Course Description: This course is designed to help non-native English speakers develop awareness and understanding of different accents, improve their own accent awareness and flexibility, and learn about the challenges they may face in communicating with others and how to adapt.

Course Format: In this course, students will listen to and mimic different accents to develop accent flexibility. They will compare the stress patterns, intonation, and phonemes of their native language with the Standard American English accent and become aware of the features of their native language that they are transferring to spoken English. Students will identify common English pronunciation mistakes and learn how to avoid them. They will also receive feedback from a native English speaker and identify areas for improvement.

Student Learning Outcomes: By the end of this course, students will be aware of accent differences and the effects on communication. They will use techniques to modify their accent to be better understood, improving their overall communication skills in English.

Course Objectives:

• Recognize and identify the differences in pronunciation and intonation that characterize different accents.
• Mimic sounds, stress, and intonation of other accents to develop flexibility.
• Identify areas of your own accent that may be interfering with communication.
• Adapt vocabulary to better fit native accent.
• Improve overall fluency and communication skills in English.