Foreign Accent Improvement
Compton P-ESL Program

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The Compton P-ESL Program was designed to improve your Business, Professional and Social Speaking Skills

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM
P-ESL?

Participants come from all walks of life: accountants, actors, airline pilots, attorneys, college teachers and students, computer programmers, engineers, housewives, ministers and priests, physicians, sales people, secretaries, supervisors, receptionists, etc.

Employers who have used the P-ESL Program represent many diverse organizations throughout the USA such as A. T.&T., Bank of America, Chevron, Clorox, Consulate Generals of El Salvador, Japan, Mexico and USSR, G. E., Dow Chemical, Federal NY Life Ins., Levi Strauss, Mattel Toys, Stanford University, etc.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE
COMPTON P-ESL PROGRAM

The Compton P-ESL Program begins where conventional English as a Second Language courses end. It is based on more than 20 years of linguistic research and teaching and was designed specifically to aid foreign-born individuals in improving their spoken English. The program was developed by Arthur J. Compton, Ph.D., Director, Institute of Language and Phonology in San Francisco.

Dr. Compton analyzed the English pronunciation of hundreds of people from more than 100 different language backgrounds. His research revealed that the "accented sounds" of English constitute a system of interrelated pronunciation patterns, which are determined largely by the speaker's native language. He also discovered that even though many different speech errors or accented sounds may occur in an individual's speech, these errors represent a small number of systematic patterns (error types) which, are the actual source of the pronunciation difficulty.

As a result of this discovery, initially derived from his studies of children's speech, Dr. Compton began to apply his "Principle of Linguistic Generalization" to Foreign Accent and Regional Dialect. By focusing upon basic "error groups", maximum improvement and habit formation is achieved in a much shorter amount of time.

New Computerized Break-Through with Interactive CD-ROM Technology

In 1998, Dr. Compton published the CD-ROM version of the P-ESL Program practice materials. This new innovative technology brings together more than five years of research and development and marks a major break-through for the entire field of spoken language learning. Specifically, the CD-ROM technology adds the following dimensions:

• Instant - random access to over 100 record practice exercises and rapid maneuverability through all sections with a "click of the mouse"
  
• Embodies the Idealized Model for Mastering Spoken Language:
  1. client listens to the verbal stimulus
  2. records his/her attempt to match it
  3. instantly bears a "play-back" of the "stimulus-response" pair [provides immediate feedback of the "degree of match,"]
  4. repeats the procedure until satisfied

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• Video demonstrations at the beginning of each practice exercise by an actor and actress from the American Conservatory Theater (ACT) of San Francisco
  
• Speech production diagrams showing head-profile views (illustrations) of the consonant and vowel sounds of American English
  
• Available for both Macintosh and PC platforms

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE COMPTON P-ESL PROGRAM

• An initial interview and a tape recording of your speech
• A completely individualized learning program based on a phonetic analysis of your tape-recorded speech
• A comprehensive set of practice exercises in a CD-ROM or cassette tape format
• A training manual containing your personal speech analysis and scripts for the recorded practice materials
• A personal "Audio-Reference" tape and booklet of customized practice words which you feel are especially important for you to learn
• 25 hours of instruction and practice (group programs)
• A tape-recorded reevaluation to measure your success
• At least a 50% improvement in your pronunciation of English
• A self-study program for continuing your improvement at the end of your course

TYPES OF PROGRAMS

I. Small Group

13-Week Class for individuals with an average command of English Pronunciations

• Maximum of 5 students per class
• Twelve two-hour weekly classes and one private tutoring session
• Weekly home assignments using the CD-ROM or personal practice tapes and implementing new speaking skills into your everyday life

7-Week Program for
1) individuals with very mild foreign accents
2) native speakers with regional USA dialects
3) those in need of general speech improvement

• Maximum of 5 students per class
• 7 two-hour weekly classes, flexible scheduling
• Incorporates serialized practice materials with weekly home assignments using CD-ROM or personal practice tapes

II. Private Tutoring

13-Week Program for individuals with very strong foreign accents or those who wish to work on specific projects or goals

• 13 one-hour weekly classes, flexible scheduling
• Weekly home assignments using the CD-ROM or personal practice tapes and implementing new speaking skills into your everyday life

7-Week Program for
1) individuals with very mild foreign accents
2) native speakers with regional USA dialects
3) those in need of general speech improvement

• 7 one-hour weekly classes, flexible scheduling
• Incorporates serialized practice materials with weekly home assignments using CD-ROM or personal practice tapes

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Last Update
9/23/03

Tustin Speech & Language Center  •  661 West First Street, Suite E  •  Tustin, CA 92780  •  Phone:(714)-838-2853  •  Fax:(714)-838-4533
Info@TustinSpeech.com