American Accent Training: A Guide to Speaking and Pronouncing American English for Anyone Who Speaks English as a Second Language

by Ann Cook

You are speaking English, but no one understands you. This invaluable resource for ESL students concentrates solely on the American accent to allow rapid progress.

Genres: Language, Self Help, Reference, Linguistics, Nonfiction, Education, Communication

210 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1991

About the author

Ann Cook is the author of the best-selling American Accent Training text, published by Barron's in 1991, 2000 and 2012. (Also published in China, Japan, Korea and India.) Her speciality is tailoring and expanding materials for specific situations, as in her three books for parents of elementary-age students, How Well Does Your Child Read? How Well Does Your Child Write? How Well Does Your Child Do Math?

Cook studied Spanish Literature at the California State University at Los Angeles, spent a year at the Institut d'Études Françaises in Aix-en-Provence, a month studying Spanish with the Peace Corps language program in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, and five years in Japan at the Japanese Culture and Language Institute in Tokyo.

In addition to her regular teacher training, Cook has trained a dozen Americans to teach in Korea, and hundreds of Korean high school students who came to the US for her program. Her company, American Accent Training, Inc., has provided training for numerous heads of corporations, post-graduate students, engineers and IT personnel. American Accent Training is used around the world at public and private schools, universities and corporate training programs.

Cook also developed an online learning program for the American accent and culture for blended learning in the overseas call center market, including assessments, industry-specific modules, sales modules, and general cultural information, delivered via a Moodle platform.

American Accent Training, Inc., founded in 1986 and incorporated in 1997, is a virtual language training company with instructors across the United States. All AAT instructors have a masters degree or PhD and are intensively trained in-house, specifically for second accent acquisition.

The phrase "American Accent Training" is trademarked.

Reviews

[Alvis Yu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many (including native English speakers and other non-Chinese speakers) people have asked me how I managed to acquire such a heavy American accent, despite the fact that I've never been to any English-speaking countries. Furthermore, numerous ESL learners and even some native speakers (Americans included) thought I was an ABC (American-born Chinese), until I told them otherwise. Well, this book is the answer. It was very helpful during my early years of studying how to speak "the American way." It goes without saying that consistent, frequent practice and actual application (i.e. by conversing with Americans) are essential for your pursuit of the otherwise elusive American accent (that is, if you weren't born and raised in the States).

I can't praise this masterpiece enough. Ann Cook sure knows what she's talking about. If American accent (by which I mean the so-called "standard American accent" commonly heard in public broadcasts such as NPR and among educated Americans) is what you're aiming for, then you do not want to miss this book.

It's not a hyperbole to call it the Holy Grail of American accent. Period.

I finished reading this book sometime around 2012-2013, so this book review is long overdue!

[Katerina]

Ольга Глотова, фонетист, которому я доверяю безусловно, прочитала и сказала, что это вредная книжка.
"Не смею спорить с эрудитами" (с)

[Omid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learnt how to speak!!!!! I think, for everyone who likes to speak English (American English, not British one!) This is a very very very very very very very very very essential material who should (must, have to...) take it! there's no way outta that.If u like to know English, btter 2say RIGHT ENGLISH, You should take it.I have no real word about that, but IT IS AN ESSENTIAL MATERIAL WHICH ANY ENGLISH LEARNER IN ANY LEVERL SHOULD TAKE! AND THIS IS A VERY VERY RILIABLE AND VALID SOURCE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO RIGHT ENGLISH.No more to say! Don't lose ur time!!!

[Sharada Prasad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not read everything in this book as it was not necessary for me. My objective was to get a good understanding of how English is spoken in America than trying to be a person who speaks so. Yes, since I teach, having a better accent helps me. This book definitely helped me in that direction. But I don't have time to hone my spoken English to the level of perfect accent.

This book helped me understand how words are combined, how R, T and L are very special letters in English etc. I really enjoyed reading this book. I am now more aware of my own English as well as of the people around me! If languages fascinate you, this book won't disappoint you!

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

"외국 드라마나 영화 보고 따라서 발음해봐요." 이런 식으로 설명하는 한국 영어 교욱 방식에 질려서 선택했다. 훨씬 낫다. 괜히 아마존에서 영어판 평점이 높은게 아니라니깐요.

추가:
이 책과 Mastering American Accents는 상호보완적이다.
MAA가 단어 하나하나의 발음에 대해 설명한다면, AAT는 문장 전체에서 어디를 강조하면 어떻게 다른 식으로 해석되는지 가르친다.

[용수 김 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good

[abhishek Chakraborty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although it's very hard to master the American accent esp if you are not living in the US , but for me cover to cover reading equips me to pick up the intonation and musical pattern inherent in the American accent and this book does provide the tools that equip your ear to trace the nuances of vowel and consonant sounds while watching Tv or listening to music .

[Mahmoud Ismail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very useful book helped me a lot to understand and practice listening and reading English using American accent. I recommend this book and CD to anyone who has the English as a second language just like me.

[Jo Selle]

This really helpful

[Aarif Qureshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book

[Iuuicdcucu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, but it requires a lot of practice and it's hard to implement by yourself.
I were using an accent training coach from https://accentadvisor.com to complement the book.

[Petr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent long explanation of the material.

[Garry Zhang · Rating 5 out of 5]

关于intonation(语调)讲得格外的好！Accent 的4要素（voice quality, intonation, liaisons, pronunciation），如果只选一个来练，那就是intonation了。

[Nevena Lukovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. It helped a lot in addition to accent reduction classes I took at https://intonetic.com/

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I studied this book for a number of times. Even I've taught parts of it!It's awesmoe!

[Andre Widiartanto]

Example: The dogs should have eaten the bones. Do you know how to read it? You'll found it in this book.

[Jack Chin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice book I have never met before!It made me know that I had made so many mistakes before,it's unbelievalbe.

[Amade · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most important English language coursebook in my life.

[Fatemearman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usefull enough♥️

[Vera · Rating 5 out of 5]

是在下输了。。。舌头奉上，煎炒烹炸随意。。。反正也绕的说都不会话了。。🐒

[Mohammed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice book and easy to understand

[Bill Zhou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good for pronunciation

[Jeven Diaz]

helpful