American Speech & Accent Professionals

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an accent?

An accent is the "unique way that speech is pronounced by a group of people speaking the same language", according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. An accent can often reveal a person's cultural background and should be considered only as a difference in how one pronounces words within a shared community's language and not as a disorder.

What is Accent Modification or Accent Reduction?

When an individual feels that his or her accent interferes with overall communication in a social or work setting, that person may seek Accent Modification, more commonly known as Accent Reduction. Accent Modification is a method used to change an accent in order to improve overall communication.

What is the Compton P-ESL Method?

"P-ESL" stands for "Pronouncing English as a Second Language". Developed by Aurthur J. Compton, Ph.D. and first widely implemented in 1985, the Compton P-ESL Method is a research-based method of accent modification, which has been proven to be effective at improving pronunciation of English by 50% or more. For more information visit: Institute of Language and Phonology.

Who is a good candidate for the program?

Essentially, anyone who feels that his or her accent is interfering with communication can benefit from Accent Modification. The following is a list of examples of possible candidates:

• Speakers of English as a second language who are proficient in English and speak with an accent influenced by their native language.
• Speakers who wish to neutralize a regional dialect, such as the "Southern accent" or the “New York accent”.
• Professionals who desire to improve their overall communication skills in a medical, business, laboratory, or university setting.
• Actors and T.V. or radio broadcasters seeking a more neutral accent.
• Interpreters who would like to improve their American pronunciation of English.
• Teachers, professors, lecturers, or trainers who would like to maximize communication with students or trainees.

How is improvement measured?

Students who enroll in individual, small group or self-study programs will be given a detailed formal assessment before and after training to determine the percentage of improvement made as a result of the training. Formal testing can be made available for other programs if requested.

Will I have homework?

Yes! As with everything you learn, you must practice what you learn in class in order to retain those skills and knowledge. You should expect to practice for one hour a day to make proper improvement. A workbook and practice CD-ROM will be made available for home practice.

How much does the program cost?

This depends upon the program you choose. ASAP offers individual, small group, large group, and self-study programs, as well as general speech therapy programs. We can match the right program to meet your instructional and financial needs. Monthly payment plans are available. Refunds are not available for individuals who drop out of the program.

What programs and services do you offer?

• Speech Screening
  Brief 20-minute speech test and analysis.
• Comprehensive Speech Assessment & Analysis
  Comprehensive 1-hour speech test and analysis.
• General/Traditional Speech Therapy
  15-weeks of one-on-one, customized speech therapy to address speech sound, speech fluency, and/or communication needs for the professional adult; pace of learning is matched to individual needs; comprehensive before/after assessment and analysis included.
• Individual Accent Modification Program
  13-session intensive, customized, one-on-one instruction; comprehensive before/after speech assessment and analysis included.
• Small Group Accent Modification Program
  13-session intensive, customized program for 2 to 5 students; comprehensive before/after speech assessment and analysis included.
• Large Group Accent Modification Class
  15-session semi-intensive program to target specific language-influenced accents for 10-15 students. Classes available for speakers of the following languages: Spanish, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Mandarin, Filipino, Japanese, and Slavic (i.e., Russian, Polish, etc.)
• Self-Study Program
  Learn at your own pace with 3 scheduled phone consultations; comprehensive before/after speech assessment and analysis included.

Office

• Mailing Address:
  American Speech & Accent Professionals
  114 New Street, Suite C-1
  Decatur, GA 30030
• Email: Contact Form

Note

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