Are you looking for an English pronunciation program but don’t know which program would fit your circumstances or needs? In this post I list out different English pronunciation programs and compare what each program offers to help you decide which program(s) you want to study from. (If you haven’t already read Practice English Pronunciation Online, then I would highly recommend you read it. It’s a great article with a list of online resources available to anyone wanting to improve their English pronunciation).
Note: I have not ranked this list from best to worst because I realize that there are many of you with different needs and wants.
So, without further ado, here are the top 10 English pronunciation programs.
1. American Accent Training by Ann Cook is a best-seller and great textbook to study from that comes with 5 CDs to listen to. The textbook covers 4 main areas: voice quality, pronunciation, intonation and linking. In addition, the CDs that come with this textbook feature male and female voices who speak in the Standard American English accent.
- Price: $30.60 on amazon.com
- Benefits: you can study the textbook in your free time and you can listen to the CD while in your car or at home. The lessons are comprehensive and provide great detail and explanations.
- Drawbacks: Because this is very individual and no live trainers are provided, you need to be accountable and motivated so that the book doesn’t just collect dust and is never used. There is also no trainer feedback.
2. Speaking Your Best Self-Study provides 2 DVDs that teach isolated sounds, 4 DVDs to practice sounds and speaking skills, 2 audio CDs, and 1 practice book. These are a great way to see and hear how sounds are pronounced.
- Price: $179.99
- Benefits: this self-study program can be studied at your own pace and when you have time.
- Drawbacks: It is hard to keep yourself accountable and there is no trainer feedback available in this program.
3. Saundz is an English pronunciation software program that teaches you how to pronounce 40 American English sounds through lessons, computerized virtual assistant named “Simone”, and recorded native speakers. The virtual assistant helps by showing you the vocal organs and muscles for each sound. You can also record your voice and compare it with the recorded native speaker.
- Price: $19.99
- Benefits: this is a self-study online program that you can access through your laptop and smartphone. It is very affordable and provides many lessons.
- Drawbacks: it is not comprehensive. It only teaches you how to pronounce 40 english sounds (there are 56 American English sounds). It only teaches you how to pronounce vowels and consonants and it does not teach you common reductions, intonation, linking, rhythm, pace, etc. which is just as important. This program seems to be good at exact pronunciation but native speakers don’t usually use exact pronunciation when they speak. It can make students sound too formal or too robotic. It also does not provide feedback from a personal trainer.
4. Becker Accent Reduction MP3 Course includes 52 mp3 lessons with a PDF transcript. The mp3 course covers vowels, consonants, intonation, stress, and more.
- Price: $79.95 (you can purchase it all together for $79.95, or purchase 1 mp3 lesson for $6.95 at a time).
- Benefits: you can download the mp3 file lessons in your computer or smartphone and listen to it anywhere.
- Drawbacks: this is a self-study course and requires you to be accountable and self-motivated. It also does not provide you with feedback or a personal trainer.
5. Becker Accent Reduction Private Lessons are 1-hour one-to-one American English pronunciation lessons taught by Charles Becker in Manhattan, New York.
- Price: starting at $50 per hour
- Benefits: perhaps the most cost-affordable private training classes with a native English speaker.
- Drawbacks: you have to live in New York City; if you live too far away then you cannot take private lessons with him. Charles teaches from his home or at a public meeting place in Manhattan. He is a certified ESL teacher and has extensive ESL experience, but he is not trained in accent reduction techniques by ASHA or studied Speech Pathology.
6. Alta Accent Reduction Private Lessons are offered either online via WebEx or in-person in their Atlanta office in Georgia. They provide an initial assessment, 10 1-hour sessions, access to online resources for 6 months, and a follow up assessment.
- Price: $899 for 6 months
- Benefits: if you do not live near Atlanta you can meet with your trainer via WebEx. The initial assessment is a great way for you and your trainer to understand what you need to focus on in your studies. Having access to online resources for 6 months is a great way for you to practice what you learn in your sessions.
- Drawbacks: not all students wanting to improve their pronunciation can afford this option. Trainers have been trained in accent reduction techniques by Alta but they do not have a background or masters degree in speech pathology. Students may also want and need to continue having access after 6 months.
7. Alta Accent Reduction Self-Guided Study an initial assessment, a self-guided manual, access to online resources for 3 months, and a follow-up assessment.
- Price: $199 for access to 3 months
- Benefits: you can study at their own time and pace. You can receive a beginning and an end assessment (as long as it is done within the first 3 months).
- Drawbacks: students might want to have access to online resources for more than 3 months. Not all students wanting to improve their pronunciation can afford this option.
8. Pronunciation Pro Private Lessons are offered online via WebEx, which include 12 1-hour sessions. Students receive a personal trainer who has at least a Master’s degree in Speech Pathology and is certified in accent training by ASHA, and has also been certified by COMPTON PESL (COMPTON PESL certification guarantees students to see at least a 50% improvement in their pronunciation). Students also receive an initial assessment, a final assessment, access to assignments, mp3 recordings, a comprehensive downloadable student manual, a curriculum video lessons series, access to LIVE webinars with Annie Ruden (the CEO and lead trainer), and a 40-week alumni course so students can continue studying and practicing after finishing the curriculum and training sessions. This program gives students access to all of this for a full year.
- Price: 3 payments of $599 OR 1-time payment of $1647 (both options give you access to everything for a year.
- Benefits: the accent reduction trainers are the most qualified in the industry. Students have access to everything for a full year. The alumni lessons keep the students practicing. There are two payment options available to students depending on their financial situation.
- Drawbacks: not all students can afford the program.
9. Pronunciation Pro Feedback Option allows students to submit 12 assignments in to their highly qualified trainer (explained above) and receive PDF and mp3 professional feedback from the personal trainer. Students also receive an initial assessment, mp3 recordings, a comprehensive downloadable student manual, a curriculum video lessons series, access to LIVE webinars with Annie Ruden (CEO and lead trainer), and a 40-week alumni course. This program gives students access to all of this for a full year.
- Price: 3 payments of $215 OR 1-time payment of $597
- Benefits: this is like a self-study, which is extremely flexible on time, but still provides a personal highly qualified trainer that will keep you progressing, accountable, and motivated. You have access to everything for a full year. The accent reduction trainers are the most qualified in the industry. There are two payment options available to students depending on their financial situation.
- Drawbacks: not all students can afford the program.
10. Pronunciation Pro Self-Study program is the biggest bang for your buck. No other program offers what this option offers for as cheap as it is. Students receive the full curriculum video lesson series, lesson mp3 recordings, a comprehensive downloadable student manual, access to LIVE webinar with Annie Ruden (CEO and lead trainer), and a 40-week alumni course. This program can be available to you on a month-to-month basis for as long as you want, or for a full year.
- Price: $19.97 per month (for as long or as short as you want) OR 1-time payment of $199 per year.
- Benefits: this self-study has many resources available to you for as little as $19.97 a month. Although students don’t have access to a personal trainer in this program, students can still participate with Annie Ruden in her LIVE webinars via WebEx and practice with her. Students can access the program on a month to month basis for as long or as short as they want, or for a year.
- Drawbacks: does not provide student with a personal trainer.
I hope this list has helped you think about what kinds of English pronunciation programs are out there and what you think you would be interested in applying! Have you heard any of these programs before? If you have studied from any of these programs in the past, what was your experience like? Let me know in the comments below! Feel free to contact me through my website or follow me on LinkedIn so you don’t miss any future posts about English pronunciation. Cheers!