Is Accent Reduction Training right for you?

  • Do people have trouble understanding you or ask you to repeat yourself?
  • Is English your second language, and you would like to improve your pronunciation?
  • Do you want to learn to switch to a non-regional American accent so that people will hear WHAT you are saying and not HOW you are saying it?
  • Tired of the question “Where are you from?”
  • Do you have an upcoming presentation or interview that you’d like to prepare for?
  • Are you an actor who wishes to learn a new accent or dialect?

If your answer is “Yes” to any of these questions, accent reduction training can help you speak Standard American English with confidence and clarity.

My job is to be your guide in knocking down any barriers in your communication with others. These distractions can take many forms, such as when other people:

  • ask you “what?” when you speak
  • misunderstand you
  • tune out the content of what you say because they’re focused on your accent
  • make stereotypical assumptions about you, or ask “where are you from?”, which can derail the conversation you wanted to have

My personalized accent reduction course will guide you to the place where the focus of the conversation is the content of what you say, not your pronunciation.  The course will help you:

  • Correctly pronounce all consonant and vowel sounds of English
  • Switch from your foreign or regional accent to “Standard American” English
  • Learn the pronunciation, intonation, and rhythms of Standard American English speech
  • Improve your communication skills at work and socially
  • Greatly increase your confidence when you’re speaking

All lessons are customized to suit your needs and requirements.

I’m Ilana Shydlo and I hold an M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology with a bilingual focus and I am a certified trainer in the Compton PESL Accent Modification Method, a research based accent reduction method.

See what people are saying about my accent reduction course!

To get started, take a free online evaluation or contact me directly.

I have had just a few classes with Ilana but I’m already noticing a big improvement of my English speech. My accent is not as heavy as it used to be, and I feel much more confident when speaking in public. People also tell me that my Russian accent noticeably has reduced and now they can understand me better. I feel very comfortable studying with Ilana. She's a nice and friendly person. It's a delight to have her as my teacher.

~ Nikita / Student, First language - Russian

My English level was intermediate and I had a strong accent, so I didn’t want to speak English in public. The hardest thing was that even if I was speaking English correctly, nobody could understand me because of my strong accent. At that time I met Ilana. She is very patient and generous, and she always tries to understand me. After 10 classes, I feel confident in speaking English. This is what I hoped for from this course!

~ Yukiko Sekiai / Sales associate, First language – Japanese

I have spoken fluent English for more than 20 years but always with an accent. Tired of having to repeat myself twice to order something at fast food restaurants, I decided to seek help. I contacted Ilana, whose patient, professional dedication and passion for helping clients with their accent has no match. She has helped me not only to reduce my accent but to feel more confident. I can't thank her enough. I highly recommend Ilana to anyone who wants to improve her/his pronunciation.

~ A.E. / BS in Civil Engineering, First Language- Spanish

My first interaction with Ms. Shydlo was a phone conversation in which I explained that my accent was an obstacle at my new working environment. Although she thought I would need a certain number of sessions, after the initial evaluation she said that I actually needed less. This honest statement gave me total trust in her. In addition to her honesty, Ms. Shydlo is very humanistic in her approach. She provided me with a safe place to make mistakes, express myself and learn how to improve my speech. Ms. Shydlo is very devoted to her students and passionate about linguistics. This can be seen in the fact the she is always available for questions via email and assistance during the week. Even after 5 classes, I feel improvement and more confidence in my speech. Ms. Shydlo is a person who will not only guide you through this process, but will also join you.

~ Scott L. / Community Habilitation Supervisor, First Language - Hebrew

Ilana has been an incredible support in my accent reduction. I'm a Singer-Songwriter who speaks Spanish and she has helped me a lot with my art! She is the best, so patient and dedicated! Sessions are super clear and personalized! I totally recommend her.

~ Karin Hofmann / Singer-Songwriter, First language - Spanish