Euphonic Language & Accent provides specialized English language services to clients from around the world, with a focus on one-on-one accent and language training. I combine extensive experience and expertise in several fields to offer effective training that’s tailored to each individual. I believe anyone can become a strong English language communicator, and I am committed to helping my clients reach their goals through personalized instruction and support. Read more below to learn about the services I offer and my expertise.
English Lessons
I offer lessons to non-native speakers of all levels. I’ve developed my teaching approach and materials through years of experience, both teaching and studying foreign languages, along with my in-depth understanding of language education and acquisition. Lessons are designed for each individual while taking into account goals, strengths, and weaknesses. Some clients work on developing well-rounded communication skills, while others focus on more specific objectives, such as preparing for a new job or applying to graduate school. To read more, please see the ESL page.
Speech-Language Therapy
As a speech-language pathologist (also commonly known as a speech therapist), I provide services to individuals with speech and language delays and disorders. Within this field, I’m particularly specialized in articulation and phonology disorders, though I work with children and adults with a variety of communication needs. If you’d like to learn more about my speech-language therapy services, please send me a message.
Teacher Training
I support other English teachers, accent coaches, and speech-language pathologists who are working on improving their teaching skills and knowledge, particularly with regard to accents and pronunciation. Many training programs for these professionals only cover the basics of accents, so this can be helpful for those who are seeking greater specialization. If you’d like to discuss teacher training, please get in touch.
Accent Training
Accent training, also called accent modification or accent reduction, is a method of helping people change their accent or learn to speak with a new accent. People who pursue accent training often want to be more easily understood and gain confidence as communicators. I combine knowledge of linguistics, accent and dialect studies, speech therapy, and speech science to teach a General American English accent (one term for an accent that doesn’t sound like it’s from a particular region of the US). The exact focus depends on the individual, but common targets include mastering English vowels and consonants; adjusting patterns of stress, rhythm, and intonation; and increasing overall intelligibility. To learn more about accent training, please see the Accent page.
Speech & Communication Coaching
I also work with individuals on a variety of speech and communication goals that are not necessarily related to accent or language learning, including with native and non-native English speakers. Some clients work on clear enunciation, so they can be easily understood. Others seek to slow down their speech rate and use natural pausing, so that they don’t sound too rushed. Others focus on intonation and emphasizing different words in order to sound more confident and express more emotion through their speech. These are just a few examples of many possible skills to tackle, and I enjoy developing a plan based on each individual’s goals. If you’d like to talk over this kind of training, feel free to contact me.
My background includes diverse experience, education, and training in several fields. I draw from these different areas to effectively and efficiently guide my clients through the process of developing new skills and reaching their goals.
Certified Speech-Language Pathologist
To become a speech-language pathologist, I completed a multi-year master’s degree program involving in-depth study of speech anatomy and physiology, speech science, neurolinguistics, and many other subjects. I have also done hundreds of hours of clinical work in schools and hospitals, providing speech-language therapy to individuals with communication difficulties and disorders. I’m nationally certified through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and licensed in California.
Specialized in Accents and Phonetics
I’ve studied accents, dialects, phonetics, and phonology intensively for years to become highly specialized in these areas. I stay up up date on research through academic journals and publications, and I carry out my own investigations to keep increasing my knowledge of accents and speech patterns.
Proficiency in Speech Technology
In college, I studied music, audio technology, and the perception of sound, allowing me to finely tune my ears and become proficient in methods of processing and analyzing sound. I’ve built on these skills by learning to use software designed specifically to analyze speech, which I occasionally use to more deeply interpret my clients’ speech patterns and offer feedback on how to make adjustments. I also keep up on speech and language training apps and other resources, so that I can recommend the best tools to my students.
CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults)
I hold an internationally recognized certification in English language instruction. Through this program, I studied a variety of topics related to English education for non-native speakers, and I honed my teaching skills.
Diverse ESL Experience
I’ve taught English language and accent skills to hundreds of clients from around the world, ranging from complete beginners to advanced language users fine-tuning their communication abilities. Before founding Euphonic, I taught at a public school in Japan, private language institutes in the US, and international corporations. I also develop custom study materials and resources and advise students and teachers about curriculum development and study plans.
Bilingual in English and Japanese
I learned Japanese as an adult, and I continue to study it in my free time. As I progressed in my studies, I developed and experimented with my own learning materials and strategies. This experience has helped me understand the challenges of learning a new language and the need to find personalized methods rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
My name is Alex, and I'm an English language and accent specialist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I was born in Berkeley, California, and I lived there until I moved to the East Coast to attend college. After teaching English in a variety of schools and companies, both abroad and here in the US, I decided to start Euphonic in order to offer more specialized and personalized services, particularly in a one-on-one setting. Outside of my speech and language work, I love listening to and playing music, film photography, and running.