FAQs: Pronunciation / Accent Reduction

Which pronunciation/accent reduction package is best for me?
The results of your assessment will tell us which package is most appropriate for you.

Packages:	Best For:
8 Hours	Non-native speakers with mild to moderate accents
12 Hours	Non-native speakers with heavy ​accents
4 Online Practice Sessions ​(20 minutes each)	For clients who are taking or have completed a Pronunciation Package.

After I finish a package, may I sign up for additional sessions?
Of course! Extra practice sessions or another type of package (such as speech coaching) can be purchased after completing your package.

How long is each session?
Typically 60 minutes.
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Are my lessons customized?
Yes. Your lessons will be tailored to your goals, your fluency, your native language, the results of your assessment, and anything else that is relevant to your situation, such as your job or schooling.

Do I have to practice?
If you want to make progress, the answer is yes. Imagine you wanted to improve your tennis serve. A good tennis coach can show you how to get a better serve, but unless you practice you won’t see improvement. Pronunciation skills are no different. Our work together requires that you practice between sessions in order for you to achieve results.

Will I lose my accent completely?
Accent reduction for non-native English speakers is intended to improve your pronunciation so you can be understood by your co-workers and social connections and build rapport with them. Losing a foreign accent completely if you learned English after the age of around ten is very challenging  (learn why) and generally not worth the time, money and effort.

May I purchase a pronunciation assessment only?
Yes. You may purchase a custom pronunciation assessment only.

• To see a sample assessment, click here.
• For pricing, please click here.

Where will we meet?

• If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, we can meet in Alameda.  During your free consultation, we can discuss whether you prefer to meet in-person or online. You can also choose a combination of both.
• If you live outside the Bay Area or outside of the United States, we will meet online using Zoom, a free, easy-to-use video conferencing service.

Do you work with English speakers at all levels?
No. Our services are designed for English speakers who are intermediate to advanced speakers.

How do I know if I my English is at the right level for the pronunciation program? 
If you use and understand English comfortably, if not perfectly, at work or school, then you are most likely an intermediate to advanced speaker.  Advanced learners are typically proficient at three of the four skills needed to master a language: reading, writing and listening. The fourth proficiency is speaking, the most difficult of them all.

​What payments do you accept?
All major credit cards are accepted, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, JCB, and UnionPay. Alipay is also accepted. We use Stripe to offer you convenient, secure online payment processing.

Can you work with students in China?
Yes. Zoom, the videoconferencing service we use, is available in China. We accept UnionPay and Alipay.
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More questions? Please contact me or schedule your free consultation now!