Welcome to The Accent Channel
I’m a Speech-Language Pathologist with a simple approach for learning and teaching accents, dialects, accent reduction or modification, and English pronunciation.
I help my students realize that teaching or learning an accent is not difficult or complicated.
You just need an organized method, a willingness to learn, and a little confidence to make it happen.
Learn an accent, lose an accent...
it's really the same thing.
Choose your situation below.
I'm Interested In
Teaching Accents
I want to teach others how to learn or lose an accent.
I'm An Actor And
I Need A Coach
I need to learn the American accent or a dialect of English.
Jessica Kijowski Elson, MS, CCC-SLP is an ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologist who has spent the last 20 years teaching accents and dialects to award-winning actors, models, voice over artists, corporate executives, lawyers, teachers, diplomats, and professional voice users from all over the world.
After earning a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2000 and completing an internship focused the vocal rehabilitation of actors and singers, Jessica began her career as an Accent and Dialect Specialist at New York Speech Improvement Services and The Sam Chwat Speech Center in New York City. She worked with thousands of students during her 11 years at the center before opening her own private practice in New York City. Jessica has also been an Adjunct Professor of Voice and Diction at New York University.
About Me:
Favorite Accent: 1940’s Standard. Sometimes called Trans Atlantic. Think Bette Davis, Joan Crawford. Now that is a classy way to speak!
My Most Authentic Acquired Accent: See Above. Also Essex. I love the glottal stops.
My Least Authentic Acquired Accent: Cape Town/South Africa. I have trouble tapping into the rhythm but I am working on it.
Hometown: Waynesburg, PA. You probably don’t know where it is. Yes, they have a strong regional accent and no, I don’t use that accent anymore.
Favorite Standard/Neutral American Speech Models: Emma Stone, Zoe Kravitz, Bea Arthur, Oprah Winfrey, John Krasinski, Alec Baldwin, Lin-Manuel Miranda
Fun Facts:
- Started my career at the largest private practice in the U.S. specializing in accent reduction, accent modification, and dialect acquisition
- Have worked as a speech/dialect coach for over 200 commercials, movies, and plays
- Can usually guess where you are from after hearing you speak for a few minutes
- An an expert in Judy Garland and Freddie Mercury trivia
I believe that anyone who speaks English at an advanced level, can learn any accent of English. With consistent practice and the right training you can acquire a fluent accent. And I have seen some accent challenges!
I've trained Spanish speakers to sound like they are from Chicago, Russian speakers to sound like they were born in Kansas, German speakers to sound like Mississippi natives…I once helped an Israeli actor pull off 4 different American dialects in one show. And he was amazing.
If you really want an accent and you are willing to put in the practice time, you can do it!