English Accent, Pronunciation and Identity Improvement Course begins next week!

The recorded, 30-minute free weekly training lesson will be available on Youtube, Thursday, September 17th  to be precise! (That link will be posted in a blogpost here that includes the lesson materials.)

The next week on Wednesday, on the 24th at 8 p.m. EST there is a live Zoom feedback session on that lesson for students who are also enrolled in the course (for $300 USD)

For complete details, see the course announcement! 

For more information or to sign up: wracton@gmail.com

See ME next week on Thursday!

www.williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Fall 2026 (Haptic) English Accent and Pronunciation Improvement Course (EAPIC)

 You will never find a more moving and touching course than this one! Promise!

September 17th ~November 2nd!

In about three months make good progress in improving your English accent or pronunciation and be trained in how to keep on improving after the course. 

It has been offered online three times a year for over 12 years! This fall's course, as usual, will be different, filled with new features, such as AI. Here is how the course works: 

• The course is "haptic." That means that we use a great deal of movement, gesture and touch to make learning more effective and memorable! 
• In each lesson, after a quick warm up, you are trained in new sounds or patterns, sometimes almost "dancing" along, and then you use those gesture-patterns in practicing a conversation. 
• You do the warm up and conversation several different ways as you practice every day for the rest of the week.
• Using AI you also create new conversations and word lists to practice that are just what you, personally need to improve it!
• The recorded, 30-minute weekly training lessons are free, available on Thursdays on Youtube. 
• There is a 30-minute daily homework practice assignment with each lesson.
• The next week on Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST there is a live Zoom feedback session on that lesson for students who are enrolled in the course (for $300 USD)
• During the feedback sessions students are
• Guided in using AI to manage their homework practice and progress.
• Given guidance on improving and protecting their online language identity (For example. how you look on Zoom and how to make sure nobody steals your identity!!!) 
• The feedback sessions are recorded, so you can always access them later if necessary.
• To really benefit from the course, you should (1) have a minimum IELTS of 4.5, (2) do the homework, and (3) enroll for the Wednesday feedback sessions.

The instructor, Bill Acton (me!), has been teaching pronunciation and training English language teachers  for about 50 years using the KINETIK Method. It is an unusual course, using lots of movement and special gestures and touch--and humor and music!

(This is a good course for an instructor who wants an introduction to haptic pronunciation teaching. You can sit in for the same course fee, plus we have a weekly instructor meeting!) 

Please pass on to anybody who could use this course!!!

For more information or to sign up: wracton@gmail.com

My websites:

www.actonhaptic.com

www.williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Moving and touching, EAPIIC course begins next week, 6/18!

 Here is the Link to the course announcement!

English Accent, Pronunciation and Identity Improvement Course (EAPIIC) is  . . . unique!  Guaranteed, this will be the most "embodied" pronunciation course you have taken. The two new features are use of AI for homework and integration of accent and identity.

As the description says, the course is free. the 30-minute lesson is uploaded on Youtube every Thursday, with daily assigned homework. If you want feedback on your pronunciation or your teaching, you can sign up for that, too, at a minimal fee. 

See me next week! (If you sign on, I'll see you, too!)

Bill, Haptician-in-Chief

wracton@gmail.com

(423) 660-7400

Summer 2026 Haptic English Accent, Pronunciation and Identity Improvement Course!

 June 18th ~August 26th!

In about three months make ecellent progress in improving English accent or pronunciation and be trained in how to keep on improving after the 10-week course.

• The recorded, 30-minute weekly training lessons are free, available on Thursdays on Youtube
• There is a 30-minute daily homework practice assignment with each lesson.
• The next week on Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST there is a live Zoom feedback session on that lesson for students who are enrolled in the course (for $250 USD)
• During the feedback sessions students are guided in using AI to manage their homework practice and progress.
• The feedback sessions are recorded, so you can always access them later if necessary.
• To really benefit from the course, you should (1) have a minimum IELTS of 4.5, (2) do the homework, and (3) enroll for the Wednesday feedback sessions.

The instructor, Bill Acton, has been teaching pronunciation for about 50 years. His method is "haptic," that is it uses a great deal of gesture and touch to make learning easier and more enjoyable. This course also makes extensive use of AI and identity protection training.

