Why are accents a diversity issue?
According to the US Dept. of Labor-Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 23.9 million members of our workforce are foreign born.
Recognizing the essential contributions they make to our organizations, pronunciation training is a key part of professional development for industry experts with heavily accented speech.
Learning accent reduction techniques enables people to convey their know-how with clarity, confidence, and ease. This leads to clear communication that leverages professional expertise, retains key talent, and creates client loyalty.
What do people mean by "the business case for diversity"?
Successful businesses in today's global workforce are able to serve diverse communities. Our workforce represents a diverse client base with rapidly growing purchasing power. For example, in the last decade the buying power of Hispanics grew by 108% and Asians by 98%.
When our workforce is empowered to communicate easily, they're able to innovate, problem solve, and effectively serve and understand the needs of their diverse client base.
How do people feel about accent reduction programs? Are they offended?
We are very clear that ARI's pronunciation training is about acquiring the ability to pronounce sounds in English that may not occur in someone's first language.
Our programs do not compromise a person's cultural identity. This is not an accent elimination program.
In fact, our program participants are taught how to 'code switch' between different speech patterns. It's always an individual's choice which pronunciation patterns they'd like to use.
Who benefits from a diversity and communication training program?
When an organization provides English accent training and accent comprehension training, everyone benefits: non-native English speakers, their team members, and an organization's clients and customers.
Speaking with clarity and confidence helps everyone perform at their very best.
What is "soft skills" training?
Soft skills training programs are designed to help people create positive interpersonal relationships. They often fall in the category of diversity and inclusion because learning effective communication is a requirement for building strong teams, and providing competitive services, with people from our diverse workforce and client base.
According to a 2011 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, verbal communication skills are ranked as the #1 soft skill sought by employers in job candidates, coming in above strong work ethic, teamwork skills, analytical skills, and initiative.