American accents for actors

Increase your skills as an actor by mastering a variety of American accents in this intensive course. Aimed at professional actors and those in training who are fluent English speakers.

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Key course information

Dates
10/01/12 - 14/02/12

Day(s)
Tue

Duration
6 weeks

Time
16:30 - 18:30

Fees
Full fee: £75^NC

Venue
KS - Keeley Street

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Course code
DP054*

Availability
This course has finished

^NC: No concessionary fees available as there is no government funding for this course.

This course has finished

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Still got questions?
drama@citylit.ac.uk or call 020 7492 2542

Course outline

What is the course about?

How to speak with confidence and authenticity in a North American Broadcast Standard or General American Accent. This course will give you an effective framework, based in simple Phonetics, for studying and learning a North American accent for audition or performance. The focus of the course will be on ownership of a General American sound, covering how to do it and how to notate it. Regional and ethnic accents will be discussed and one regional accent popularly used in plays will be used in contrast to a North American Broadcast Standard. However, the focus of the class will be on gaining tools for how to independently break down an American accent and practice it. We will also cover, where to find resources and what type of accent to aim for by taking a character's class, ethnicity, geographic region and time period into account.

What topics will we cover?

North American Broadcast Standard/General American and one regional variety either New York City or Southern.

By the end of this course you should be able to:

Break down an accent into its component parts for self-study.
Significantly increase your confidence with a North American accent.
Increase flexibility of articulators and improve ear training.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

Beginners and intermediate. All that is required is a keen interest in the subject, a healthy dose of patience and
a willingness to try out strange and fascinating new speaking possibilities.
In order to get the most from the course you will be able to:
Speak English fluently.
Communicate in group situations.
Give and receive constructive feedback.
Read and respond to a range of texts.
Work independently outside of class with revision of the accent and listening to the accent.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Detailed breakdown and analysis of each accent, including phonetics. Some prior knowledge of phonetics is
therefore useful but not essential. The tutor will work with you on priority sounds, both as a group and
individually. The accent will be applied to relevant text. There will be no homework set for formal submission but to
get the most out of this course you should devote some time each week to consolidating the sound changes
through your own private practice.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You may find it useful to bring a coloured highlighter pens, a small hand mirror and portable digital recording
device to class.

Do I need to have an interview before I can enrol?

Yes. Before you can enrol on this course, you need to have an advisory interview with the relevant department. Without this the enrolment team will be unable to process your enrolment. Please contact the department to arrange your interview, or to find out about drop-in sessions.

What feedback will I get?

You will receive regular feedback from your tutor throughout the course, as and when appropriate. At the end of the course you and your tutor are asked to assess the progress you have made.

How will I be able to give my views on the course?

Please complete the evaluation form at the end of your course. These are monitored and help us to continually improve our courses.

How do I find out if I can get some support for my learning?

You may be interested in: education and careers advice; financial and childcare support; disability support; support for Deaf and hearing-impaired students; dyslexia support; English and maths support; counselling, and library services (supported learning centre). To find out what may be available to you, and how to apply, see page 213 of the 11/12 course guide, or visit www.citylit.ac.uk/students

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Information and Advice Shop, open Monday to Friday 12:00 – 19:00 during term time, and Monday to Friday 12:00 – 17:00 out of term time. See the course guide for term dates and further details.

Who can I contact for further information?

Tel: 020 7492 2542

drama@citylit.ac.uk

Drop-in advice During term-time: Monday & Wednesday 12.30 - 13.30 and 17.30 - 18.30 Thursday 17.30 - 18.30 Non term-time Tuesday 12.30 - 13.30 Wednesday 17.30 - 18.30.

To enrol on a course, call 020 7831 7831.