(This is also a good course for an instructor who wants an introduction to haptic pronunciation teaching. You can sit in for the same course fee, plus we have a weekly instructor meeting!) 

Please pass on to anybody who could use this course!!!

For more information or to sign up: wracton@gmail.com

EAPIC Lesson 1: Rhythm and FALL/RISE Sign-offs

 English Accent and Pronunciation Improvement Course (EAPIC)

Haptic - using gesture and touch

KINETIK – using the whole body to learn

Link to the Introduction video!

***

Link to Lesson 1 Training video

Lesson 1 – Rhythm and FALL/RISE Sign-offs

• MT5 (movement, tone, touch and tempo) Technique
• MT5 video uploaded every Week on Youtube.
• (Optional) Zoom class meeting on Wednesday at 8 EST.

Homework: 

Do at least the 20-minute practice every morning for 5 days. 

Warm up (3x each)

1. Neck stretch (left side, right side, back, front)

2. Upper chest and shoulders (elbows touch) 

3. Nasal resonance (Ying! Yang! Young!) 

4. Back (‘Oh’ cone) and chest (Ooo-Wah!) 

Syllable Butterfly Training

Strong tap on the stressed syllable on right shoulder: X

Light tap on unstressed syllables on left forearm: o

 

Cool. X

That’s cool. oX

Really cool. ooX

That’s really cool. oooX

Awesome Xo

That’s awesome. oXo

Really awesome. ooXo

That’s really awesome. oooXo

Super cool. Xoo

That’s super cool. oXoo

Really super cool. ooXoo

That’s really super cool. oooXoo

Super awesome. Xooo

That’s super awesome. oXooo

Really super awesome. ooXooo

That’s really super awesome oooXooo

FALL/RISE Sign-offs: 

FALLing tone (  \ ) Usually at the end of a statement or certainty. Nice to meet you. \

RISEing tone ( / ) Usually at the end of a question or uncertainty. Are you coming? /

 

Lesson I – Embodied Oral Reading (EOR)

(Syllable Butterfly + FALL/Rise Sign-offs)

1A:  I THINK | we've GOT it | figured OUT.    

           •X                     •X•                    • •X    \

   B: Oh. Can you TELL me | what it IS? 

         X       •   •        X   •              • •X   /

2A: Your MUFfler | I THINK | has a small HOLE in it.    

           •    X•                 •X              • • •      X      • •    \

   B: Oh NO!  Does it NEED | to be rePLACED right now?   

          • X             • •     X            • •      • X                 •    •   /

3A: Yes, it DOES. It ISN’T going to | last much LONger     

        X      •  X         •   X •      •   •            • •           X•.  \

   B: Huh. How MUCH | will it COST?         

          X            • X            •  •       X   \

4A: A-BOUT | a hundred | and fifty DOLlars.        

          •X           •     X•          •     • •       X•    \

   B: Really. That's too BAD. Is there a less exPENsive way?       

          X•               ••     X                   • • • • •.  X    •        •   /

5A: You could MAYbe | rePAIR it, yourSELF.

             •   •     X•               •X     •         • X    \

   B: How LONG | exACTly | will that LAST?

             •  X                 •X•                • •     X   \

6A: If it works at ALL . . . MAYbe | for a couple of MONTHS?

               • • •   •   X             X•            • •     • •       •   X    /

   B: I'll DO that. SEE you | in a MONTH or two!

          •  X   •        X   •            • •     X         • •    \

Homework: 

1. Take notes!!!

2. Practice every day, in the morning, standing, with good gesture, using pleasing (beautiful) voice and volume. (Warm up, training and EOR)

    Friday: Do the training! Take notes!

    Saturday: Do warm up training and EOR) Take notes!

    Sunday: Take the day off! Take notes!

    Monday: Do warm up, traing and EOR. In your notes write down words or phrases you may have difficulty pronouncing well enough!

    Tuesday: Do warm up, EOR and find a dialogue or story about as long as an EOR and practice using the Butterfly MT5 with it. Take notes, lots of them!!!

    Wednesday: Do warm up, EOR, your text, take notes and come to the Feedback session (this one is frree!) 

    Thursday: Do new training video. 

3.  Check out: https://elsaspeak.com/en/ (vowels and consonants)

4.  Check out:https://speechling.com/ (general speech fluency)

5. Check out: www.williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com (for the optional identity protection app that I'll introduce during Week 3.)

