Custom accent training for international professionals living and working in North America
You have enthusiasm and deep expertise in your field. But instead of focusing on sharing your ideas, you're wondering whether people are understanding what you actually meant.
The cost isn't a moment of confusion. It's how you see yourself, day after day — and how you start showing up because of it.
This is where it all begins.
Are you ready to be fully understood in American English?
Do any of these
sound like you?
You stay quiet because you're worried about your pronunciation
Replaying conversations in your head, wondering why they felt off
You rehearse a sentence in your head before you say it out loud
You feel like a quieter version of yourself in North America
You get reactions that don't match your words or your intent
You have difficulty connecting with North American colleagues
Do any of these
sound like you?
—You stay quiet because you're worried about your pronunciation
—Replaying conversations in your head, wondering why they felt off
—You rehearse a sentence in your head before you say it out loud
—You feel like a quieter version of yourself in North America
—You get reactions that don't match your words or your intent
—You have difficulty connecting with North American colleagues
Being understood exactly as you intend is possible.
Even if you've taken the most advanced English classes and have worked in North America for years— together we can get to the root of what's really happening so that the message people receive finally matches the one you're sending.
DON'T WORRY
Speech-Language Pathologist, Speaker & Executive Voice Coach
Hi, I'm Victoria.
I hold a Master's in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Columbia University and my Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
I have helped hundreds of bilingual professionals communicate in American English with confidence, clarity and impact.
Long before this was my profession, it was my life.
I came to Canada as a young immigrant from Poland, growing up between languages and cultures. In addition to English, I speak Polish, French, and Greek. So when a client tells me they feel like a quieter version of themselves in English, I don't just understand it. I've lived it.
for me, this work is personal.
Click to watch my TEDx talk!
BEYOND ONE-ON-ONE WORK
I also speak on high-stakes and cross-cultural communication. My work has taken me to audiences at DisruptHR, DisruptGTM, Desjardins, and CUPA-HR Northern New England.
My TEDx talk on cross-cultural connection has reached over 38,000 people worldwide.
Some of my work happens on a stage.
Click to watch!
work
together
My career has spanned neurorehabilitation, accent reduction, and high-stakes communication — the last decade focused exclusively on international professionals living and working in North America.
Drawing on 15 years of professional experience in speech-language pathology, I have identified which speech patterns decide whether your message lands in a North American context, and which barely matter. That focus has helped hundreds of professionals be heard the first time, and finally be understood the way they intend.
Watch the video to learn more!
Pronunciation isn't about polish; it's how your words land.
English isn't phonetic. The way a word is spelled rarely tells you how it sounds, so a single sound can turn one word into another, creating immediate confusion and miscommunication.
American English is Harder than it Looks
one
Rhythm isn't about speed; it's how your message lands.
two
In English, stressed and reduced words do real work, carrying both your baseline message and your emphasis. Get the rhythm wrong, and your listener hears something you didn't say.
Melody isn't about style; it's how your attitude lands
three
Melody is the rise and fall of your voice, and in English it signals attitude. The same words can land as friendly, cold, or sarcastic, so the wrong melody changes how you come across.
3 reasons why
Questions?
I've got answers.
WHAT IS ACCENT REDUCTION?
Accent reduction is the process of reducing the effects of your native language’s phonetic and phonological systems on your perception and production of Standard American English. In practical terms, it means retraining how you hear and produce speech sounds and voice patterns, so that you are fully understood within a North American context.
HOW DOES THE PROCESS LOOK LIKE?
The first step in the process is the evaluation, during which I learn about your goals and do an in-depth analysis of your speech. Afterwards, I write up a detailed evaluation that outlines all of the speech sounds and patterns you need to work on to improve your communication. In our sessions together, we meet weekly to cover all of the topics that were identified on the evaluation.
WHERE DO SESSIONS TAKE PLACE?
All sessions take place remotely. You will receive a link to join once you book your session, so all you need is a quiet space, a reliable internet connection, and a device with a camera and microphone. Because I'm licensed as an Orthophoniste by the Ordre des orthophonistes et audiologistes du Québec, you must be based in Quebec to receive accent reduction services.
DOES MY EXTENDED HEALTH PLAN COVER THIS?
You need to check the fine print of your plan, as each is different. I am licensed as an orthophoniste (speech-language pathologist) with the OOAQ in Quebec, and I will provide an invoice that you may submit to your insurance if you have coverage and reside in Quebec. However, understanding your coverage is your sole responsibility, and I do not communicate with or bill your insurance directly.
DO YOU TEACH AMERICAN OR CANADIAN ENGLISH? ARE THESE THE SAME?
While there are obvious similarities between these accents compared to English from another continent, in general, it is immediately apparent whether someone is from Canada or the United States. Is there a better target to aim for? It entirely depends upon your goals, and the circumstances in which you find yourself; it is not a matter of one accent being right, and the other wrong.
CAN I SOUND "NEUTRAL" RATHER THAN DISTINCTLY CANADIAN OR AMERICAN?
Because individuals in every area have a distinct manner of speaking, "neutral" is a question of relativity based on your audience. It would be impossible to give a neutral accent without context, because what is "neutral" to a speaker in Toronto is "accented" in London, and vice versa. So if your audience is in North America, we can achieve a "neutral" accent by giving you features of American English.
