Patient Care

Foreign Accent Modification

What is foreign accent modification?

The goal of foreign accent modification is to help individuals with mild or strong foreign accents, native speakers with regional dialects, or those in need of general speech improvement to develop clear pronunciation of English. As opposed to English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, which target building English vocabulary and grammar, this program targets foreign accent modification, focusing on articulation and intonation (the sounds and rhythm of speech).

What can I expect?

An initial evaluation and tape recording of your speech
A personalized program based on a phonetic analysis of your speech
A comprehensive set of practice exercises in a CD-ROM or cassette tape format
A training manual
A personal audio reference tape and booklet of words which you feel are particularly important for you to pronounce correctly
A tape recorded re-evaluation at the end of the program to assess your improvement
Approximate 50% improvement (based on pre- and post-program testing)
A self-study program for continuing your improvement after finishing the course
Communication modules

What programs are available?

Both individual and small group programs are available. Each program includes an initial evaluation, instruction by a licensed speech-language pathologist, all training materials, and weekly home assignments.

Individual Programs offer private tutoring sessions on a weekly basis.
Small Group Programs offer instruction in small classes (2 to 5 students) on a weekly basis.

Either individual or group sessions are available to meet your specific needs as described below:

Our 8-week program is designed for individuals with mild foreign accents, native speakers with regional dialects, or those in need of specific speech improvement.
Our 14-week program is our standard program designed for individuals whose accents impact communication in work and social settings.

* Expectations for success: At least one hour of practice daily to maximize results.

What is the focus of the program?

Program focus:

Intelligibility of sounds at word, sentence, and conversational levels

Communication Modules focus:

Impact of non-verbal communication
Use of idioms, contractions, and articles of speech
Rate, intonation, and volume of speech
Basic presentation skills Core professional vocabulary

Who does the program benefit?

You can benefit from completing an accent modification program if your accent impacts your ability to:

Communicate effectively with patients, clients, colleagues, or friends
Be understood without having to repeat yourself
Feel confident in your communications
Complete business presentations or meetings
Communicate effectively on the telephone
Be promoted in your workplace

Former clients include teachers, medical residents, clergy and business professionals who needed to maximize communication with students, patients, colleagues and friends.

What are the benefits?

The benefits of completing an accent modification program include improved:

Social speaking skills
Business presentation skills
Interactions with patients, clients, colleagues, and friends
Confidence in speaking situations
Communication in social and business situations

How can I enroll in the program?

To enroll in individual or small group programs, contact the Division of Speech Pathology & Audiology at (919) 684-6271 during office hours for more information.

Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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The clinicians at Duke are here to help patients in their pursuit for successful communication.

For more information, contact:

Division of Speech Pathology & Audiology
Department of Surgery
DUMC Box 3887
Durham, NC 27710
(919) 684-3859

This program is based on the Compton Pronouncing English as a Second Language (P-ESL) Program. We also use materials from the series, Mastering Effective English Communication, by Lorna D. Sikorski, MA, published by LDS Associates in Santa Ana, CA.

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