Here’s How to Do Accent Modification: A Manual for Speech-Language Pathologists is designed for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) working with clients on accent modification in American English. A growing number of non-native speakers are interested in improving their communication skills and SLPs need preparation to work with this clientele. The text provides copious advice and many diverse techniques for teaching accent modification, from the level of basic sounds to the level of discourse.

The text emphasizes realistic goal setting, so that clients focus on becoming effective communicators as opposed to sounding exactly like native speakers. The objective is a balance between clear and natural speech. Many SLPs favor intelligibility over naturalness because of their backgrounds working with speech delayed children, but with non-native speakers this often leads to unnatural speech and listeners focus on how something is said as opposed to what is said.

Here’s How to Do Accent Modification is uniquely geared toward the skills and backgrounds of SLPs working with clients in a one-on-one setting, but is also an excellent introductory text for any English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher. Robert McKinney brings this unique perspective as a speech-language pathologist with degrees in both Communication Disorders and Teaching English as a Second Language.

Also included with the text are numerous practical activities and worksheets for working with clients. A PluralPlus companion website presents the worksheets in a downloadable format along with audio files and video clips to demonstrate working with non-native speakers.