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1-on-1 Online Coaching
1hr or 30min Sessions are recommended for all new students.
If you can't find a time slot that would work for you, scroll all the way down and send me a message using the form.
Available OnlineRead MoreA full fledged 30min session in which we'll work on your accent
1 hr
45 US dollars
Available OnlineRead MoreA full fledged 1hr session in which we'll work on your accent
1 hr
85 US dollars
Special Offer: 10 Session Package
Best Value
10 x 1hr Sessions
$840
✅ more flexible cancellation policy (12hrs vs 24hrs before)
✅ priority scheduling over A La Carte Session bookings
✅ faster progress due to frequent & consistent classes
✅ long term lesson plans
✅ locked in time slots for consistency
✅ video recordings of the classes
✅ audio recordings of the classes
✅ access to detailed learning materials
✅ sessions redeemable for 4 months
Use this contact form if you're interested in the 10 session package
Available OnlineRead MoreA great way to get your toes wet, to get to know me and the process a ...
30 min
25 US dollars
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FAQ
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How does accent reduction work?It all starts with "phonetics" (symbols that are supposed to be a universal sign for specific sounds). After identifying which sounds in your speech give you away as a non-native speaker, we work to adjust those sounds. This starts with mastering making that sound as well as understanding when to use it. After establishing a strong foundation in the phonetics of the American accent, we'll move on to advanced reading exercises outside of materials (e.g. books, articles) to bridge the gap from controlled practice to speaking. If you want to know more, read this blog post.
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How long does it take to reduce your accent fully?It depends on a variety of factors. These factors are: What’s your starting point How many classes a week are you taking? How consistently are you practicing outside of class? Are you re-watching the class recordings? Are you recording yourself as you’re practicing and listening to yourself and other native speakers very consciously? To learn more, read the blog post dealing with this subject.
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I suck at languages, will I ever get rid of my accent?Learning a language is certainly not easy. However, you need to know that when most of us learned English in school, our teachers didn’t teach us / didn’t know themselves, how to properly teach us the American pronunciation. Instead, we learned speaking English in their accent. In the process of accent reduction, you will be learning “phonetics” which will help you understand the proper mechanics of how the American sounds should be said as well as where to place them. There are a lot of rules and patterns we can follow to help us. At the same time, some of it will be vocabulary (i.e. memorization) as well.
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Why would I want to reduce my accent?These tend to be the main reasons: wanting to blend in with native speakers speaking with confidence being able to communicate clearly overcome subconscious bias in personal / work life
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How do I get started?Use the contact form to send me an email to book a 1hr A La Carte Session to start your accent reduction journey. Note, this session can only be booked after contacting me. If you'd like to just get your feet wet, ask more questions about the process and the materials, I recommend booking the Clarity Call instead.
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What is "subconscious bias" ?We encounter and also have subconscious bias in most parts of our lives. To give you an accent related example, every country has varieties of accents. At the same time, there is usually an “accent” that’s considered the “proper” way of speaking. Often, people in bigger cities will speak like this more commonly than people in rural areas. As a result, when people from cities listen to people from rural areas speak, they might (subconsciously) associate their way of speaking with a lack of intellect which, of course, is not justified. This exists everywhere, not just in the US. The UK can be quite a vivid example of this because they have a very large variety of dialects and even native speakers can sometimes have a hard time understanding each other, depending on how strong the dialects are. (e.g. London vs Scotland)
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What's your cancellation policy?Students must request to cancel/reschedule at least 24hrs before or session will count as completed and cannot be refunded. The only exception to this is if students paid for a 10 session package. Then you can cancel up to 12hrs before the session time.
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Have you worked with somebody with my accent before? Does that matter?In short, it does not matter. I have worked with students from all over the globe but not from every single country. Even beyond that, inside of one country, the accents will differ based on geography, social background, education, etc. However, the accent reduction process is the same, regardless of which accent you have. The sounds we need to start with or the kinds of mistakes you are making might be different from certain accents but all that means is that we'll be attacking the sounds from the angle that makes the most sense based on how you're deviating from American.
