
2. Practice English pronunciation
3. Practice intonation (rhythm and flow) of the English language
4. Have the flexibility of online access
5. An experience speech professional to help the students identify error patterns and to provide constructive feedback and suggestions

You cannot get this help from books and tapes alone.  If you are serious, you must have a skilled and experienced speech professional (accent coach) to guide you.  The Institute of Accent Modification offers very flexible hours and programs for our busy customers who are serious about improving their speech communication.  We can help you prepare for interviews and review your written communication.  Visit our website for more details.  www.instituteofaccentmodification.com

Global Aviation & Accent Modification

Global aviation is here to stay, however when you have pilots from all over the world trying to communicate with each other confusion often occurs.

Sometimes it's just amusing, like a 2006 recording of exchanges between an Air China pilot and an air traffic controller at Kennedy Airport in New York.  The controller becomes increasingly exasperated by the pilot's terrible word English pronunciations, to the point where you can almost hear the steam coming out of his ears.  That recording on You Tube as Air China 981, is a favorite among air traffic controllers and pilots. 

It's the most amazing example of the problem, because it's simply very funny and no one got hurt through the obvious miscommunication.  On the other hand, the list of aviation catastrophes around the world that were caused primarily by language misunderstandings between air and ground is long and very tragic.

In 1977, for example, two Boing 747's collided on a runway at Tenerife, in the Canary Islands.  The disaster, in which 583 people died occurred in dense fog.  Complicating the situation were misunderstandings of orders and acknowledgments between the aircraft on the runway and the air traffic controllers.  After that incident, International aviation authorities later drafted more strict requirements for the use of standard, clear common English prases in aviation operations.

As global aviation continues to grow, concerns are rising about English language proficiency among foreign pilots and air traffic controllers.  The Civial Aviation Organization, an agency of the United Nations that promotes international air travel safety and development, issued new recommendations to improve English language training, in response to fatal accidents in which the lack of proficiency in English was identified as a contributing factor. 

It is obvious that accent modification lessons for pilots and airtraffic controllers be mandated so that lives can be saved in the future.  Pilots and airtraffic controllers often work long hours, however with the use of web cameras and the internet, it would be easy to set up an online learning academy emphasizing pronunciation, stress, rhythm, and intonation. 

Corporate employees seek accent modification services

In Chicago Illinois, more corporate employees are now seeking accent modification services to improve their chances of getting a promotion.  Large corporations will often pay for effective communication programs.  It is best to ask someone in Human resources, professional training, and employee assistance programs if funding is available. Its important to understand if excellent communication skills are key to an employee's job responsibilities and are cited in job discriptions then it is a legitimate request to ask for assistance.

Accent modification services can be delivered online or onsite at the corporation.  Small to midsize group training programs can be effectively delivered onsite.  Distance learning via Skype or web conferencing are methods that have grown in popularity in the past decade. 

Most employees who contact the Institute of Accent modification located in Chicago, Illinois are foreign born, however we have a growning number of natives who want help with their regional accent.  The ultimate goal is to become more easily understood, says Tracey Ingram the Director.  Employees who seek services are often successful and want to move up the corporate ladder for more opportunities.  For more information on the Institute of Accent Modification contact, www.instituteofaccentmodification.com  

Chicago Spanish Speaking student improves accent to land a job

In the past 6 months, the Institute of Accent Modification located in Chicago, IL.  has seen a sharp increase of spanish speaking students who desire accent modification services. The spanish speaking  student who attends University of Chicago recently completed 12 sesions of a customized accent modification online program to learn how to reduce her accent.

The student was very concerned about the tighter job market and wants to be taken seriously. She knows that employers will be much more selective with job candidates and she did not want her accent to hold her back.  After 12 sessions, the student improved her accent 52%.  She has elected to continue to attend specialized workshops and work on her interviewing and presentation skills. 

For more information on how the Institute can help you speak better and improve your overall presentation skills, and reduce your accent, contact www.instituteofaccentmodification.com

American English Pronunciation - How to Pronounce "S" and "Z"

The spoken sounds of the letters S and Z can be confusing for non-native English speakers.  Here are some techniques for pronouncing the sounds correctly. 

1. First you must understand the tongue position for the /s/ and /z/ sounds. The tip of the tongue for both sounds is behind your upper gum ridge.  The tongue is pointed and slightly curved up.
2. Second, you must understand the difference between voiceless and voiced sounds.   The /s/ is a voiceless sound.  Your vocal chords are relaxed when you make the /s/ sound.  The /z/ is a voiced sound.  Your vocal chords vibrate when you make the /z/ sound.
3. You must also become familiar with all the different spellings for the letters S and Z.  Notice that the S has the /z/ sound and the C often has the /s/ sound.


