FAQ | Alpha Speech | Accent Reduction

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who benefits from this type of service?

Anyone who needs to be understood to fulfill professional duties will benefit from accent modification. Any pilot candidate hoping to pass the ICAO/ FAA English Proficiency Requirements or a pilot who needs to maintain professional English Proficiency Licensure Requirements will also benefit.

How long does it take to improve English pronunciation?

Average improvement is seen after three months of consistent speech therapy sessions.

I feel nervous when talking with Air Traffic Control. How much will this help with that?

In my experience every pilot candidate I have worked with expressed feeling nervous about not being understood when talking with ATC. After all, it is challenging to fly an aircraft and speak a foreign language simultaneously. When working on the pronunciation of aviation words, you will feel more confident when communicating with ATC. This skill also expands to an increase in your confidence when using aviation English with CFIs or DPEs.

What if I can’t make progress?

Every program is individualized to the needs of the particular client. After the intelligibility evaluation, Dr. Pierson and the client will discuss what they will work on to improve their ability to be understood.

What if I don’t want to lose my accent because it’s part of my identity?

The goal of accent modification is to increase intelligibility or how well others understand you. You will retain some form of your accent. Still, the goal is to be understood by others the first time you speak, whether over the intercom during an unexpected emergency or in-person during routine conversational exchanges.

Have you ever met anyone with an accent you could not help?

I have not.

Why don’t I just download an app?

By the time pilots and clients contact me, they have often already used several different apps, textbooks, workbooks, etc. If the use of an app had been successful, you would be unlikely to be looking at this website right now.

Can you help me if I’m not a pilot?

Absolutely. Many fields require those working within them to be intelligible when speaking in English. Engineering, medicine, research, science, air traffic control, and international cruise ship pilots must demonstrate proficiency in English to adhere to their professional standards.