One of the most common questions clients ask at the beginning of the process is how long it takes to modify one’s accent?
The simplest answer is: we do not know.
Let’s explore this a little further.
Each client will have their own level of free time within which they are able to commit to the process outside of sessions. The general rule is: the more time you can commit to the work in your own time, the greater the speed and accuracy of the modification.
We also consider your individual starting point. If you have, and have had for a time, a community of friends and colleagues who share your target accent, then you will be regularly exposed to sounds that you are aiming to acquire for yourself. If this is not the case for you, then we look at other ways to surround you with these sounds in order to familiarise them for you.
Furthermore, we consider your goals. For some, improving intelligibility for professional or social purposes is all that is required. For others, a complete overhaul of oral posture, pronunciation and prosodic features is what is desired. Naturally, the more modification requested, the more time the process will take.
Our general recommendation is to check in on a monthly basis, but to commit to at least three months. Six months should see significant adjustments, but many clients stay with us for over a year. The only way to find an answer to the question that is true for you is to get started.