Join us as we help you improve your accent and clarity with our list of Best American English pronunciation Courses. Perfect for non-native speakers.
Key Takeaways
- Access to techniques to master American English sounds.
- Enhance your speaking clarity through interactive practices.
- Suited best for ESL students and professionals.
What do the best American English pronunciation courses offer?
These courses offer extensive practice in vowel and consonant sounds along with intonation and rhythm. The courses are designed to help non-native speakers achieve clear and confident American English speech.
# | Course Name | University/Organization |
1. | ChatterFox | ChatterFox |
2. | Pronunciation Workshop | Pronunciation Workshop |
3. | Accent’s Way | Hadar Shemesh |
4. | Pronunciation Pro | Pronunciation Pro |
5. | Alta Lang | ALTA LANG |
6. | Speaking Your Best | Speaking Your Best |
7. | Becker | Becker Accent Reduction |
American English Pronunciation Courses Evaluation & Selection Criteria
We selected each course based on factors like instructor qualifications, student feedback emphasizing noticeable improvements, and course effectiveness in improving pronunciation.
ChatterFox:
One of the few American English pronunciation programs that offers detailed, AI-powered, feedback and coaching from a human coach, ChatterFox has been built to deliver explicit instruction on word stress, intonation, articulation awareness, and muscle memory to make its learning process as efficient and practical as possible. The team behind ChatterFox consists of seasoned business and language experts from Washington, D.C. Their professional pronunciation coaches provide weekly feedback and coaching on specific consonant and vowel sounds, word stress, linking/reduction, and intonation. You can also take advantage of this program seven days a week, so you will always have an available coach. It’s absolutely an enjoyable and complete online course that breaks down learning into convenient modules, explains how to enunciate specific sounds, featuring visual guides that illustrate how facial muscles can be used to express them. A further feature of each module is that artificial intelligence is used to provide immediate feedback as to pronunciation. You can access ChatterFox at any time through a mobile app that fits seamlessly into Android and iOS smartphones, as well as through an accessible web-based platform that works in a browser. In addition to all this, ChatterFox also runs a highly active Instagram account and a YouTube channel with video tutorials showing how to correctly communicate with common American English words. Membership prices are described below:
Memberships/Prices:
- Billed monthly: $12.99/Week
- Billed quarterly: $8.99/Week
- Billed yearly: $8.49/Week
- All Plans Include:
- Lifetime access to the video courses
- Fluency activities and cultural notes
- 2 weekly personalized feedback recordings from a live Accent Coach
- Official certificate upon completion
Trials/Money Back Guarantee
- Free 3-day trial, includes initial assessment feedback from pronunciation coach
- Money-back guarantee: full refund if user is not satisfied with English speaking improvement.
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We found ChatterFox to be a very well-designed and executed English pronunciation program. The prices are very reasonable, and the program is extremely accessible. ChatterFox offers an abundance of content both on and off their website, so whether you’re on YouTube, WhatsApp, Facebook, or Instagram, you’ll never be short of strategic practice material!
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Pronunciation Workshop
Whatever your level of previous English learning, this program will help you improve your English pronunciation regardless of your current level of knowledge. Designed and founded by Paul Gruber, MS, CCC-SLP, this program offers both informative video lessons and detailed private instruction. Motivational video training methods emphasize intonation and rhythm within pronunciation and can reshape pronunciations through the use of “easy and understandable” techniques. A live training session and assessment are provided in order to help users identify their own frequently mispronounced sounds and words. A larger membership package will also include private training. Usually, this program can be completed between 2 and 3 months. Furthermore, this course provides downloadable PDFs of its lessons.
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Memberships/Prices:
Video Training: 3 payments of $79.99 or $229
- Full 16-class video course
- Complete training manual (PDF)
- ‘801 Ways to Say What You Mean’ American Idiom Guide (PDF)
Live Training-$144
- 50-minute Live Session addressing personal pronunciation issues
Video plus Live Training: 3 payments of $109 or $319
- Full 16-class video course
- Complete training manual (PDF)
- ‘801 Ways to Say What You Mean’ American Idiom Guide (PDF)
- 50-minute Live Session addressing personal pronunciation issues
- Access to a Personal Pronunciation Coach
Trials/Money Back Guarantee
- 1-week trial: $9.95
- 100-day 100% Satisfaction guarantee or your money back
Self-motivated individuals may be attracted to this program if they don’t mind sporadic personalized feedback. There is no follow-up personal coaching session after the short live coaching session, which is shockingly expensive. Despite the fact that this program is unquestionably useful and an important reflection of the designer’s experience, for this price, the client could have much more resources at their disposal.
