Foreign Accent Modification Program
UPMC Department of Otolaryngology
Division of Speech Pathology
For more information, call 412-647-5310 or e-mail accentmod@upmc.edu
Accent modification is a systematic method for changing speech patterns, including pronunciation, voice production, intonation, and rhythm. The goal of foreign accent modification is to help individuals with mild or strong foreign accents, or those in need of general speech improvement, to develop clear English pronunciation.
Who May Benefit From Accent Modification Training?
You may benefit from completing an accent modification program if your accent affects 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 phone
UPMC offers a 13-week program designed for individuals whose accents affect their communication in work and social settings. It is based on the Compton Pronouncing English as a Second Language (P-ESL) program. Every client receives an initial evaluation, one hour individual sesions, instruction by a licensed speech-language pathologist, all training materials, and weekly home assignments.
Program Focus
- intelligibility of sounds at word, sentence, and conversational levels
- dialect training
- impact of non-verbal communication
- use of idioms, contractions, and articles of speech
- rate, intonation, and volume of speech
- voice improvement
- public speaking and presentation skills
Our commitment is to help you develop greater confidence and competence in your business and personal communications.