American English: Pronunciation & Accent Reduction Masterclass
$250 | ONLINE | 36 Hours (equivalent to 3 credits)
Various times, please check each month’s schedule below!
Check which Time Zone you are in!!
Offered in collaboration with Hudson County Community College
Instructor: Aycha Edwards
January 18 – 19, 2025
Zoom meetings will only take place ONE weekend, on Saturday Jan 18 & Sunday Jan 19 | CLASS END DATE: February 16, 2025
Saturday 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM ET/Sunday 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
March 22 – 23, 2025
Zoom meetings will only take place ONE weekend, on Saturday March 22 & Sunday March 23 | CLASS END DATE: April 20, 2025
Saturday 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM ET/Sunday 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET
May 17 – 18, 2025
Zoom meetings will only take place ONE weekend, on Saturday May 17 & Sunday May 18 | CLASS END DATE: June 15, 2025
Saturday 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM ET/Sunday 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Have you ever felt like your words were “lost in translation”—not because of a language barrier, but because a small sound difference threw off the whole conversation? You’re not alone!
Our Pronunciation & Accent Reduction class is not like any other language course. With just a few key tweaks and a deeper understanding of how English sounds work, you can improve your oral communication tremendously. This isn’t about memorizing endless vocabulary or grammar rules—it’s about honing in on the sounds that make the biggest impact.
From tricky sets like “bird,” “beard,” and “bear,” to “true” vs. “threw,” or even “not” vs. “nut,” we’ll help you sharpen your skills so you’re heard and understood. But here’s the key—pronunciation is a two-way street. It’s not just about mastering how you speak; it’s about developing an ear for how others pronounce words, too.
Our class is designed to:
– Pinpoint the key sounds that matter most in English communication.
– Help you avoid common mistakes that confuse listeners.
– Train your ear to catch sound differences, making you a better listener.
– Boost your confidence in speaking and understanding others in real-world situations.
No more being misunderstood. With a few small adjustments, you’ll communicate with clarity and confidence. Join us and start mastering the sounds that lead to clearer, more effective conversations today!
ONLINE FORMAT
This class will consist of readings and assignments posted on Google Classroom and TWO scheduled zoom sessions (zoom is a video conference app.) You will only have two zoom meetings the first weekend of class, and then work independently on your assignments for the remaining 4 weeks. Please make sure you register for the course with a valid email address, since this is where you will receive an invitation notification to join Google Classroom. Both zoom and Google Classroom are free platforms and easy to use. You will be invited to join Google Classroom a week before class starts. Make sure you check your spam/junk folder, as invitations to join Google Classroom sometimes end up there. Your email must be Google compatible, so it’s best if you use gmail, hotmail or yahoo. If you don’t receive a notification before class starts, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to contact us.
ASSIGNMENTS & COMPLETION CERTIFICATE
All assignments must be successfully completed in order to receive your course completion certificate. Course completion certificates will be emailed to you, to the email address you registered for the class with. If you have a deadline and need your certificate earlier, please indicate it during the registration process and upload proof (there is a question that asked about early certificate.) You may receive your certificate as early as ONE week after class has started, as long as you complete all assignments successfully and it is confirmed by your instructor.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance during the scheduled zoom sessions IS MANDATORY and we will be taking attendance! If you do not attend these, you will NOT receive a course completion certificate. Meetings are not recorded and there are no make-up sessions. It is not possible to sign up for a new class if you miss the zoom meetings – your will have to pay for a new class! Other than the zoom sessions, the class is self-paced and you will be free to work on your assignments whenever you can. You will have 4 weeks to complete all assignments and course requirements.
ZOOM SESSIONS
Please note that all zoom sessions are scheduled in Eastern Time (New York City). Please check which time zone you are in, and make sure you attend the zoom sessions on time!