FAQs

• Do people ask me to repeat what I said again and again?
• Do people hang up on my phone mail instead of leaving a message?
• Do people hang up on me when I call if they don’t recognize my voice?
• Do I have to struggle and guess when pronouncing words that are new or uncommon for me to use?
• Do I feel uncomfortable when speaking with others because I fear they may misunderstand me?
• Have I tried traditional classroom speaking classes and still find I have problems speaking American English at work or with friends?
• Do I feel I am discriminated against because of my accent when applying for a job?
• Do I feel I am discriminated against because of my accent when it comes to promotions?
• Do I have a hard time making friends with native speakers of American English?

Provided that you have the right computer setup and high speed internet access, live coaching via webcam (video conferencing) is very effective. We have you complete a "tech check" first to insure your equipment is working properly, and we have you take a diagnostic so your coach knows which areas you need to focus on. You can see, hear, and communicate with your coach using communications software, Skype or Messenger. Your coach will also write phonetically to you on the screen using our own font we'll have you install. We'll send you materials to use in the sessions. We currently have clients throughout the US as well as in Germany and India who are finding they can achieve their speech goals without having to attend sessions outside their work or homes. Contact us for more details: info@englishbythehour.com

What do I do after the 10 weeks of instruction?

Students are taught to self-correct. This works by applying specific techniques to recognize when a word is being mispronounced. Often a student will say a word in casual speech incorrectly, recognize this, and self-correct. This process often needs to be repeated many times before the new pronunciation of the word is committed to memory. Maintenance sessions are also recommended on a monthly basis initially and then on a quarterly basis to insure progress is being made and to answer questions.

How does it work?

In many cases, people mispronounce words because they were never taught how to pronounce them correctly in the first place. Because we often learn a second language in a classroom, students repeated a word incorrectly, and their instructor never stopped them and told them it was wrong before they committed it to their long-term memory. Accent reduction is about unlearning old patterns as much as it is about learning new patterns. Your Accent Reduction Coach will identify the areas where you have been substituting a different sound for the one used by most native American speakers of English and will assist you in making the change to the new sounds and rhythms.

How is this different from any other English training I’ve had?

Accent Reduction is different from learning grammar, writing, or speaking and listening. In fact, having taken these classes before coming to accent reduction is strongly recommended. Typically those who already speak English fluently are the best students because they already know how to use the language in their daily lives. Accent Reduction is about sounding more like a native speaker of American English. It’s about speaking so that people understand you readily without straining. This often leads to greater credibility and confidence in the speaker. Accent Reduction is also important if you need to give presentations or do public speaking. As a non-native speaker of English, there are techniques you can use to be more easily understood when speaking in front of a group.

At what point in my studies should I consider accent reduction?

Accent Reduction is for advanced speakers of English. It is best if you have studied English for over 8 years and already speak and write daily. Although personalized instruction will also help you with vocabulary-building and grammatical structures at times, it is to your advantage to already possess a strong command of the English language.

Since I’m not a teenager anymore, isn’t it too late for this to work?

This is a common misconception. While it is true that research shows younger people have a facility to learn languages more quickly and easily than adults, there is no evidence that it is impossible to do or that there is a cut-off age. What is far more important is your motivation, drive, and consistency. If you attend sessions weekly for at least one hour, focus on the material, and conscientiously put forth effort on a regular basis, you will see results.

How long will it take me to lose my accent?

In most cases, you will make considerable progress after 10 hours of instruction. The interesting part of the process is that once the brain recognizes the differences between your pronunciation and the correct pronunciation, it will automatically make adjustments to enable you to speak correctly. The awareness is a large part of the process. In addition, your motivation, drive, and commitment will determine your success. The self-correction phase typically takes 3-6 months and is largely determined by how regularly you use the techniques you learn in conversation with native speakers of American English.

How does the self-study program work and what does it cost?

The self-study program allows you to modify your accent in your car, office or home by listening to the 4 audio CDs, using the written materials and watching the 6 video DVDs. The reason it works is that it is still customized to meet your needs. By reading a diagnostic and recording your speech, we will provide you with a linguistic analysis of exactly what you need to change, along with an action plan for 10 weeks of exactly which exercises to do and when. The cost is $300.