I will help you towards a neutral British English accent, sometimes called Standard Southern English.  This is my own accent.  We can also look at how the Standard British and General American accents differ. 

If your goal is for clarity, rather than a specifically British accent, then that is fine too.  You will decide what you want to focus on at the beginning of your programme. 

This is entirely up to you, what you want to achieve and how committed to the process you are.  Changing the way you speak is like changing any new habit.  It takes time!  So, the best way to handle it is to enjoy the process and I will be there to support you and make it as enjoyable as possible.

It is absolutely possible (at any age!), but it requires a lot of dedication and commitment and very few people reach this point in any language.  It is good to ask yourself how important this really is to you and what difference it would make.  Some people do it for fun, but if not, it can put a lot of unnecessary pressure on you.  (I can help you make sense of your goals in a one-off session or at the start of a programme, if this is something you need to talk through first.)

You need to have an advanced level of English.

I am a qualified English teacher and have many years of experience, so I can help with language questions that might come up if you want me to.  However, our sessions won’t be about whether or not you know your English grammar and all the phrasal verbs perfectly.  We will be focusing on communication.  In other words, how you connect to your listener.

I generally only work with non-native English speakers.

I don’t work with actors I’m afraid.  I specialize in helping non-native speaking professionals who need to communicate more effectively in English.

I am happy to coach clients from 18 years up, although most of my clients are working professionals.

That’s absolutely fine!  My aim is to help you be better understood and achieve whatever aims you have set yourself.  We can concentrate on just making your speech clear and engaging.

As you progress through your programme, you may find that you start to feel more comfortable trying on a new accent and it could even feel fun!  Some of my clients have experienced this.  The important thing to remember is that you are in charge of your programme with me – not the other way around.

Traditionally, a teacher’s style is more didactic, which means that your role in the learning process is more passive.  We know from neuroscience that we learn best when we are actively and happily engaged in the learning process.  As a certified and accredited Neurolanguage® Coach, I use techniques to make sure that you are in the driving seat and having fun along the way.