FAQ
Do you work with business professionals as well as actors and performers?
Absolutely. In the United States, a Neutral – Standard American accent is extremely important for Public Speakers and Business Persons in all sectors; Politics, Medicine, Scientific Research, Law, Real Estate and Sales for example. I did, however, teach a nice London accent to a Venezuelan businesswoman whose clientele was predominantly British. She wanted to be understood by them primarily. She was very smart, indeed.
Clear and concise communication is vital to success. I teach you to communicate with confidence by modifying your accent to a Neutral – Standard American sound. This means no more having to repeat yourself. You will be clearly understood by your fellow workers, bosses and clients. I enable you to maximize your potential in social and professional situations. The key to climbing that corporate ladder is being versatile and indispensable and when you ask where the corporate ladder is that day, you’ll be able to ask with an American accent!
l teach you how Americans truly speak which unfortunately, is not what is taught in ESL (English as a Second Language) classes. And the sessions are fun and interesting. We will use text and situations that accommodate your business.
How long does it take to learn an accent?
Everyone is different; exposure to the accent you are trying to learn, desire and practice all have an effect. Some students learn an accent in one or two lessons, others may take weeks. I cannot predict the time frame. All I can tell you is that you will hear a transformation within your first hour with me.
Actors, if you have an audition then we focus solely on your dialogue in the scene. One hour should be enough depending on how many pages you have. This is a quick fix meant to make you proficient enough for the audition. I advocate, of course, being prepared ahead of time. Have accents geared for your look already in your repertoire so you can speak in your new accent fluently, without a script.
Business persons, if you must make a presentation at work, then we will use your prepared speech and tools to craft a seamless and perfectly understood performance.
Do you have ongoing classes?
My classes are private sessions. I focus completely on you. In my estimation, group classes are less effective, as you may grasp an accent more easily than your fellow student but you would then be forced to stay at his/her level until the proper sound is learned. And contrary to that, if you need more attention for a particular sound within a group class, you may not receive it, as the teacher must focus on the majority of the class and continue on.
Private sessions allow me to make the lessons perfectly suited for you, plus there is no discomfort trying your new sounds out loud. I am the only one in the room with you so you are free to discover without judgement.
Some students come once a week until they have achieved their goal while others opt to come a few times a week. The schedule is flexible and your session/sessions are based upon availability.
Where are you located?
I am in Tarzana, CA, however, I am able to travel to your location in and out of the Los Angeles area, fees for this will be determined by your needs.
Do you offer phone or SKYPE coaching?
Yes, we can work on the phone and through SKYPE. For SKYPE, you can download recording software, so our sessions are saved onto your computer. http://skypecap.com/Downloads/ is one version, there are others that do the same thing.
Payment is to be made in advance of class through Paypal or by check.
What is the fee for the class?
Contact me to discuss the fee which is based upon your specific requirements, as rates are based on your needs and whether you purchase one lesson or a package. Packages vary from 4 – 8 lessons on average.
What type of payments do you accept?
Cash/Check/Paypal
What is your technique?
I utilize text and conversation. I have created text that employs the vowel and consonant sounds that you need to amend for your new accent. If you are an actor and have a script for a specific role, then we can work with your scenes. If you are a business person requiring a Neutral or Standard American accent, then we work with material geared for your type of business. Also, for the time that we work together, I speak to you with the accent that you are striving to achieve. And conversation changes how we speak, therefore we use both until you feel completely at ease with your new accent.
I find that the pronunciation spelling of words for your new accent immensely successful. IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a study unto itself and helpful for some but for the majority who need to learn quickly, I write out the words as you hear them.
What do I need to bring for a session with you?
A pen or pencil and energy. I record the sessions and hand you a CD of the entire lesson or you can bring a thumb drive and I will transfer the file. You can then listen on your IPod or your computer. I am also able to record on a portable recorder and transfer that lesson to your computer.
Are you as effective as the testimonials claim?
I would have to say, “Yes. Yeah. Yup. Yu-huh. Yep. Yee-ah. Yaw. Yees. Yas. Yuh.”