Email me: wracton@gmail.com with questions or to enroll for EAPIC course feedback sessions: ($250 USD)

EAPIC Lesson 1 Feedback Meet at 8 p.m. EST tonight!

The live EAPIC Google Meets session is from 8 to 9 EST tonight. It is a follow up to last week's Lesson One video. (View that here!) The lesson Two training video will be uploaded tomorrow. 

Each week on Wednesday there is a live feedback session for students who are enrolled in the course. Tonight's session is free, See you tonight. 

English Accent and Pronunciation Improvement Course (EAPIC) Introduction

Here is the link to the video (Youtube)

(Note: The video quality of the text on the screen is a little fuzzy, but it is the same as what is below! Also, my voice with the cold is a little fuzzy, too! ) 

Better accent or pronunciation

Better expressiveness in speaking

More confidence in speaking

Good method for continuing to improve - Study at home, by yourself!

Works for anybody with a CLB or IELTS 5 and up

• 10 weeks, online (plus Introduction)

• (Free) 20~30-minute training video uploaded to YouTube every Thursday

• 15~30 minutes of homework every day!

• (Optional) live homework follow up meeting on Zoom Wednesday at 8-9 p.m. EST. 15-minute Zoom interview required to enroll ($250 USD additional fee)

Weekly syllabus:
1. Basic rhythm 1 (pronunciation grammar) 
2. Fluency 1 (body rhythm)
3. Consonants 1 (common problems, such as 'th' and 'r/l')
4. Vowels 1 (short)
5. Vowels 2 (long)
6. Consonants 2 (students’ “favorite” problems)
7. Melody 1 (little pieces, phrases)
8. Melody 2 (longer pieces, sentences)
9. Fluency 2 (Public speaking and classroom stye)
10. Rhythm 2 (Conversation style)

Typical weekly schedule: 

   Thursday: Do the video along with me (20+ minutes) and keep notes!

   Friday: Do the warm up, training, embodied oral reading (EOR) and keep notes!

   Saturday: Do the warm up, training, EOR and keep notes!
              Notes: Other words or phrases you have difficulty pronouncing well

   Sunday: Take the day off with me!

   Monday: Do the warm up, EOR, practice your target words (with MT5s) and keep notes!

   Tuesday: Do the warm up, EOR,  a new one-page story you have found with MT5s, 

                   practice your target words and keep notes!

   Wednesday: Come to the live feedback 60-minute class on Zoom (or practice by yourself!) 

       Here is what goes on in the feedback session: 
                       a. Go over the EOR
                       b. Check students' individual MT5s for accuracy
                       c. Questions from and help with target words of students
                       d. Preview of the next week's lesson

So . . . How does this course work? 

Gesture and touch make pronunciation easier to learn and remember

Using your whole body (embodied) makes is easier to pay full attention

Rhythm and gesture together help keep learning both relaxed and energetic

Embodied oral reading is great for bringing what you study into conversation

Practicing the EOR every day trains your mind and body to move and speak more like English speakers do. 

Use what you know . . . 

Email me: wracton@gmail.com for more information or to enroll (via Paypal or Venmo). To enroll requires brief Zoom chat (just to make sure the course is for you!) 

For a more in depth discussion of the basis of the EAPIC course, go to: https://www.actonhaptic.com/eapic

The Summer 2026 EAPIC course is being revised to include identity protection. Students will also be using IDentityshield system. For a preview of IDentityshield go to: IDentityshield introduction, or  www.williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com 

Homework for next week 

A. Tell me a little about yourself and why you think this course would be helpful for you.

B. Give me some idea of your weekly schedule, how much time you have to practice!

C. Tell me about your experience with music, playing an instrument, etc., or just enjoying it!

D. Tell me if you'd like to join the Wednesday Zoom feedback class. (If so, I'll set up a Zoom interview just with you as soon as possible. If I do, what would be a good time for you?)

Keep in touch!

Bill

Bill Acton's Haptic EAPIC course, featuring Perplexity AI, beginning on February 5th!

 The Spring 2026 “Haptic” English Accent and Pronunciation Improvement Course (EAPIC) starts next week on February 5th. This term, participants will use Perplexity AI to tailor their homework and practice activities—creating a truly individualized learning experience. 

