THE PROGRAM

Pronunciation training helps you enunciate clearly. It also enhances your listening abilities and increases your confidence. Keep the beauty of your personal accent and work on what gets in the way of understanding and being understood. This training breaks down American English sounds for you. During each class, you will learn the positioning of major vowels and consonants. Between classes, you will practice in the privacy of your home to come ready to class for the next challenge. In addition to major American English sounds, this class covers rules of intonation - the rhythm of speech. Whether you want to neutralize your accent or take your fluency to the next level, this pronunciation training will improve the clarity of your speech.

CONTENT

This course involves classroom instruction and home practice. The class meets every week for 90-minute sessions. Between sessions, you will have access to online videos, diagrams, and quizzes that will get you ready for the next level. 20 minutes every other day will take you far! The contents of the class can be classified into three major subjects: consonants, vowels and intonation.

Consonants

• American changes to the T sound, when T sounds like D; the stopped T; silent T's.

• R and L Sounds; articulation of R in different positions; RL ending; subtle points on the American L sound.

• F and V sounds; vibrating and non-vibrating TH sounds; S and Z sounds.

Vowels

• The 5 sounds of A.

• The schwa sound (the neutral sound of u as in up which has many spellings).

• The I sounds: differentiate three short and quick I sounds.

• The O sounds: diphthongs and single vowel sounds.

• The U sounds: the relaxed U as in book, the long U.

Intonation

• How to create stress within words and how to stress words in sentences.

• When to pause between phrases and reduce small, unimportant words to sound like a native speaker.

• How to speak smoothly: ways that native speakers flow from one sound to the next.

• Differences between formal and casual speech.

REGISTRATION

Early bird registration. Use the following discount code when registering before September 17th: RIW6GDL.

Team sign-up. Find 2 other interpreters to sign up with you and receive a 10% discount. Team Sign Up registration form. 

Employer registration. If you would like your employer to pay for your professional development, please have them fill out and submit this form.

To register, please click on the purchase button above.     

LOCATION

South Seattle College - West Seattle Campus 6000 16th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106

Free parking available on the street. On campus parking with a permit.

TIME

Saturday October 26th, November 2nd, 16th and 23rd; 10am-12pm

This training spans over four Saturdays. Participants who complete the training attend all four Saturdays.

THE TRAINER

Erica Pedersen specializes in teaching advanced English language skills to professionals. To meet the challenge of teaching English to preliterate refugee students, she incorporated phonetic songs into her daily classes in 2005, and this inspired her studies in pronunciation training. Since 2009, she has taught pronunciation classes at the University of Washington, and tutored software programmers and medical practitioners. Over the years, she has helped hundreds of professionals from over thirty countries to neutralize their accents by understanding sounds, developing listening abilities, and practicing both formal and casual intonation. Her students have passed the TOEFL speaking test, passed the USMLE interview, achieved their first professional jobs, and gained promotions to executive positions. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETION

Please read carefully the following requirements for completion:

To receive a Certificate of Successful Completion, participants have to attend 100% of the course. Participants are required to be on time for every class and to not leave before the end of the class. 

CE CREDITS

WA DSHS: 7.5 continuing education credits have been pre-approved.

WA AOC: 7.5 continuing education credits have been pre-approved.