English Speech Services

Accent Reduction

Many non-native speakers are proficient in English but retain a strong non-native accent. Modifying your accent towards a contemporary native-speaker standard is widely known as accent reduction.

For most non-native adult learners, a 'perfect' native accent is an unrealistic goal, but noticeable modification is possible. This involves practice more than study. Changing your pronunciation means altering long-established habits, and may feel strange or uncomfortable – like learning to write with the other hand. A high degree of motivation is needed, especially as you integrate your new speech habits into daily life.

Dialect Coaching for Actors

I can help you to produce any target dialect. I understand speech both technically and from the perspective of professional experience in TV and film.

I've lived in the USA, England and Scotland, and have knowledge of a wide range of accents. If the target dialect is relatively uncommon, it may be advisable that I do additional research.

We begin with key features which differ from your own speech, training both your mouth and your ear. If you're preparing a specific text, we can build to key phrases to a complete marked-up script; if you prefer to develop the target accent before learning lines, I can devise tailored substitute material.

Perfect accents require practice, but it’s possible to achieve results quickly. For Discovery's Celebrity Doubles, I had just one hour to help the lookalikes pass for the originals in public. Other clips here.

• coaching available wherever you are in the world by Skype, phone, etc.
• discounts available for pre-paid packages of sessions
• supplementary text materials emailed at no extra cost
• work with or without video
• audio recordings of sessions can be made available as mp3s
• payment accepted via PayPal
• current rates available on request