American English Accent Reduction Classes with instructors certified in the Ravin Method® of rapid language acquisition.
Clear speech opens doors. Accents International delivers professional accent reduction training to Los Angeles business professionals, healthcare providers, actors, and executives who need to be understood the first time and every time. Our certified, professional linguists deliver solutions that enable non-native English speakers to communicate with greater impact and lead with confidence. Every facilitator is multilingual and has taught English pronunciation at the university level. We are dedicated to creating a world where everyone is heard®.
Our proprietary Ravin Method® training and accompanying customized curricula produce measurable results in as few as 10 hours of live coaching. Participants acquire the sounds in English that do not occur in other languages. There are over 224 different languages spoken in Los Angeles County, contributing to a culturally rich and diverse community. An accent is a speech pattern, not a speech problem. We do not teach accent elimination. Our training removes communication barriers while maintaining each person’s unique cultural identity.
Accent Reduction Classes are Transformative
Non-native English speakers face real and significant communication barriers in American workplaces. Research confirms that listeners form judgments about a speaker’s competence and credibility almost immediately. These snap decisions affect hiring, promotions, and client relationships, and are made independent of one’s actual skills or qualifications. Professionals from numerous fields, including healthcare and corporate sectors, seek accent reduction classes to level the playing field and overcome accent bias.
English pronunciation training directly impacts:
- Career Advancement: The inability to effectively share knowledge affects everything from employee engagement to client retention. When colleagues and clients understand you easily, opportunities follow.
- Increased Confidence: Speaking clear and accurate English allows you to focus on your message and convey your expertise, free from the burden of wondering if others understand you. Confidence equals competence.
- Cultural Identity Preservation: At Accents International, American accent training doesn’t diminish your rich cultural identity. Minimizing language barriers ensures each person is valued for the unique ideas and skill-sets a diverse workforce brings.
- Organizational Strength: English pronunciation poses communication challenges that hold organizations, and their people, back. It impedes collaboration, productivity, innovation, and morale. Creating seamless communication allows companies to thrive.
- High Quality Outcomes for Healthcare: Improved patient-centric communication has been proven to increase hospital HCAHPS scores, thereby positively impacting Medicare reimbursements.
English pronunciation is hard. It’s not you, it’s the language!
- There isn’t a single letter in English that’s pronounced in only one way. Think about it. The letter ‘b’ is silent in the word “climb” and ‘p’ is silent in “receipt”. The letter ‘x’ is pronounced ‘ks’ in “extra” and ‘eggs’ in “exhibit”. The letter ‘s’ has four pronunciations: ‘s’ in “chase”, ‘z’ in “busy”, ‘sh’ in “sugar”, and ‘zh’ in “vision”. The list goes on and on….
- The same vowel is pronounced in many different ways. For example, the letter ‘o’ is pronounced in nine different ways: “hot”, “open”, “son”, “book”, “cool”, “women”, “cost”, “toy”, and “loud’. An interesting fun fact: one of the least common pronunciations of the letter ‘o’ is ‘oh’, as in “oh no”.
- If we change the part of the word that’s emphasized, the meaning of the word changes. A good example of this is the noun “object” and the verb “object”. An object is a person, place, or thing. To object means to express disapproval or disagreement. Same word, different meaning.
Our Accent Reduction Offerings
Individual live coaching sessions fit your schedule, whether you’re an executive in downtown LA, a healthcare provider in Pasadena, or a tech professional working remotely. We have no “off the shelf” programs. Each learner receives personalized lesson plans and abundant practice material based on the results of their comprehensive pre-program assessment. Additionally, a site license to Accents International’s proprietary online learning library is included with every program, complete with a resource room that’s entirely customizable.
Accents International’s programs are part of enterprise-wide Learning and Development initiatives. We bring accent reduction directly to Los Angeles businesses through in-person classes designed for teams. This training rapidly builds proficiency in English pronunciation, thus enabling organizations to leverage their human capital and promote minority talent. Classes are customized per sector and per language and include ample personalized coaching. Program participants experience training in an environment that is compassionate and inclusive.
Fortune 500 companies trust us to provide novel solutions that equip staff to excel. Our accent comprehension workshop teaches employees from all language backgrounds how to systematically tune their ear to unfamiliar accents. The results include more productive cross-cultural communication, less accent bias, greater partnership with people of diverse language backgrounds, and increased confidence when communicating with speakers of other languages.
Our Train-the-Trainer program is a force multiplier. This is a professional development program where qualified participants receive step-by-step instructions for teaching accent reduction. As a result, they empower their colleagues for whom English is an additional language to speak with clarity, confidence, and impact.
Powerful Pronunciation®: LA Accent Reduction Classes with Ten Primary Areas of Focus
- Vowels: Master the 21 vowel sounds that characterize American English, including vowels followed by ‘r’
- Consonants: Become proficient with the articulation techniques for all 25 consonants, including voiced and voiceless pairs, consonant clusters, and glottal stop ‘t’
- Syllable stress: Learn which syllables are pronounced longer and stronger
- Pitch: Raise and lower your voice to improve melody and infer meaning
- Rhythm and Intonation: Helps with the overall timing and flow of conversational speech
- Rate of Speech: Practice speaking at a rate that matches your listener’s expectations
- Voice Projection: Critical for healthcare professionals, actors, public speakers, and educators
- Business Presentation Delivery: Command attention by speaking with an authoritative voice
- Industry-Specific Vocabulary: Customized curricula so lessons and homework reflect the words you use in real life situations
- Self correction: Gain easy and effective strategies for self correction to assure long-term carryover
The Ravin Method®
Your journey begins with a professional evaluation of your current pronunciation patterns. The assessment process allows us to tailor your training program to your individual pronunciation challenges. Together, we establish clear goals aligned with your career objectives. You receive an Individual Learning Plan that outlines your path to success. Accent assessments are performed pre- and post-program to measure the number of articulation errors and obtain a progress metric.
Curricula is designed per the results of your accent assessment. It is further customized per industry sector and your personal vocabulary. We integrate access to our digital learning portal, featuring hundreds of audio exercises and video clips, so you can practice between sessions. You’re given a realistic timeline for achieving measurable improvement.
Weekly sessions with certified Ravin Method® faculty provide real-time feedback. This is not a “listen and repeat” methodology. You’ll learn the exact placement of your lips, teeth, tongue, and jaw to pronounce American English in an accurate and engaging manner. Moreover, you’ll practice pronunciation in professional scenarios relevant to your job. From your very first session, you’ll develop a skill set that translates immediately to enhanced workplace communication.
Accent reduction is a skill that improves over time. At the conclusion of the program, you’ll receive a detailed plan to facilitate continued progress. You’ll also retain access to all digital practice materials.
Testimonials from LA Professionals
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Our online lessons provide flexible scheduling for individual professionals across Los Angeles and beyond. For corporations, we offer in-person training at your location. Many clients benefit from the convenience of online sessions combined with occasional in-person coaching for specific needs.
Your English pronunciation proficiency influences how clients and colleagues perceive your expertise. Don’t let communication barriers negatively impact your career.
Our proprietary accent assessment identifies the vowels, consonants, and speech patterns needed for your pronunciation development. With flexible online scheduling, convenient Los Angeles onsite training, and our money-back guarantee, there’s no risk in taking the first step.
Whether you’re a business professional, healthcare provider, or actor seeking to take your English pronunciation to a higher level, Accents International delivers the results you need. Clear and confident communication is within reach.