Educators
Kids and Cultures
“Sheri is the co-founder of Kids and Cultures Camp. Since its inception in 2004, she has been an integral part of building connections between our special guest presenters from other countries and the campers. Her friendly, personal interaction puts everyone at ease, enhancing the growth of friendships and mutual understanding. Sheri is at the top of our list of people we know who work well with people from various cultures and backgrounds.”
THE CHALLENGES
Linguistic diversity in American schools is rapidly increasing and Universities across the country are actively seeking to become multicultural institutions both in student body and faculty. But what happens when students have trouble understanding a professor due to a strong accent? Students, concerned about grades and the investment in tuition, are interested in their own academic success. While it can be unintentional, students’ frustration can be interpreted as racial tension. This leads to lost instructional time and limits the potential success of the students.
THE DESIRED RESULT
When professors and teachers work to develop clear speech, they contribute to a diverse environment that can be a positive experience for everyone. Accent Reduction Coaching positively affects the overall quality of classroom communication; faculty and students begin to relate and communicate better, acceptance of diversity increases and parents are more satisfied. The cultural, ethnic and linguistic differences become a catalyst for enrichment and understanding rather than rejection and conflict.
THE SOLUTION
Accent Reduction is a strategy that focuses on this core issue – the communication barrier that exists when people speak different varieties of the same language – and provides a long-term solution. By developing speaking skills that allow a person to speak with clarity, the speaker takes an active role in decreasing conflict through improved communication.
Fluency Connection’s Accent Reduction course is an advanced level English language class based on linguistic theory and practice and addresses the specific skills involved in speaking clearly. These skills are learned, practiced and mastered just as one would master skills in playing an instrument or competing in a sport. The skills include clear pronunciation of each vowel and consonant sound, reproduction of stress patterns, and the use of intonation. Once the skills are learned, the speaker can continue to develop them over time.
Learn more
http://www.pbs.org/speak/speech/prejudice/
Boylan, H.R., Sutton, E.M. & Anderson, J.A. (2003). Diversity as a resource in developmental education. Journal of Developmental Education, 27 (1), 12-17.
Lee, G. & Janda, L. (2006). Successful multi-cultural campus: Free from prejudice toward minority professors. Multicultural Education, 14 (1), 27-30.
Lindemann, S. (2005). Who speaks “broken English”? US undergraduates’ perceptions of non-native English. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 15(2), 187-212.
