About the P-ESL Method and the Certification Workshop
What is the Compton P-ESL Method?
Compton P-ESL is an effective, respected, proven method to help non-native speakers improve the clarity and accuracy of their spoken American English.
Compton is the name of the creator of the method, Dr. Arthur J. Compton.
P-ESL: Pronouncing English as a Second Language (this is not ESL instruction, but it is the perfect next step)
The Compton P-ESL Method
- identifies the systematic speech errors (or accented sounds) that a client makes, creating targets for maximum and prompt improvement
- is based on over 20 years of linguistics research and teaching
- continues where traditional ESL programs end
- can be implemented to improve pronunciation accuracy for foreign-born and regional speakers of American English
- includes client workbooks and interactive training materials for a structured yet individualized programs
The Four Key Elements of the Compton P-ESL Method
Speech pathologists, ESL specialists and professional speech trainers can help adult clients achieve their goal of clearer and more effective communication through 4 key steps:
1) an initial analysis of the client’s current speech patterns
2) a customized learning program that addresses each client’s needs
3) individual or small group session options
4) the Compton P-ESL workbook and interactive training materials
The speech professional works with the client in teaching the appropriate speech modification techniques.
The client…
- reinforces his/her lessons by practicing outside of the class using the Compton P-ESL training materials.
- learns to discriminate between different speech sounds with special emphasis placed on phoneme (individual sound) production, complete word production, voice projection and auditory models of connected speech.
- puts language fundamentals into practice during conversational speech and oral presentations.
- receives the Compton P-ESL practice workbook and a choice of the audio CD or interactive software to reinforce their accent modification training.
The solid research behind Compton P-ESL
Through his work as a linguist, Dr. Arthur J. Compton has analyzed the English pronunciation of hundreds of individuals from more than 100 different language backgrounds. His research has revealed that the sounds of accented American English constitute a system of interrelated patterns determined largely by the speaker’s native language.
Dr. Compton also discovered that although many different speech errors (or accented sounds) may occur in an individual’s speech, these errors represent a smaller number of systematic patterns (error types), which are the actual source of the pronunciation difficulty. As a result of this discovery, Dr. Compton began to apply his “Principle of Linguistic Generalization” to foreign accents and regional dialects. By focusing on the basic error types, maximum improvement and habit formation were achieved in a short period of time.
Designed to help individuals who do not speak American English as their native language master the pronunciation of English, the Compton P-ESL method can be used by speech pathologists, ESL specialists and professional speech trainers to teach individuals from any foreign language background.
View the current workshop event schedule (opens a new window)
or click here for a mail order registration form.
The 2-day Training Event:
The Compton P-ESL Accent Modification Method
This program is offered for 1.5 CEUs (Intermediate level, Professional area).
Speech pathologists, ESL instructors, new and experienced accent trainers* are welcome to register and attend a live 2-day training event that will prepare and equip instructors with all that is needed to begin delivering Compton P-ESL accent training.
Each first-time participant receives:
- 1 complete Trainer’s Manual containing the required forms and outlined steps of the P-ESL training method
- 1 complete 3-hole bound copy of the P-ESL Client Manual*
- 1 hard-copy set of assessment materials
- 5 Phonological Assessment of Foreign Accent scoring booklets
- 1 Phonological Assessment of Foreign Accent stimulus word booklet
- 1 Phonological Assessment of Foreign Accent manual
- exclusive eligibility to subscribe to AccentLink – a referral and networking community created by ILP (see our Find a Trainer Directory)
- an workshop-only invitation to begin using Compton P-ESL Online (an optional assessment program) with a very special incentive for newly certified trainers
Register using the links on the home page, click here for the mail order registration form.
*P-ESL workshops have been attended by SLPs, ESL instructors, SLPAs, academic linguistics instructors, voice and singing coaches, and corporate education directors.
Training Agenda
Other than the starting time, all times listed are approximate.
Day One
8:00 am Registration / Morning Refreshments
8:30 am Introductions; Overview; The Assessment Process
9:00 am Recording Tools and Equipment
9:45 am Transcribing Foreign Accents using the IPA
10:15 am Break
10:30 am Recording and Analyzing Accented Speech
11:15 am Preparing for Group Training
12:15 pm Lunch (on your own)
1:30 pm Compton P-ESL Online demo and overview
2:30 pm Break
2:45 pm The P-ESL Training Method
3:30 pm Group Exercises
4:15 pm Creating a Master Plan
Day Two
8:30 am Morning Refreshments
9:00 am Standard Course Structure: the 13-Week Training Process
9:45 am The Complete Word Production Strategy
10:15 am Break
10:30 am Voice Projection Strategies
11:30 am Clusters, Contractions, and Conversational Exercises
12:15 pm Lunch (on your own)
1:30 pm Concluding the Course: Providing Measurable Results
2:30 pm Break
2:45 pm Creating or Expanding a Business: Getting Started
3:15 pm Marketing Tools and Strategies
4:15 pm Your Ultimate Business Plan
Class adjourns approximately 5 PM both days.
Register using the links on the home page, click here for the mail order registration form.
This program is offered for 1.5 CEUs (Intermediate level, Professional area).
