pronunciation programs for healthcare providers

 

 

I received a query from a local hospital and was wondering if you had any helpful hints.  

Occasionally, they will have a doctor/nurse who has a strong mastery of the English language, but due to their accent, voice inflections, tone of voice, etc., it is difficult for staff and patients to understand them.  They wanted to know if there was any program that could assist health care providers (who are E.S.O.L.) in being understood.

Thanks for your input!

Comments

Hi, Dana and all:

Dana's query about accent reduction materials is a good one. I googled online pronunciation reduction and found several resources online, software, and in print, but I can't really recommend any as I don't know how they work.

Here are three I found: (Please excuse formatting; I am working remotely from a library in Green Valley, AZ, where I am vacationing and safe from the weather in the East Coast! It is going to be 90 here today in southern AZ!)

http://american-accent-training.org/

From Iowa State for TAs http://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/speakteach/Resources/CALL_resources.php

Squidoo: http://www.squidoo.com/gw-english-pronunciation

 

Speaking of TAs. I think I would look at that one first - the Iowa State one. Teaching Assistants have to communicate with college students and make themselves understood all  the time. I remember a professor I had at the University of MN saying that the advice most often given to international TAs is to focus on correct stress and intonation rather than worrying about the individual sounds only.

Other thoughts anyone?

I hope you all all dry and connected and SAFE if you are on the East Coast.

Best,

Miriam Burt

SME, Adult English Language Learners