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Where do the classes take place?All classes are conducted online via Zoom.
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How long does it take for you to reply to a message?I strive to respond to everbody within 24hrs, within my office hours. Office hours: Mo - Fri: 9am - 4pm PT, Sa: 10am - 2pm PT
About me
My name is Dillon and I'm a writer, actor and accent reduction coach living in Los Angeles, California. I'm originally from Europe and came to the US to study acting. I already had a really solid foundation in grammar and vocabulary at the time but quickly discovered that my accent was going to hinder me in pursuing the roles I wanted. The majority of great roles are occupied by native speakers and I didn't want to be stuck in "the German nazi soldier" for the rest of my career. Thankfully, my acting school offered a vigorous accent reduction program which I took full advantage of. After patient and consistent work, I was able to get rid of my accent. In the process, I developed a real passion for accents and dialects in general and broadened my arsenal to include Standard British, Cockney, General Southern, General Irish, and more.
Students from all over the globe
Spain
Russia
Bangladesh
Mexico
Slovakia
India
Vietnam
Denmark
Cambodia
Italy
Nigeria
Lithuania
South Africa
El Salvador
France
Belarus
Ukraine
Colombia
Singapore
Portugal
China
Malaysia
Turkey
UAE
Austria
While every person is unique and encounters unique challenges to reducing their accent, the overall process is the same for everybody. Identify the sounds that need to be adjusted and drill them to establish a solid foundation in the American accent and to form new & correct instincts. After that, we delve into rhythm, stress, intonation, etc.
a professional with extensive knowledge
Dillon is a professional with extensive knowledge of pronunciation. I highly recommend his classes because he has gone through the accent work process himself. He has mastered the American accent and understands the difficulties.
I find his explanations more clear, concise, and practical
I studied IPA in grad school at USC which is part of what Dillon uses in his work. I find his explanations more clear, concise, and practical than much of what I learned in school. He is a caring, thoughtful, and thorough teacher. I highly recommend.
delivers in a timely and professional manner
Dillon is thorough in his preparation, keenly observes the pupil's strengths and weaknesses, and delivers in a timely and professional manner. In short, he is exactly as advertised.
Testimonials
"I can already see the progress"
He knows exactly what I need, and I can feel that my success is his goal. I find it very beneficial that he is not a native speaker (his English is perfect!). Because of this Dillon knows the difficulties we might have, and what the best way is to explain how to pronounce or understand specific sounds. I can say that I am 100% confident that I made the right choice, and I can already see the progress.
"his methodology fits anyone"
Dillon is a great teacher, very professional and patient, he is definitely the best option for anyone who wants to improve their English pronunciation and accent. He has a wide knowledge of the topic and his methodology fits anyone. I am very happy and feel more confident now to speak thanks to his lessons. Thank you Dillon!
"recommend him without hesitation"
Dillon is extremely competent in his area and I would recommend him to anyone willing to improve their English or their pronunciation skills. He is very disciplined (never late for a class, never cancels without notification), has a methodical approach and truly engages with the student. The results are tangible, I recommend him without hesitation.
"extensive knowledge of pronunciation"
Dillon is a professional with extensive knowledge of pronunciation. I highly recommend his classes because he has gone through the accent work process himself. He has mastered the American accent and understands the difficulties.
"specific insights and takeaways"
Great communication. He sent me a document and had me record myself reading it before the session, and I could tell he had listened and analyzed it because he had lots of specific exercises and feedback. I left the session with some specific insights and takeaways. Great experience!
"already learned stuff I never knew"
Very helpful lessons! I definitely recommend them to anyone who wants to reduce their accent or improve their American accent. I’ve already learned stuff I never knew and seen progress, so I’m looking forward to taking more lessons. Of course you’ll have to practice as much as possible if you want to really see results.
Contact Me
Fill out the form and let me know what your questions are.
Location: Los Angeles
Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time
Office Hours: Mo - Fri: 9am - 4pm PT, Sa: 10am - 2pm PT
If you're contacting me with interest of booking a session, please be ready to send an audio recording of a text file that I will share with you.