The one thing I tell all of my ESL students is to SPEAK SLOWLY so you get all of the sounds said .. clearly.  I find that those who follow this advice are MUCH easier to understand.  They find others easier to understand too,  because it also encourages others in the conversation to speak slower too which often improves understanding all around.  
 
Mikal Steinbacher
Instructor, ABE/ESL/English
Lake Washington Technical College

________________________________

From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov on behalf of JBaker3439 at aol.com
Sent: Sun 7/27/2008 10:59 AM
To: healthliteracy at nifl.gov
Subject: [HealthLiteracy 2182] Accent Reduction


  
I'm doing work in a large hospital where there are employees who speak English, but are very hard to understand, due to their heavy accents. 
 
I have decided to work with one employee who works with visitors and patients entering the hospital. He's a very bright man from Argentina who would like to move up the career ladder, but feels that this thick accent is holding him back. It is very difficult to understand him, even though he understands English perfectly.
 
I told this employee that I wouldn't want him to fully lose his accent, but am willing to help him with certain sounds that will help him be more clearly understood.
 
During my years in adult and workplace education, I have helped many with accent reduction on an informal basis.  However, I've never had any formal training in that specific area and would appreciate any information others have in that area.  Also, are there training materials available - both for the students and for training the trainer?
 
Thank you ,
Julie
 
 
Julie N. Baker
Workforce Skills Development
13805 Shaker Blvd., Suite #4A
Cleveland, Ohio 44120
216-561-1629
jbaker3439 at aol.com



________________________________

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