by Heather Chetwynd | May 27, 2022 | Accent Modification
Accent training is about adjusting an accent. We all have accents, so terms such as “accent elimination” and “accent reduction” are based on the incorrect assumption that “we” don’t have accents. I prefer to use the terms “accent modification,” “accent adjustment,”...
by Heather Chetwynd | Feb 11, 2022 | Culture and Values
In Canada, many people are not used to hearing a variety of accents, especially in less urban environments. Even in Toronto, one of the most multicultural cities in the world, many native speakers mix almost entirely with other native speakers and, therefore, do not...
by Heather Chetwynd | Feb 4, 2022 | Culture and Values
AUDIO-Why Computers Sometimes Crash This poem sounds like it has been written by the children’s author, Dr. Seuss. Apparently it is anonymous but it sure sounds like him. His poems are great for pronunciation practice. Try reading it aloud along with the...
by Heather Chetwynd | Feb 11, 2021 | Language Training
Pluto the dog is a character that has become popular under Covid. I’ve always enjoyed the humour but this one – called “Losing your Marbles” – is wonderful for my line of work. He speaks in almost pure idioms throughout the 3-minute clip. Listen to...
by Recommendation of Heather Chetwynd | Dec 2, 2014 | Language Training
It can be difficult sometimes to identify what is and what isn’t an error in English, even for native speakers. And I can only imagine the difficulties faced by people who grew up speaking another language. I have observed that, sometimes, what was considered an...
