"There are no difficult sounds when talent is involved. Amanda has this blessed ability to connect you to a sound and find a way to make it effortless for you." - Olga Kosheleva, from Latvia

"I'm still me, but clearer!!!" - Daya Mendez, from Bolivia

Do others find you difficult to understand? Do you feel that people listen more to your accent than to your words? Do you speak too quickly or become flustered when you have to perform?

If you'd like to improve your diction or reduce a native accent, I can guide you to increased clarity and confidence. The process begins with a diagnostic in which we discuss your background and how you perceive your current speech. We develop a plan around your goals and time frame.

> FAQs ABOUT DICTION & ACCENT REDUCTION
What's your general philosophy?
Do you have a particular method you use?
Why should I reduce my accent?
Is it better to do private or group classes?
Where are most of your clients from?
How much time does accent reduction take?
How much practice do I need?

Q. WHAT'S YOUR GENERAL PHILOSOPHY FOR ACCENT REDUCTION?
A. First of all, I don't like the term "accent reduction." I use it on this site because it's a frequently used, commonly understood shorthand. I don't like it because it implies that you're "losing" your accent in favor of a "non-accent." In reality, there is no "non-accent." I don't teach you to lose anything, but rather to gain the option of using General American Speech, which is a neutral-sounding American accent that has no particular association with any one part of the country.

I find that most of the problems people have mastering American speech come from doing too much -- moving too many parts of the mouth at once, creating unnecessary tension, stressing too many syllables too strongly. A big part of our work will focus on figuring out exactly where to put your effort, and letting the rest be smaller. The goal is efficiency and a feeling of ease.

Q. DO YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR METHOD YOU USE?
A. As a text, I often work from Edith Skinner's book Speak with Distinction, which is used in most contemporary actor training programs. It is a methodical, step-by-step approach to mastering the vowels and consonants of General American Speech. We also work with handouts and exercises specially tailored to the work you're doing.

We start with a conversation in which we discuss your background and your current speech. Then we do a detailed diagnostic of the sounds you struggle with, and I begin to show you, sound by sound, how to shift your pronunciation to the American pronunciation. We also address issues of placement, intonation, the "music" of American speech, how to connect words so they sound natural, and also issues of spelling and vocabulary. From the start, we apply what you're learning to your life, work, and interests, and you have a concrete process you can work with at home.

Q. WHY SHOULD I REDUCE MY ACCENT? ISN'T IT PART OF MY IDENTITY?
A. A common fear is that if an actor works to acquire General American Speech, he will be losing a part of his individuality. My feeling is this: I think it's a good idea for actors to learn to speak in a number of ways. The more opportunities you give yourself to stretch your capacity to speak in a different way, the move voices you have to bring to a given character. It's just like an American actor learning different dialects -- it's all done so that the actor can bring a variety of characters to life, not only those who speak like him. It's prudent from an artistic perspective as well as a practical one. It doesn't mean you have to speak like that in your daily life, it just means you have a new tool to use if and when you need it. Your accent, native language, and background are an integral part of your identity, but in learning a new way of speaking, you are expanding, rather than erasing, your ability to communicate that identity.

Q. IS IT BETTER TO DO PRIVATE OR GROUP CLASSES?
A. I think dialects can be taught very effectively in group classes. But for working on your own accent, private lessons are an invaluable investment. Since everyone comes to speech work with a different background and different issues, you want a program tailored to you and your accent. You want to be able to spend the whole session on a single sound, making mistakes, trying again, until you master it in your own time and in your own way. A group class can give you a great introduction to what your problem spots are, but ultimately, private lessons will save you a lot of time.

If they're not cost-effective for you, you can pair up with a friend who shares your linguistic background and ask the instructor about discounts for pairs (I do this frequently), or you can combine group classes with the occasional private session to keep you on track.

Q. WHERE ARE MOST OF YOUR CLIENTS FROM?
While a great deal of my practice is made up of speakers from Japan and Eastern Europe, I've worked with speakers from all over the world. Places of origin include, but are not limited to: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, India, Ireland, Israel, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, USA (Brooklyn, Texas, etc.).

Q. HOW MUCH TIME DOES ACCENT REDUCTION TAKE?
A. The most commonly asked question of all. This will vary enormously from individual to individual and will depend to a large extent on how much work you are willing to put in on your own practicing in private and applying what you're learning to everyday encounters. We will spend a great deal of time going over practice methods and discussing ways in which you can "practice" even on the subway.

Q. HOW MUCH PRACTICE DO I NEED?
A. I talk a lot about "muscle memory." This term is used in dance all the time -- the dancer doesn't think about the steps every time she does them. With practice, they exist unconsciously in the muscle memory of her body. Your tongue is the strongest muscle in the body for its size, and it has an incredibly powerful muscle memory. If you practice a sound again and again, eventually, your tongue remembers and you don't need to think consciously about it every time you speak. That's what practice is for -- not to get it right once, but to get it right so many times that it becomes unconscious. So you'll need a lot of practice. And then more. At least 15-20 minutes a day, 3-4 times a week to begin, but each and every day if possible. We'll talk in depth about the best times, ways, and means of practicing.