Robyn Kim talks with fellow student Chong Dae Won after an English as a Second Language class at Douglass High School. Kim says her accent modification classes at MU have given her more confidence and changed her life.Here’s a nice article highlighting the benefits that students of Missouri University’s Accent Modification Program are experiencing. The story quotes Robyn Kim, a participant in the program…

“I learned these things, and I found that it’s more than language. It’s more about my confidence. It’s more about my empowerment,” said Kim, who was a translator in South Korea but quit partly out of frustration. “I got more power, and I began to speak up” after taking the accent classes twice last year. “And I just felt all the people understood me. … “This is a new Robyn,” she said. “You’re seeing a very happy woman now.”

This kind of quote is really inspiring to me as an accent trainer… it makes my day when my clients tell me things like this! And, as the clinicians mentioned in the article, I also am kind of geeky about sounds and accent! ;-)

I’m also inspired by Robyn’s dedication to her quest for linguistic freedom… she gets up at 3 or 4am to work on her accent exercises! What step would you like to take to improve your speech and your life???