Barb Christensen

Hello!

I’m Barb and I have been teaching accent reduction (also called accent modification) for over 20 years which gives me a lot of experience but also gives away my age! My consulting business is Speech Advantage (www.SpeechAdvantage.com). I am also the author of Accent Freedom (www.AccentFreedom.com) which is an accent reduction software training platform.

I have a masters degree in Speech/Language Pathology and have in the past been licensed in many states providing traditional speech services (stroke rehabilitation, swallowing disorders, head trauma, voice, stuttering, child language development, etc.) but now choose to focus my time only with ESL clients who are motivated to improve their English clarity so they can excel professionally as well as personally. Teaching accent reduction is truly my passion!

We offer several packages to clients that vary in how much the instructor is involved (self-study to complete guidance) and price (starts at $150.00 USD). There truly is something for everyone! And please keep in mind that employers often times pay for this training as part of your professional development. We can help you with how to talk to your manager about paying for this beneficial training.

Courses are customized to meet your specific communication needs. This training is professional, detailed and intense but also FUN! I would not want to sit through a boring pronunciation class and I don’t think you would either. We work hard to incorporate your personal and professional vocabulary into our training so you will see the most benefit for your investment.

I also teach other accent reduction coaches how to provide accent training to their own clients. Many instructors currently use my Accent Freedom software with their own clients. If you are a trainer, please reach out to me to learn how Accent Freedom could be used in your own business.

I look forward to hearing from you and getting started on improving your English pronunciation so you can attain your professional as well as personal goals!

We offer a wide variety of accent reduction training options. Self study is available for students who are on a fixed budget and wish to work independently. Of course, it is always more beneficial to have a teacher giving you immediate feedback during the course so we recommend our instructor-led courses.

We start the instructor-led courses with a full analysis of your speech so we can target your individual needs. This customized plan saves you time as you are only working on lessons that are pertinent to your individual progress. We work through Zoom with video and screen sharing of the training materials. We use the Accent Freedom software which allows you to jump online at any time to practice your customized lessons and upload audios to your instructor for review of your homework.

We also work hard to incorporate these new speech skills into your daily conversations. We target your individual vocabulary to personalize the training even further. For example, an accountant would use different professional vocabulary than a doctor would use.

We usually meet weekly for 1 to 2 hour sessions. Training typically lasts for two to six months depending upon the package you choose, how often we meet, and length of each session. Some students want intensive training and complete it in a matter of days – knowing that they will need to continue to practice on their own for maximum benefit. Others choose 1 hour per week sessions. It is completely up to you how you want to complete your training. Much depends upon your own learning style and time constraints.

I’m sure you have many questions so please feel free to reach out to me for a free 30 minute consultation so we can discuss your unique communication needs! I look forward to hearing from you!