Accent’s Way
Hadar, an aspiring actress in New York and a native Hebrew speaker, developed Accents Way. As part of her endeavor to improve her own American English pronunciation, she gained a greater understanding of the language and greater insight into it. The 10-week course, which is offered a few times a year, is based in Israel and completely online. While all the course content is available online, there isn’t much information about it otherwise. On the website, you can download some podcasts and videos for free. The materials are easy to access for English learners and provide valuable information. With each video or podcast, the English learner acquires necessary everyday information in an intuitive format; whether the learner has time for just a few videos or can spend hours viewing and learning from the helpful tips, it seems to be very enlightening. You can see a comparison of membership prices and benefits here:
Membership/Prices:
10-week program.
5 monthly payments of $86
- Lifetime Access to Accent Makeover
- Private Facebook group
- 10 live group lessons
- Small Talk Workshop
1 single payment of $397
- Lifetime access to Accent Makeover
- Private Facebook group
- 10 live group lessons
- Small Talk Workshop
Trials/Money Back Guarantee
- No free trial offered.
- 14-day risk-free money-back guarantee.
There is a charm to Accents Way’s website and its podcasts and videos are entertaining and informative. Since it was designed by a Second Languaggre Learner who faced her own challenges, the program has clout, ensuring its effectiveness. Only the fact that you don’t know when the 10-week session will begin seems to be a negative.
Pronunciation Pro
Annie Ruden, American accent coach, developed this innovative program in order to increase the proficiency of English language learners who wish to improve their American English pronunciation. She combines online tutoring sessions, self-directed learning, and recorded feedback in an innovative way. Each client has access to a weekly series of video lessons with accompanying worksheets and MP3s. In a balanced learning environment, each lesson builds on the previous one. On top of the twelve modules, there are bonus lessons available on the website. Students may also take the alumni course upon completion of the bonus lessons. Ideally, each client should commit 30 minutes daily and an additional one to one and a half hours per week to the program in order to succeed. The following is their pricing breakdown:
Membership/Prices:
Pro Package: $19.97 a month or $199 a year
- 12 Module online self-study video course
- Personalized feedback and answers to your questions during regular live webinars with Annie Ruden
- interactive community through Facebook and website
- Unlimited email access to American pronunciation trainers
Plus, Package: 3 payments of $215 or $597
- Personalized feedback from an American pronunciation trainer
- Complete pronunciation Assessment & Report providing common mispronunciation patterns and focus areas
- Written and audio feedback on weekly assignments
- Personalized feedback and answers to your questions during regular live webinars with Annie Ruden
- Interactive community through Facebook and website
- Unlimited email access to your personal American pronunciation trainer
Premier Package: 3 payments of $599 or $1647
- Complete pronunciation assessment and report providing common mispronunciation patterns and focus areas
- 12 weekly live lessons with your own American pronunciation trainer
- Personalized feedback and answers to your questions during regular live webinars with Annie Ruden
- Interactive community through Facebook and website
- Unlimited email access to your personal American pronunciation trainer
Trials/Money Back Guarantee:
- 7-day free trial
- Full money back guarantee without a 50% improvement in your pronunciation.
The design of Pronunciation Pro is great, and it produces amazing results. In addition to the weekly facilitated seminars, the site offers a Facebook group that will serve as a community of learners; these additions to the program should greatly enhance the success of clients improving their pronunciation and fluency. Unfortunately, most of these packages are extremely expensive, which keeps many from continuing the program. For someone who decides to choose this program over others, the high price will have to be considered a significant investment.
Alta Lang
In addition to pronunciation improvement programs, Alta Language Services offers a variety of other language-related services. They offer live language training, audio recordings of your online instruction, materials to augment the language learning experience, customized vocabulary training, cultural insight, goals consultation, and ongoing feedback with their American pronunciation services. Their focus is on a style of English called “broadcaster English,” which is most frequently used in business communications. Students are instructed on correct vowel and consonant pronunciations, word stress exercises, intonation and rhythm exercises, and pitch training. To ensure that each student gets the most out of the program, each student is matched with a teacher who best meets their needs. Their training center is located in Atlanta, GA, and the program can be accessed both online and on-site. Pricing and descriptions can be found here:
Plans/Prices:
Private Instruction $999
- Initial assessment
- 10-one-hour sessions with an ALTA certified trainer
- 6 months access to online resources
- Follow-up assessment
Self-Guided Study $199
- Initial assessment
- Self-guided study manual
- Three months access to online resources
- Follow-up assessment
Trials/Money Back Guarantee:
- No free trial offered
- Unconditional money back guarantee
Alta Lang offers what we believe to be the best comprehensive service on the list, featuring everything we could ask for and more, all in one place. However, though the company offers a range of services that may appear appealing at first, as you discover more about the company, it begins to feel less personal. Essentially, this is because their pronunciation training emphasizes “broadcaster English” so extensively that some people may find they do not understand the cultural aspects they want to learn. A second issue with Alta Lang is its exorbitant price. There is no live-coaching available with the more affordable option, and access to their resources is limited to three months, which is not adequate for true success. Furthermore, the nearly $1000 option only gives you access to these resources for six months; this short period of time does not compare to the financial investment. Therefore, Alta services may be optimal for those looking to improve their business English who can glean a wealth of notes and photos from the purchased resources within the time available.
