Foreign Accent Reduction 

  Foreign Accent Reduction  
  Regional Accent Reduction

A invaluable professional development investment.

Diversity in the workplace is now the norm in  most companies. With diversity comes a wealth of professional talent, rich in creative ideas, and the unique opportunity to experience greater business success. Supporting the professional communication skills of foreign-born professionals is good business and a valuable low cost investment to maximize business success. Companies benefit from the support services of a communication expert to identify, develop and support the business communication skills needed for business success in a culturally diverse workforce, customer population and client base.

"The highest ranking enlisted person in the U.S. Army sees diversity as critical to military success."

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"Cultural and Language Barriers In the Workplace" 

Foreign accents are heard in the fields of science and engineering, customer service and manufacturing. These talented professionals are often communication challenged with speaking Standard American English. Differences in communication due to foreign accent can often interfere with their ability to conduct business.  Professionally, SAE (Standard American English)  is essential  in order to facilitate the smooth, effective, efficient running of daily business activities with colleagues, customers and the professional community.  Business takes place in the conversation. When "that conversation"  is difficult to understand, the benefits of their business  talents,  their productivity and economic contributions to the company can suffer.  Professionals with foreign accents are communication challenged in meetings, giving presentations, effectively sharing their valuable ideas and opinions and can also be hindered in their opportunities for
professional advancement.

  The good news is ...Companies are utilizing Foreign Accent Reduction for their professional development in the workplace.

Our corporate clients need their foreign-born professionals to:

1. Use clear speech and pronunciation skills (Standard American English) in all verbal business exchanges in and outside their professional divisions. Can others easily understand their speech without using labored and/ or very careful listening,  asking them to  repeat, or becoming a frustrated listener? (meetings, phone calls, voice mails, teleconferences, presentations, one on one exchanges, etc).

2. Use clear, grammatically correct written and verbal language skills. Do others have to spend additional time editing grammar and word usage? Are grammar and word usage negative distractions in following conversational business flow, demanding labored, frustrated listening? 

3. Possess the ability to understand professional questions and respond appropriately. 

4. Answer professional questions clearly and completely, rather than being vague and incomplete. (Groping for Standard American sentence structure and word usage reduces the ability to accurately and clearly express one's thoughts and ideas is frustrating for the speaker and the listener).

5. Communicate comfortably. confidently and with ease in Standard American English (causal professional situations, in the community and professional field).

6. Possess the ability to understand and adapt to the cultural climate of the professional environment. (body language, professional etiquette).

What is a foreign accent?

A foreign accent is the sound system of an individual's first language being used to speak Standard American English. Using this "first language sound system" for SAE results in their difficulty being easily understood by others in
the workplace.

What is Foreign Accent Reduction?

Foreign Accent Reduction is the improvement of one's speech production / pronunciation of Standard American English. Professionals learn those components of Standard American English (SAE) which are missing or not
yet mastered.

What's the goal of Foreign Accent Reduction...to lose the foreign accent?

 No. One does not lose their accent. Training improves the clarity and intelligibility of use of the language...the sound system of SAE. This includes sounds unique to SAE which are not in their first language, the melody and rhythm patterns of SAE, grammatical structures, ear training for SAE and other aspects of the sound system of SAE which will significantly improve their pronunciation skills and fluency when speaking SAE in the workplace.

Is this really possible?

We can improve our communication skills at any age! With personal commitment, practice and perseverance these skills can be developed. A strong personal and professional support system are essential. It is also recommended that each participant understand the personal commitment and be ready to make that commitment before beginning a program. Our focus is on your success! We at Voice ergonomics® know when it comes to communication, anything is possible! Your personal desire and  commitment make the difference.

What does the Accent reduction program cover?

• Accurate pronunciation of the sounds of SAE.

• The rhythm and stress patterns of SAE.

• The melody and intonation patterns of the language.

• The flow of connected SAE.

• The motor patterns of sound production for SAE.

• Ear training to develop an ear for the sounds, word endings, grammar etc. of SAE.

• Non verbal language behaviors of SAE.

• Work related training and practice program
  and materials.

• Application of trained skills to work related activities.

• Customized materials for self-directed practice.

• At least 1 hour of independent practice daily.

• A strong support system (personal and professional).

• On-going self-directed practice on developed materials following completion of training.

How long will it take?

This is a process of learning the gaps your need to fill in SAE, a second language. This is an on-going personal professional development process and commitment. Everyone learns at their own rate, based on their personal needs and challenges with the language. With commitment, perseverance and consistent practice your will make progress and meet our goals. The more you practice and strive to use new skills at work, the more quickly you will experience success and the more quickly you will learn the needed components of SAE for professional and
personal success.

Foreign Accent Reduction is:

• Provided individually and in small groups.

• On the business site during business hours.

• All customized programs are developed to specifically meet the needs of the individual.

• You are expected to practice daily. If you follow the guidelines of your program, you will progress. Before beginning this program, recommend you be sure you are ready to make this personal professional development commitment.

Contact us for more information.

Communication science supporting business success.

 Regional Accent Reduction

"Communication is the currency of business." 

Standard American English is the "American universal communication standard" for conducting credible, effective, efficient and
successful business.

Regional Accent Reduction is designed specifically for American born English speaking individuals who need to develop Standard American English skills in pronunciation and grammar. Actualizing professional goals of business success and advancement necessitate use of clear Standard American English workplace speech and grammar. Slang speech and regional dialects limit the ability to accurately communicate professional talents.  Regional dialects and slang speech are communication limiting. Acquiring Standard American English speech and grammar skills are easily understood by others here in the US and throughout the international business community. 

A regional accent can be difficult for others to understand and can also be so distracting to the listener that it interferes with conducting business. Regional accents have their own sound systems. When those aspects of one's regional accent stop the flow of communication it's time to consider acquiring Standard American English workplace speech and grammar skills. 

Will I be expected to learn to speak like a news caster on TV?

Absolutely not! Regional accent / grammar coaching simply expands your ability to effectively communicate using SAE  in a variety of professional and social situations. You will add to your communication skills in pronunciation and grammar so that you can effectively "choose" SAE for business and social situations. At other times you may choose to use your own regional variety of English. You will simply establish expanded communication skills and tools to give you the personal "communication power" to fit the situation, be it business, social
or personal.

Training / coaching is provided individually or in small groups. The programs include an initial evaluation, face-to-face instruction and all training materials for self-directed independent practice. All coaching / training are provided by a licensed speech-language pathologist.

You will be expected to practice independently between coaching sessions. The programs are customized / developed for your individual needs and personal and professional goals. Work-related activities and materials are an important component of each individualized
training program.

Contact us for more information.

Communication science supporting business success.

Business Communication Checklist

Do your employees/co-workers:

1. Sound unclear, unfriendly or monotone in greeting your clients
   and  customers?

2. Have mild hearing loss? Are they using equipment to enhance communication skills, build their self-confidence and productivity?

3. Use slang speech and incorrect grammar when talking to customers, clients and co-workers?

4. Have normal hearing but work in a noisy industrial environment?

5. Speak English as a second language and have a strong accent, or have strong regional accents that hinder their job performance?

6. Lisp, slur their speech, stumble in pronouncing words, or struggle pronouncing long words?

7. Have chronically hoarse or otherwise unpleasant sounding voices?

8. Are voice-dependent for doing their job?

9. Stutter or have a halting to their speech that hinders
   their effectiveness?

10. Have difficulty reading aloud and/or weaknesses in written skills?
    

Contact us for more information.