Accent Reduction
The Accent Reduction Training for Clear Communication programs are personalized for improving foreign accents. The purpose of these programs is to assist individuals in achieving the best in academic, business and social communication skills with the primary goal to help non-native speakers improve their communication clarity in a variety of situations. Dr. Schetz has extensive experience designing individual and group training. Participants in her classes from business, academia, and medicine have included individuals from Europe, Asia, South America and Africa.
Clear communication is essential in the academic, business, and social world. When your message is not clear, the listener loses your intended meaning. In such situations, you often find it necessary to repeat what has already been said, and you lose confidence in your ability to present your ideas.
With our programs, Accent Reduction Training for Clear Communication, we thoroughly assess your speaking skills. We provide training in individual or group formats. We look at daily communication needs and all areas of speech and language. Then, we design the program that best meets that need. Areas may include training for articulation, stress, intonation, speech rate, grammar, and vocabulary.
We use a variety of training materials. Some of the materials are for those individuals and groups with general accent reduction needs. However, we incorporate materials specific to the medical community when applicable.
Course Options & Fees
Individual Training
This includes an assessment followed by 45-minute sessions each week for 12 weeks. Individual sessions allow more personalized training.
Group Training
This includes an assessment of each client followed by a one-hour and 15 minute session each week for 12 weeks. These sessions accommodate two to five clients with the same or similar native languages and degree of language competence and provide an opportunity to interact with others.
Intensive Training
This includes an assessment followed by 45 minute sessions two times a week over 2 to 3 weeks. It is designed for clients with special requirements.
Advanced Accent Reduction Training
These sessions are specially designed for individual clients or groups at a more advanced level, who require training for communication clarity in professional presentations and spontaneous speech.
Individual Training
Testimonials
Individual Testimonials
The courses "Accent Reduction Training for Clear Communication," provided by Dr. Schetz, is great. I have learned English in China for many years. I can read, but I can't speak well and listen well here. Sometimes I was so frustrated when nobody can understand what I am talking about. In the course I took, Dr. Schetz first diagnosed my speaking problems and designed a particular training to correct them. She told me why people could not understand me, what is right, and how to pronounce and speak correctly. It is sure that the 12 courses have not solved all problems I have. However, it gives me the correct directions. So I can practice by myself and then speak better and better. This training is definitely worthy.
Gary Huang
Graduate Assistant
Virginia Tech
Initially, I took 12 individual courses weekly as suggested and then continued taking individual sessions every other week until I moved to another state. Dr. Schetz is a professional English language trainer with years of experience, and thus knew how to teach as well as how to correct my spoken English. In addition, she was well prepared, patient, and willing to help me on other issues regarding English (e.g., daily conversation, presentations, and job interviews) at all times. I significantly improved my pronunciation after learning/practicing English vowels and consonants, which allowed me not only to speak English correctly but also to comprehend English better. Also, learning English intonation was helpful in speaking English naturally. I now feel much more comfortable and confident when I speak in English. I highly recommend this training course.
A Post-Doctoral Researcher at Virginia Tech
The communication class...enhanced my interest in vocabulary and pronunciation...gave me knowledge of new areas that I have not known before through articles on different topics...and gave me an opportunity to...practice spoken English.
...two months later...I realize that my pronunciation has improved a lot.
...I...improved my pronunciation skills, enlarged my...vocabulary, ...and gained confidence in dealing with some difficult situations.
Because pronunciation was a very big problem for me, I had no confidence in speaking aloud...I seldom did presentations in my group meeting because I couldn't express myself clearly and others could hardly understand me. After the first 12 sessions...I almost report my work in English every week..and find it's...easier for me to communicate with other people than before.
Edited Comments from Individuals in Group Classes.