Class Details
English Pronunciation Course for Overseas-Born Professionals
Course summary
This English pronunciation course will give you the confidence and ability to communicate clearly in the workplace – ensuring your unique perspective and experience is heard and valued.
Overseas-born professionals bring vital diversity to a workplace, but sometimes you may struggle to get your message across due to your accent and the inherent difficulties of English pronunciation. This course aims to help you communicate effectively by minimising obstacles which may sometimes arise not only from the way you speak, but also from how others perceive the way you speak.
Through our interactive workshops focusing on speech sounds, intonation and social context, you will improve your communicative confidence and reinforce your professional capabilities.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, you should have acquired the knowledge and tools to continue addressing, practising and improving your pronunciation skills. Additionally, you should be able to:
- manipulate your vocal tract to correctly form individual phonemes (consonants and vowels)
- link sounds with timing for improved speech rhythm
- express yourself more efficiently and persuasively with meaningful use of intonation and stress
- self-monitor and self-correct your own pronunciation skills
- identify speech patterns and nuances particular to Australian speakers
- communicate with Australian-born professionals with improved confidence.
Content
Introduction to various elements of pronunciation, and discussion of individual needs and objectives
- Segmental and suprasegmental aspects of pronunciation
- The importance of pronunciation for overseas-born professionals
- Individual needs and objectives
- Phonemes and sounds in isolation – consonants
Intonation: Rising and falling speech patterns and inflection
- Voice and vocal quality
- Summary of the group's needs and objectives
- Intonation: rising and falling speech patterns
- Intonation: inflection
- Sounds in isolation – consonants
Rhythm – word and sentence stress
- Understanding syllables and syllable stress
- Word and sentence stress
- Rhythm
- Sounds in isolation – consonants
Linking in connected speech
- Connected speech: linking and sound mergers
- Sounds in isolation – consonants
Vowels – monophthongs
- Volume
- Australian voices
- Chunking
- Sounds in isolation – vowels (monophthongs)
Vowels - diphthongs
- Sounds in isolation – vowels (diphthongs)
- Summing it all up
- Suggestions for self-study
Who this course is for
Suitable for advanced second-language English speakers who have a high level vocabulary and grammar knowledge.
This course does not provide instruction in grammar, writing, spelling or comprehension.
Delivery style
Delivery modes
- Face-to-face, presenter-taught workshop
- Online workshop via the platform Zoom
Presented in an actively engaging way, combining presenter explanation, instruction and demonstration, as well as interactive discussions, group work and pair work activities. Active participation is highly encouraged and beneficial.
Materials
Course materials are provided electronically using Dropbox
Sessions
Location
Face-to-face (CCE Building, Sydney)
Public transport
As bus and train timetables regularly change, we suggest you visit the Transport for NSW trip planner before you set out.
The nearest train stations are Newtown Station and Macdonaldtown Station. Macdonaldtown Station is closer by distance than Newtown Station, however trains do not stop as frequently as at Newtown Station.
Other information
Parking
Nearby parking is available at Wilson Parking - RPA Medical Centre Car Park (entry via Elizabeth Street off Carillon Avenue).
A Flexi Saver Rate is available but must be booked in advance online and includes the booking fee. Bookings can be made via the Wilson website or by downloading the Wilson Parking App. Otherwise, hourly parking rates will apply, as advertised on the Wilson Parking website.
Meet the facilitators
Veronica Espin-Diaz
Veronica brings a diverse academic background and a true passion for teaching English as a second language, with expertise in linguistics, education, and translation. As a native Spanish speaker who is fluent in English, Veronica understands the challenges of learning a new language and the nuances and intricacies of English.
Veronica holds a BA (Honours) in English Philology (Linguistics), a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and a Masters in Advanced Language Studies (Spanish/ English). She completed the Cambridge CELTA (B) in 2018.
Having worked for several years in the UK, Veronica honed her skills while teaching and developing programs and materials for international students. She has also worked in Business and Marketing for over 10 years and provided extensive professional training to multicultural teams.
In recent years, Veronica has been developing programs and teaching both domestic and international students at a wide variety of institutions including Southern Cross University, The Hotel School and MIT Institute.
Her commitment to teaching both domestic and international students underscores her ability to connect with learners from diverse backgrounds and foster an inclusive and dynamic learning environment.