The course training videos and materials are free on Vimeo.com and here on the blog, as usual; enrolment required to participate in the weekly feedback sessions.and receive supplementary materials. 

For full course details, go here!

Bill

Feel free also, to contact me directly! wracton@gmail.com

l

Spring 2026 English Accent and Pronunciation Improvement Course (EAPIC)!

The EAPIC is a10-week online course for non-native adult English speakers who want to improve their accent and pronunciation, especially those who are disciplined and prefer independent study. It is a very active "haptic" course, using lots of movement, gesture and touch! It has been offered three times a year since 2015. 

View short introductory video!

Beginning February 9, 2026

• Much better accent or pronunciation
• Much better expressiveness in speaking
• More confidence in speaking
• Training for continuing to improve
• Works for anybody with a CLB or IELTS o5 and up

• 10 weeks, online
• (Free) 20-minute training video uploaded every Thursday
• 15-30 minutes of homework recommended every day!
• (Optional) live individualized homework follow up meeting Wednesdays 8-9 p.m. EST ($225 USD). Zoom interview required to sign up. 

Weekly syllabus:

1. Basic rhythm 1(pronunciation grammar) 
2. Fluency 1 (basic rhythm)
3. Consonants 1 (common problems)
4. Vowels 1 (short)
5. Vowels 2 (long)
6. Consonants 2 (students’ “favorites”)
7. Melody 1 (little pieces of speaking)
8. Melody 2 (longer pieces of speaking)
9. Fluency 2 (conversation rhythm)
10. Rhythm 2 (public speaking)

For more information or to enroll: wracton@gmail.com

Bill Acton's CV

Bill Acton's website

Bill Acton's business website

Beginning next week! (Haptic) English Accent and Pronunciation Improvement Course

 If you have students, or colleagues  (or yourself!) who 

• have an IELTS speaking score of 5 or above, and 
• still have some accent or pronunciation issues that can still interfere with communicating well, 
• and are to busy to take a regular course with a school,

do this EAPIC course. The description and landing page are here. As you will see, the basic course is free. If you want more personal feedback, that is available, too, for $200 USD. No limit on number of students but it is important to get in from the begining if you can, for about 30-minutes a day, 6 days a week. 

See you there!

Bill

Fall 2025 (KINETIK) English Accent and Pronunciation Course!

KINETIK – using the whole body to learn (especially gesture and touch)

The EAPIC course is an innovative 10-week online program designed for non-native adult English speakers who want to improve their accent and pronunciation, even without everyday conversational practice. Using embodied oral reading and haptic-based methods, students build fluency and confidence through structured private practice. The course suits learners with IELTS 4.0+ reading ability and lower intermediate English listening skills, especially those who are disciplined and prefer independent study. Skills gained in EAPIC empower ongoing improvement beyond the course, supporting personal, academic, and professional English communication needs.

Beginning September 25, 2025

• Much better accent or pronunciation
• Much better expressiveness in speaking
• More confidence in speaking
• Good method for continuing to improve
• Works for anybody with a CLB or IELTS 5 and up

• 10 weeks, online
• (Free) 20-minute training video uploaded every Thursday
• 15-30 minutes of homework every day!
• (Optional) live homework follow up meeting on Wednesday at 8-9 p.m. EST ($200 USD)

Weekly syllabus:

1. Basic rhythm 1(pronunciation grammar) 

2. Fluency 1(body rhythm)

3. Consonants 1 (common problems)

4. Vowels 1 (short)

5. Vowels 2 (long)

6. Consonants 2 (students’ “favorites”)

7. Melody 1 (little pieces)

8. Melody 2 (longer pieces)

9. Fluency 2 (Conversation)

10. Rhythm 2 (Public speaking)

A sample from Lesson 1

Warm up!  

1. Neck stretcher (left side, right side, back, front)

2. Upper chest and shoulders stretcher (elbows touch) 

3. Nasal resonance BUZZ (Ying! Yang! Young!) 

4. Back (‘Oh’ cone) and chest expander (Ooo-Wah!) 

 Syllable Butterfly Training

Strong tap on the stressed syllable: X

Light tap on unstressed syllables: o

Cool. X

That’s cool. oX

Really cool.  ooX

That’s really cool.  oooX

Awesome Xo

That’s awesome. oXo

Really awesome. ooXo

That’s really awesome. oooXo

Super cool. Xoo

That’s super cool. oXoo

Really super cool. ooXoo

That’s really super cool. oooXoo

Super awesome. Xooo

That’s super awesome. oXooo

Really super awesome. ooXooo

That’s really super awesome. oooXooo

Lesson I – Embodied Oral Reading (EOR)

1A:  I THINK | we've GOT it | figured OUT.    