Here are some common spellings for the /s/ sound

s:  some, yes, must

ss:  class, discuss

c:  city, nice , place

sc:  science, scary

Here are some common spellings for the /z/ sound

z: size, prize, quiz

zz: dizzy, blizzard

s:  busy, because, visit

se:  these, cause, lose

s:  plays, does, girl's

Here are some Practice phrases: 

Remember, the S in each word has a /z/ sound.  When you pronounce the S make sure you create a vibration in your vocal chords.

1. goes away
2. closes at 10:00
3. noisy visitors
4. doesn't work
5. easy does it
6. use these
7. always late

 

Speak Fluent English: Getting rid of the Speech Blocks!!

How to Speak Fluent English....and Get past Fear of Failure

Have you ever set a goal, such as deciding to improve your American English pronunciation, but you have been blocked from accomplishing it by unexpected obstacles?

Maybe it takes longer than you thought, it's harder than you expected, and you are not seeing the results you wanted.  What do you do?  Do you give up, or do you press on???  We have all been there.

Old speech habits can stop you from making the progress that you thought you would make.  But, you have a choice....you can give up and decide that it's too hard to do.  Or, you can press on and keep practicing until you master that new pronunciation and you meet the goal of the clearer understandable speech you've always wanted.

For some of you, the blocks happen before you even got started.....You might be afraid that changing your accent will be too hard, too much work, or too expensive.  I want to show you how to get through those mental blocks and get started on the path to more understandable speech.

You can't break through those blocks if you don't try, and your speech probably isn't going to get clearer and more understandable on it's own.  You need a guide, a coach who can work with you, encourage you, and to help ensure that you meet your accent reduction goals.  To encourage you to push through those blocks and start working towards your goals, I would like for you to think about your speech for a few minutes......

I personally want to help you solve your most frustrating "speech block"???  What do you feel is the one thing that always embarrases you about your speech?  Which words or sounds do you avoid saying because they are too hard?

What are some things you can do on your own RIGHT NOW to help improve just one aspect of your speech???  Here are some things you could try immediately.

1. Listen to the tv news broadcasters and imitate their speech
2. Find a dictionary site on the internet that have audio recordings of word pronunciations and commit to practicing at least 30-40 minutes a day.
3. Ask a native speaker that you know that speaks well to say the word or words that are difficult and then you try to imitate it.
4. Contact an accent reduction specialist and take an American English pronunciation program to improve your speech.

If you truly are not having success on your own, give yourself the gift of working with an experienced American accent reduction specialist. You will get the instruction you need to, the encouragement you crave, and the satisfaction of finally being able to improve your American English pronunciation.  For those of you who speak well, please feel free to submit comments on what has helped you improve your speech. 

 

 

 

 

Speak Fluent English - FREE Cusomized Session

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS & FACULTY REPRESENTING   TAIWAN, FRANCE & BRAZIL

Success in our society depends upon one's ability to communicate clearly and effectively.  As a certifed speech coach and author, I meet a lot of individuals from all over the world who hire me to improve their ability to speak fluent English and to acquire American accent. 

If you find that you feel limited by your ability to fully express yourself verbally or feel frustrated and isolated because of your accent, you have come to the right place.  The Institute of Accent Modification can help greatly your fluency, intonation, and pronunciation. It doesn't matter if you need help with an upcoming presentation, getting ready to defend your dissertation, or just need help with grammar and writing skills, our speech coaches can help assist you.

SIGN UP NOW for a free no obiligation speech consultation with a speech coach.  Get all of your questions answered. 

Purchase 3 sessions - Get 1 session Free    Special internet offer $195.00  US

Individual Session - new students only includes materials $75.00 US

Contact us now to purchase your session TODAY!

 

American English Pronunciation: Are Word Endings Really Important?

You want to improve your American English pronunciation, and you want to find out which sounds you need to improve. Do you want to know one of the most common mistakes I hear when listening to non-native English speakers?

It is not using the proper word endings.  That's right.  In many languages, the word ending is not very important and so it is not emphasized.  People will often apply the rules of their native language to English, and assume that the word endings are not important in English either.  But this is not true.

In fact, word endings are quite important in English, and leaving them off can be very confusing for the listener.  Word endings that seem very small make a significant difference in the meaning of the sentence.  Here's an example:

I was talking with an actor in Sweden about the results of his accent assessment, and he said, "I am very interesting in what you have to say."  Of course he meant to say, " I am very interested in what you have to say."  

The word endings matter if you want to improve your American English pronunciation.  Please leave a comment if this is something you can relate to. 

Effective Presentation Skills Training Techniques

Effective Presentation Skills

I often get questions from students who ask how they can become better speakers.  It takes practice.  The best students will read aloud everyday for at least 20 minutes.  I've said this before, it does not matter what you read, just practicing your English pronunciation daily will help your skills.  Click on the next link, which discusses a brief article on effective presentation skills. This can be useful if you are asked to give a presentation at work.  Take a look at presentation skills training techniques.