Learn to mimic an authentic-sounding Brooklyn Accent, so you can blend in with real New Yorkers. Or learn to minimize your existing Brooklyn accent so you don't sound like My Cousin Vinny.

Learn how to cultivate a clear and confident Standard or General American English accent for a neutral US sound, great for business and public speaking.

Learn the posh dialect codified by the British English upper crust and approved by the Queen of England herself!

Learn the dialect uniquely manufactured by old Hollywood and now exploited by modern video games, for a sound that lives somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean!

With digital tools like Zoom connecting us across continents, an international talent pool is more accessible than ever. This global reach is a major advantage for companies of all sizes, from Fortune 100 giants to nimble startups. As teams grow more linguistically and culturally diverse, businesses benefit from a richer mix of perspectives—but they also encounter new challenges to clear communication across global teams. For many organizations, English becomes the common language, or lingua franca, in which ideas and strategies are shared.  So, how can leaders uphold their commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) while fostering clear English communication across diverse teams? Build a Balance Between Inclusion and Clarity Supporting both DEI and communication clarity might seem like balancing competing priorities. Leaders want employees to bring their unique cultural perspectives forward without feeling pressured to conform or "blend in." We certainly don’t want anyone to feel like they must assimilate into a homogeneous culture. However, clarity in communication is essential not only to sharing these perspectives but to fostering effective teamwork. You can even consider it a matter of accessibility in communication—both for the speaker and for the listener. And as a leader, you have an opportunity to provide...

From attorney arguments to witness testimonies, credibility in the courtroom is a key element of legal success. And when it comes to building trust on the stand, clear and confident communication can make a world of difference. Witnesses who struggle to articulate their points—whether due to non-standard accents, industry jargon, or public speaking anxiety—risk undermining their own credibility. Worse, opposing counsel may seize upon these perceived vulnerabilities, amplifying doubts in the minds of jurors or judges. As a speech coach specializing in witness preparation, I’ve worked with litigators across legal practice areas,* their clients, and expert witnesses. The goal: to help refine communication for depositions and trials, including cross-examinations. Analyzing and refining the delivery of testimony—including pronunciation, syllable and lexical (word) stress, intonation, word choice, syntax (word order), gestures, posture, eye contact, and other spoken and unspoken communication choices—can empower individuals to present themselves not just clearly and confidently but credibly and compellingly in the courtroom. For non-native English-speaking witnesses, communication challenges are amplified by potential juror biases and linguistic barriers, which can lead to damaging misconceptions. Let’s dive into some key areas for consideration when determining the why and the how of speech coaching for legal testimony as part...

As the global population ages, many nations, including the United States, are embracing a trend to provide care for seniors in the comfort of their own homes. This approach not only promotes dignity and independence for elderly individuals but also helps alleviate the financial and logistical strains on hospitals and long-term care facilities. New York State (NYS) is taking a proactive stance in this effort, particularly under Governor Kathy Hochul's administration, which is investing heavily in expanding the home health aide workforce in 2025 and beyond. On December 3, 2024, New York State Department of Health’s (NYS DOH’s) Center for Regulatory and Policy Initiatives, Office of Aging and Long-Term Care, released the “Direct Caregiver Flexibility” grant* in order to galvanize growth in the supply of trained, ready-to-work personnel in this critically important role to meet the serious need. One key challenge to meeting this need is the state’s capacity to staff. Although the current workforce reflects a shortage of equipped home health aides in the workforce, a contingent of new Americans may indeed have the caregiving skills and kindhearted disposition needed to support patients. The challenge—many are English Learners (ELs) who lack the English communication skills needed to be effective...