           •X                     •X•                    • •X    

   B: Oh. Can you TELL me | what it IS? 

         X                      X   •              • •X   

2A: Your MUFfler | I THINK | has a small HOLE in it.    

 •    X•                 •X                   • • •      X      • •    

   B: Oh NO!  Does it NEED | to be rePLACED right now?   

          • X             • •     X            • •      • X                 •    •   

3A: Yes, it DOES. It ISN’T going to | last much LONger     

        X    •  X         •   X•        •   •             • •           X•.  

   B: Huh. How MUCH | will it COST?          

          X            • X            •  •        X   

4A: A-BOUT | a hundred | and fifty DOLlars.         

          •X           •     X•          •     • •       X•    

   B: Really. That's too BAD. Is there a less exPENsive way?       

          X•               ••     X                      • • • • •X    •        •   

5A: You could MAYbe | rePAIR it, yourSELF.

             • •       X•               •X     •         • X    

   B: How LONG | exACTly | will that LAST?

            •  X                 •X•                 • •     X   

6A: If it works at ALL . . . MAYbe | for a couple of MONTHS?

               • • •   •   X             X•            • •     • •       •   X    

   B: I'll DO that. SEE you | in a MONTH or two!

          •  X   •        X   •            • •     X         • •    

Homework: 

1. Practice the warm up, training and Embodied Oral Reading every day in the morning for 15-30 minutes, standing, with good posture and gesture!

2. Practice using pleasing (beautiful) voice, good breathing and confident volume.

3.  Keep a "learning conversation" journal with your favorite AI Bot!

Email me: wracton@gmail.com for more information or to enrol.

For a more in depth discussion of the basis of the EAPIC course, go to: https://www.actonhaptic.com/eapic

AI, AI, AI, AI! (AI takes over creating personalized, haptic pronunciation teaching homework!)

 A core component of the English Accent and Pronunciation Improvement Course is the weekly embodied oral reading. Each week students are trained in a "Movement, tone, tempo and. touch technique" (MT4) that is then practiced in the oral reading in various ways. Part of the process is the student applying the MT4 to a ~300 word text. The personalized text will be generated by AI (I use Perplexity currently, but any Chat-GPT arrived at a similar "solution.") Here is a simple example. (The basic prompt, fill-in-the-blank format is provided for students each week. In this case, the career discipline or context area, accounting, and the proficiency level and L1 of students are filled in.) 

• Generate a word list that includes 20 technical terms used in accounting that can be difficult to pronounce for advanced adult learners of English whose native language is Korean. Include the phonetic transcription of each along with the word, itself. 
• Create an engaging, 300 word story with as much dialogue as possible, using those 20 words, where the basic theme is where an accountant is probably stealing from one of the firm's clients.

WHAT FOLLOWS IS WHAT PERPLEXITY PRODUCED: 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Case of the Missing Revenue

At the prestigious firm of Ledger & Logic, the morning began as usual: the aroma of coffee mingled with the faint scent of freshly printed balance sheets. But today, something was off. Ms. Park, the head accountant, was hunched over her desk, eyes darting between the income statement and the cash flow report, her fingers nervously tapping the edge of the fiscal calendar.

“Strange variance in the revenue again,” she muttered, highlighting numbers with the intensity of a forensic auditor. The asset manager, Mr. Kim, peeked over her shoulder. “Did you check the subsidiary accounts? Last month’s reconciliation didn’t quite add up.”

Ms. Park nodded, flipping through a stack of inventory reports. “I did. But there’s an expense entry for ‘Mystery Amortization’—and I can’t find any supporting documents.” She frowned, recalling the audit last quarter, when a similar anomaly appeared under ‘depreciation’ for office plants.

As the team gathered for their weekly consolidation meeting, the boss announced, “We need to address the liability on our client’s books. The equity position looks weaker every month.” The room fell silent. Even the intern, who had just learned the difference between accrual and actual cash, sensed trouble.’