Speaking Your Best
Cheryl Posey, MS CCC-SLP, created Speaking Your Best, which differs from other programs with each lesson being customized for each individual via Facetime and Skype. In addition to English proficiency requirements, the website provides accent guides for each native language. Plans are developed according to the needs of each student over a period of seven, twelve, or twenty-four weeks. Upon completion of each lesson, students receive an assignment to help them advance to the next level; what’s more, they will have full access to the SYB online platform, which contains an abundance of resources in American English. Due to extremely strict policies, applicants must be able to attend every lesson without canceling. If you do not show up for class, fees will still apply, and classes missed won’t be refunded. Refunds will not be given following the start of the course. If the instructor is notified in advance of a needed absence, classes may be resumed at a later date. Below is information on each plan and its price:
Plans/Prices:
SYB 7-Week Accent Reduction $700
- 7 private one-hour classes conducted on Skype or Facetime
- Designed for individuals with a mild accent and some language differences
- And/or for individuals who want to work on a specific skill or project
- Great for busy individuals who would like to spread classes out to every two weeks
SYB 12-Week Accent Reduction: Communication Skills Training Course $1100
- 12 private one-hour classes conducted on Skype or Facetime
- Designed for individuals with a moderate accent and several language differences (grammar, stressing and intonation, etc.)
- All practice materials included as well as a final evaluation to document improvement
SYB 24-Week Accent Reduction: Communication Skills Training $1900
- 24 private one-hour classes conducted on Skype or Facetime
- Designed for individuals with a heavy accent that are difficult to understand and have several language differences
- All practice materials included as well as a final evaluation to document improvement
Trials/Money Back Guarantee
- No Free Trial
- No refunds available after purchase
A program such as Speaking Your Best may not be affordable for the average person, and it requires a fair amount of responsibility when it comes to communicating absences in advance. Cancellations must be notified to the instructor at least 24 hours before the lesson. As a result, no-show classes won’t be rescheduled and will be deducted from the remaining class times. Those with a very busy or unpredictable schedule may find this to be expensive and very frustrating. Individuals who are able to make the time and financial investment to participate in a program of this type might find it appealing, but it is still out of reach for a large number of people.
Becker
In creating this program, Charles Becker, an American English Pronunciation Specialist, intended for each student to receive individual attention. For his clients, Becker aims to deliver an American accent that is as standard as possible. He designs each lesson individually to meet the needs of each client. Based in Manhattan, NY, the company is owned and led by Charles Becker, a skilled, knowledgeable, and patient accent reduction specialist who has designed a comprehensive English Pronunciation course that can be downloaded as an MP3 file. There is also the option to purchase individual podcast lessons for those who do not live in Manhattan and do not have access to a full MP3 course. He also hosts a free podcast called “English Pronunciation Pod” which can be found online. Check out his options and rates below:
Plans/Prices:
Private Lessons: $60/hour
- Based in Manhattan, NY
Full English Pronunciation Course in MP3: $79.95
- All 52 MP3 lessons including full transcript e-book in PDF
Individual MP3 Lessons: $6.95
- Each MP3 lesson comes with complete PDF transcript
Trials/Money Back Guarantee:
- No Free trial available
- If after 90 days pronunciation has not improved, a full refund of purchase is available
There is no confusion or ambiguity in the Becker program. Mr. Becker’s lessons are a reasonable cost for someone who lives in or around Manhattan, New York. This may also be a good option for those unable to attend classes at the New York campus but motivated to structure their own education. Despite being comprehensive and useful, the lack of internet resources besides a podcast may turn some people off.
Conclusion
That’s it for now! We took a look at the best online American English pronunciation courses we could find. As I know that most people want the best recommendations, I will give my top three suggestions. Each person has different needs, so each program will be different, but these are the ones that I think are the most valuable.
ChatterFox:
Both the price and the content of this program stand out. A real pronunciation coach along with weekly feedback are included with the program for less than $40 a month. The videos that ChatterFox offers both on their social media and on the shows are entertaining, concise, and well-produced.
Accents Way:
It is also one of the most effective programs as long as you are patient enough to wait a while before you start improving your pronunciation. It is clear from the website and layout of the 10-week course that it is very efficient and personalized. This program was created with a smaller “online class” style, so it’s great to assist the students who feel they might need individual assistance.
PronunciationPro:
Even though the number of materials, platforms, and third-party apps in this program may overwhelm some people, it is nonetheless a worthwhile program. While the price point for the membership is good compared to the content offered, it’s still high compared to some other memberships.