Question 1

Why is a dialect coach better than a native speaker of my target accent?

Accepted Answer

Dialect coaches work with phonetics, sound, and sound systems, which gives them more versatility with teaching accents from around the world.  It is easier for us to sit down, listen to the dialect, break it down into its most basic parts, and then share that information with you.
 
In other words, a native speaker may hear something is off but will most likely not have the vocabulary/pedagogy to share how to fix that with you. It took me years of school/experience to develop that myself, and it changes on a daily basis when I learn more.

Question 2

What dialects do you specialize in?

Accepted Answer

I specialize in a wide variety of dialects. If you're unsure if your request is appropriate, please contact me directly.

Question 3

What is accent reduction, and do you do that?"

Accepted Answer

“Accent reduction” is a concept that, through training, you and I can erase your current accent and replace it with a new one.
 
Personally, I dislike the term “accent reduction” as it implies that one method of speaking is an “other” or an “accent” and one is not, which is simply not true.  It also raises some questions of xenophobia, since Americans have accents, so I'm giving you a new accent, not erasing your original accent. I prefer the term “conscious code shifting," or else, "American Accent Acquisition."
 
Instead of it being something wrong with YOU that we have to reduce, it's just a new skill set you're looking to build.  And I'm also on a mission to change this concept in Hollywood and on Broadway.

Question 4

What makes up an accent?

Accepted Answer

An accent is a combination of socialized and physicalized habits that result in a specific production of a group of sounds. 
In layman’s terms, a whole lot of things make up an accent: where you grew up, who your peers were, where your parents grew up, where you live as an adult, how big your jaw/tongue/lips are, how you want to be perceived by others; there is no agreed upon psychological, physiological, and sociological list that completely encompasses everything about an accent.
That’s why accents are so special: they will always be unique to you, no matter what. Even if you’re American and learning an RP accent, that will be YOUR RP accent--nobody else’s.

Question 5

I’m so bad at dialects. How do I get better?

Accepted Answer

I am here to help you with that! Contact me and let’s set something up!
It’s probable that you are approaching it from a learning style that is incompatible with your brain. As a teacher myself, my first goal in this work is to find an approach that works for YOU. From there, the work and practice will grow and become easier.

Question 6

Do you do voice work as well?

Accepted Answer

I am not certified in voice work, but I collaborate with several voice teachers across disciplines very often. If you are in search of voice work, I would likely refer you to one of them.

Question 7

How do you become a dialect coach?

Accepted Answer

To be completely honest, I don’t have an answer for this. This is up to each individual. If you’re interested in my story, it’s in my “about.”

Question 8

What do you consider inappropriate accents?

Accepted Answer

I consider me teaching an accent that has roots in white colonialism inappropriate; ie, Carribbean accents, West African accents, Indian and Sri Lankan accents, etc.  I must decline all work of that nature.
 
For a database of coaches who can more helpfully and wholly suit your needs in the case that this is you, please refer to this website:
 
http://www.globalmajoritydialectcoaches.com/
 
Thanks for understanding!

Questioning some things?