Suddenly, Mr. Kim spoke up. “I noticed the same thing in the reconciliation for our biggest client. The audit trail leads to a fiscal black hole—right into Mr. Cho’s office.” All eyes turned to Mr. Cho, who was busy pretending to do a subsidiary inventory count.

With a dramatic flourish, Ms. Park produced the incriminating balance sheet. “It’s clear: someone is siphoning off assets and hiding them under bogus expense and depreciation entries. The only question is—how long has this been going on?”

The office buzzed with whispers. In accounting, numbers never lie—but sometimes, accountants do.

The word list: 

Here is a list of 20 technical accounting terms that can be challenging for advanced adult English learners whose native language is Korean. Each term includes its standard IPA phonetic transcription, highlighting sounds that are often difficult for Korean speakers (such as /r/, /l/, /v/, /f/, /θ/, /ð/, /z/, and certain vowels).

Term IPA Pronunciation

• accounting /əˈkaʊn.tɪŋ/
• asset /ˈæ.sɛt/
• liability /ˌlaɪ.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/
• equity /ˈɛk.wɪ.ti/
• revenue /ˈrɛv.əˌnuː/
• expense /ɪkˈspɛns/
• depreciation /dɪˌpriː.ʃiˈeɪ.ʃən/
• amortization /əˌmɔːr.taɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/
• accrual /əˈkruː.əl/
• reconciliation /rɪˌkɒn.sɪl.iˈeɪ.ʃən/
• inventory /ˈɪn.vənˌtɔːr.i/
• audit /ˈɔː.dɪt/
• balance sheet /ˈbæ.ləns ʃiːt/
• income statement /ˈɪn.kʌm ˈsteɪt.mənt/
• cash flow /kæʃ floʊ/
• fiscal /ˈfɪs.kəl/
• variance /ˈveə.ri.əns/
• subsidiary /səbˈsɪd.iˌɛr.i/
• consolidation /kənˌsɒl.ɪˈdeɪ.ʃən/
• reconciliation /rɪˌkɒn.sɪl.iˈeɪ.ʃən/

Notes on Pronunciation Challenges:

• /r/ and /l/ distinctions (liability, reconciliation, accrual, balance)
• /v/ and /b/ (revenue, variance)
• /f/ and /p/ (fiscal, profit)
• /θ/ and /ð/ (method, although not in this list, is common in accounting)
• Vowel differences, especially /æ/, /ɪ/, /ʌ/, /ə/
• Stress patterns in multisyllabic words (depreciation, amortization, consolidation)
• These terms are essential in accounting and are frequently sources of pronunciation errors for Korean speakers due to the differences in sound inventories and syllable structure between English and Korean.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not bad, eh! For this lesson, the MT4 is breaking up the sentences into rhythm groups, identifying the word with the most emphasis and then gesturing (jesturing!) on that word with the left hand tapping on the right deltoid muscle, termed the Syllable Butterfly. (You can see the training for that in this lesson from the Spring 2025 course.) 

Back to the future of (haptic) pronunciation teaching: beginning June 23rd!

The 2025 summer English Accent and Pronuncition Improvement Course (EAPIC) begins next month on the 26th. (The Spring course materials and videos are still available here.) I asked Perplexity about it, since it will figure in very prominently in all lessons of the new course:

"The English Accent and Pronunciation Improvement Course (EAPIC), built on Acton’s haptic pronunciation teaching, is notably effective for English learners of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds due to its unique integration of movement, touch, and embodied practice. Unlike traditional pronunciation methods that rely heavily on auditory and visual cues, haptic pronunciation teaching (HaPT) systematically incorporates gesture and touch, creating a multisensory learning experience that enhances memory, recall, and confidence in spoken English.

This approach draws inspiration from voice training, embodied oral reading, and kinesthetic learning, allowing learners to physically anchor sounds and patterns in their bodies. Such “haptic anchoring” supports deeper integration of new pronunciation habits, much like muscle memory in sports or music training.The method is adaptable, making it accessible to learners regardless of age, native language, or prior phonetic knowledge. Regular, structured practice—both in and out of class—ensures that improvements are not only rapid but also sustainable, while the engaging, movement-based activities boost motivation and make learning enjoyable.

