ACCENT NEUTRALISATION & DEVELOPMENT

Course Code – MC - AN

As Jennigay puts it, a vast number of non-English speaking South Africans have a good English vocabulary and spell well, but find it difficult to express themselves in English. This is typically because they have been taught English in textbook style, by their own people in a non-English speaking community. As a result they have not been taught how to pronounce the sounds of English correctly. Many of these people are being held back in their careers because they find it difficult to communicate in English. This is especially true in the call centre environment. English accent training can give these people a better future in a world where English has become the most commonly used language in business.

Many people who have learned English as a second or even third language have a strong or residual accent that adversely affects their English communication in business, social and educational situations; therefore, their productivity and consequential value in the context of the customer service equation diminishes dramatically. The MC&A Accent Neutralisation Program is designed for people whose accent is adversely affecting their ability to communicate effectively in English.

The Accent Neutralisation Programs help individuals to modify their speech so that their English pronunciation is more understandable by first language English speakers, whilst retaining their own culture, ethnicity and links to their first language.

MORE ABOUT ACCENT NEUTRALISATION

Accent Reduction is not like learning to speak a new language. It is completely focused on changing how certain sounds are pronounced. Often those sounds are articulated improperly in English because the first-language pronunciation is used. The training facilitates the breaking of existing habits and the development of new ones.

The final aim of the training is to ensure that the accent is used (with a thorough knowledge of how to produce each sound) as opposed to merely imitating it. The goal of the trainer is to help the individual achieve the desired manner of pronunciation without jeopardizing the integrity of the individual’s first or primary accent.

COURSE CONTENT

Workshops begin with a presentation to the intended participants to engender enthusiasm about what they can expect to achieve by attending sessions over the training period. We believe this is vital to the success of the training programme.

To give an indication of the format of the workshops, sessions start by going back to the beginning and learning the basic vowel sounds as the fundamental building blocks of all speech.

Typical problems that non-English speaking South Africans encounter while communicating in English are discussed. The correct articulation of sounds is demonstrated and compared with the incorrect pronunciation of these sounds.

Students also learn tricks that will help them to achieve the correct sounds. such as the difference between long and short sounds, as in “ship” versus “sheep.”

Together, words containing specific sounds are selected that participants agree need to be practiced. These are then practiced individually and as a group and the participants make up words and sentences around them.

A number of words are chosen and participants make up stories using some of these words.

After each group session, participants are given a tape recording of the words and sounds that have been practiced and are given an assignment to make up their own story around the selected words.

As the course progresses, participants start presenting their stories to the rest of the group to build confidence. Through this activity, participants learn to develop facial and voice expression and body language when communicating in English.

The course is all about working together to build confidence and creating an element of competition. Participants are encouraged to contribute constructive criticism, winning stories are selected through a voting process and small prizes are awarded in recognition of achievement.

COURSE DURATION

The training methodology requires a four-month commitment on the part of the company and its chosen participants. The format of these will be based on two-hour sessions conducted on a weekly basis involving groups of a minimum of 10 and maximum of 12 participants. This is based on four two-hourly sessions for four groups of ten participants to cover one whole eight-hour working day.