A New Day in Accent Training

So much has changed since the early days of Accent Training when Speech Therapists focused on "correcting" a foreign accent. Issues of identity, diversity, discrimination, and advancements in technology ( to name a few ) have changed the playing field, creating a free and open highway, alongside a field of landmines.

Among the challenges:

• Cost-effectiveness - no one wants to pay for something that doesn't work or takes forever to work ( as can be the case with traditional English tutoring, for example)
• Not offending anyone - how do organizations approach people suggest they need to change their accents - or do they?
• Determining what to spend the budget on - competing with other softskills training such as team building or "effective communication"
• Discrimination - singling out non-native speakers as needing something "additional" that others don't need or somehow suggesting they are lacking or not good enough
• The social stigma attached - many non-native speakers seek out this training on their own, yet don't want anyone to know about it - what causes this mentality and we can do anything about it?
• Technology - how do we embrace the latest technology and make it "soar" rather than "stumble" in the pursuit of accent correction.

One of the biggest challenges for me is time management. When I'm meeting with clients online in different countries and juggling time schedules as well as doing corporate work and working with individuals at times, it can become a challenge to stay focused and directed, even with organizational tools like web-calendars. Sometimes it feels like there are too many tools, creating another layer of frustration.

Personally I have not experienced clients feeling imposed upon by the idea of "American Accent Training" - most of them are willing and eager and actively seeking it out! Much of that is my approach of letting them "self-select" and come to me, but the question of growing a business and doing more corporate work adds a layer of complexity. What if those making the decision to offer the training to others aren't taking into consideration how "personal" this type of training is?

In pondering this, I realize that the initial meeting with a client provides the opportunity to "test to the waters" and insure the training is right, but in a group setting, it can be more challenging. Cultural faux pas (plural) do happen, and when they do, they are be challenging to address - especially in the virtual world.

I'll continue to ponder the subject, and please feel free to comment on the new day in accent training.