Accent Modification Training Materials and
Workshops for Non-native English Speakers

News and Events

Lynda Katz Wilner, along with other colleagues, was interviewed for the July-August 2010 issue of Health Progress, the Journal of the Catholic Health Association of the United States. She discussed her work with physicians and clergy in the medical field. Click to view article.

Lynda and Marjorie will have a booth at the International 2011 TESOL convention in New Orleans. We’ll keep you posted as the convention approaches.

RULES BY THE SOUND was reviewed in the April edition of “As We Speak,” the newsletter of TESOL's Speech, Pronunciation, and Listening Interest Section.

Lynda Katz Wilner and Marjorie Feinstein-Whittaker published an article on “Innovative Techniques for Teaching Stress and Intonation in the Classroom” in As We Speak, the newsletter for TESOL's Speech, Pronunciation, and Listening Interest Section.

Marjorie and Lynda had a booth at the Boston TESOL held March 24-27 2010. They also gave two presentations on Communication Training for Healthcare Professionals.

Marjorie Feinstein-Whittaker and Lynda Katz Wilner presented a workshop entitled “Innovative Techniques to Teach Stress and Intonation,” at the Nov. 7th MD TESOL Conference. They also showcased their products including the newly released RULES BY THE SOUND Program. Both the presentation and the materials were extremely well received by TESOL teachers working in the United Stated and abroad. To learn more, please visit the RULES BY THE SOUND product page.

Marjorie Feinstein-Whittaker and Lynda Katz Wilner presented a one-day workshop for research and clinical faculty at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston on August 21, 2009. The workshop focused on Ten Tips for Effective Communication (based on their RULES Program) and components of effective public speaking for healthcare professionals in clinical and research settings.

Lynda and Marjorie published an article on www.selfgrowth.com. Read our article here. You can also check out a plethora of other stories at www.selfgrowth.com. Click on “Success Skills”, then “Communication Skills and Training” and enjoy the many articles about Communication.

New Products!

RULES BY THE SOUND has been released. Voice files for the stories are coming soon.

This adaptable and flexible program offers you the ability to download and print sound-loaded sentences and paragraphs. Some of the stories evolved from Medically Speaking RULES. As a result of the excellent feedback we have received from our clients and customer trainers, we have added additional stories. We now cover all of the consonants, vowels, diphthongs and r-colored vowels. These stories are excellent for independent assignments, individual and group work and workshop activities. The electronic version can even be e-mailed to students and clients. We will have a workbook and CD so all of the stories can be printed or e-mailed as desired.

We will keep you posted on this wonderful, new product which has revolutionized our pronunciation training. Click for a sample story from RULES BY THE SOUND.

Medically Speaking RULES was reviewed in the March 2009 issue of Essential Teacher. Click to read review.

Medically Speaking RULES was reviewed in the January 19, 2009 edition of Advance for Speech Pathologists and Audiologists. Click to read review.

Marjorie Whittaker of the Whittaker Group was mentioned in a WBUR Morning Edition story on accent modification. One of her clients, an exchange student from Taiwan was interviewed. Click here to hear the story.

The Advance for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Magazine (8/4/08) published a book review on RULES: Rules for Using Linguistic Elements of Speech by Marjorie Feinstein-Whittaker and Lynda Katz Wilner. Click to read entire review (PDF).

Lynda Katz Wilner and Marjorie Feinstein-Whittaker published an article entitled, “Keys to Optimal Patient Care” in Advance for Healthcare Careers Annual Resource Guide (2008) and in Advance for Speech -Language Pathologists and Audiologists (5/5/08).

Lynda Katz Wilner and Marjorie Feinstein-Whittaker co-authored an article entitled, “The Communication Component” published in Advance for Nurses on Feb 4, 2008.

Presentations at Conventions

Lynda Katz Wilner and Marjorie Feinstein-Whittaker presented a workshop at the Boston International TESOL 2010 convention on “English for Medical Professionals: Assessments and Activities.”

Lynda Katz Wilner and Marjorie Feinstein-Whittaker presented a workshop entitled “Innovative Techniques to Teach Stress and Intonation,” at the 2009 MD TESOL Conference.

Lynda Katz Wilner, Marjorie Feinstein-Whittaker and Lorna D. Sikorski presented “Conversational Skills: A Critical Component in Corporate & Health Care Communication” at the 2008 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) National Convention in Chicago.

Lynda Katz Wilner, MS, Sallie Rixey, MD, MEd, Veronica Deza, MD, and Carolina Young, MD presented “Successfully Speaking: Communication Excellence for International Medical Graduates” at the STFM: Northeast Region Meeting in October 2008.

Lynda Katz Wilner and Marjorie Feinstein-Whittaker presented “Using Scripts in Accent Training to Enhance Conversational Fluency” at the 2007 MD TESOL Fall conference and the 2008 New York International TESOL conference in New York.

Lynda Katz Wilner, Marjorie Feinstein-Whittaker and Lorna D. Sikorski presented “Designing 'Culture-Savvy' Accent Training to Medical Professionals” at the 2006 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention in Miami.

Lynda Katz Wilner, Marjorie Feinstein-Whittaker and Lorna D. Sikorski presented “Integrating Culture, Language, and Accent Training in the Medical Community” at the 2005 American Speech Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) in San Diego.