Ultimately, Acton’s haptic method empowers learners to internalize English pronunciation in a way that is memorable, meaningful, and effective across diverse learner profiles."

Could not have said it better myself . . . (In fact most of those terms and phrases are extracted directly from the blog and publications I have been involved with!) The embodied oral reading of the course will be all AI generated--by the students themselves--to provide the optimal context and personal connection between the genre, vocabulary and proficiency level of the learner and the practice materials. 

The weekly, 30-minute course training videos are free, on Youtube and Vimeo. Enrolment in the 60-minute live feedback sessions is optional ($250 USD). 

Join us next month! 

English accent and pronunciation improvement course LITE (EAPIC!)

Course begins with recorded introduction on February 6th!

In about two months make good progress in improving your English accent or pronunciation and be trained in how to keep on improving after the course. This is an 8-week, shorter more compact version of the regular English Accent and Pronunciation Course. (See the description of the full 12-week course here.) 

• The recorded, 30-minute weekly training lessons are free, available on Thursdays on Youtube.
• The next week on Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST there is a live  Zoom feedback session on that lesson for students who are enrolled in the course (for $200 USD.)
• The feedback sessions are recorded, so you can always access them later if you are enrolled. 
• At least be sure to watch the free Thursday training videos!!!

To really benefit from the course, you should do all the assigned homework for enrolled students, about 30 minutes per day. This is also a good course for an instructor who wants an introduction to haptic pronunciation teaching. 

The course officially begins Thursday February 6th, but you can join it anytime and still get caught up!  To enrol, just pay the $200 for the weekly Zoom feedback lessons and the homework assignments.

 All lessons are recorded and available later in day after the lesson. 

 For more information or to sign up, contact me, william.acton@twu.ca.

Keep in touch!

Bill

Bill Acton has been teaching accent and pronunciation improvement for about 50 years! This course, Version 7.0 of KINETIK system, contains many new techniques based on research in pronunciation teaching and neuroscience. Bill is now living in Chattanooga, Tennessee. 

EPIC preview of the English Accent and Pronunciation Course (pronounced: EPIC!)

EPIC PREVIEW POSTPONED - DUE TO MINOR HAPTIC MALFUNCTION HERE!

CHECK BACK February 5th!!!  Spring 8-week course--Wednesday evenings 8~9 p.m. EST. 

Here is the link to the course description. 

william.acton@twu.ca. 

Haptic English Accent and Pronunciation LITE!

This is an 8-week, weekend version of the regular English Accent and Pronunication Course. (See the description of the full 12-week course here.) 

• The recorded, 30-minute training lesson is available on a Thursday
• The next week there is a live feedback lesson on that lesson 8~9 p.m. EST 
• Both are recorded, so you can always access them later. 

To get your money's worth from the course, $200 USD, you should do the assigned homework, about 30 minutes per day. 

The difference between the regular course and this LITE version is that you need to do more homework during the course and follow up, yourself, for about 2 months after the course with regular practice. (This is a good course for an instructor who just wants a good introduction to haptic pronunciation teaching, too. Instructors are also provided with a copy of the full course with teachers notes, etc.) 

The course officially begins this coming Thursday February 6th, but you can join it anytime for the next month and still get cuught up! The lesson videos are free; you only need to pay ($200) for the weekly feedback lessons.  

 All lessons are recorded and available later in day after the lesson. 

A  Zoom interview is required to enrol for the course. For more info or to sign up for an interview: william.acton@twu.ca.

Keep in touch!

Bill

A four-part (haptic) "metanique" for improving English pronunciation . . . and teaching!

Since Haptic Pronunciation Teaching started back in 2005, a basic technique was the "Movement, tone and touch technique," the MT3. It consisted of a gesture carried out while speaking a sound, word, phrase or clause, accompanied by a tonal contour (intonation) embodying emotional or affective meanings, concluding with hands touching on the main-stressed syllable of a word. 

A "metanique" (in haptic work) is a teaching technique format that has a basic function or two, such as assisting learners in getting or remembering language and also has one or more components. (Something analogous to a "tagmeme"). The new haptic metanique i the MT4: Movement, tone, tempo and touch technique, adding the component tempo to the earlier MT3. Tempo, in this case, is something close to pace, or simply speed of articulation. That was added for a number of reasons but primarily to help manage and modulate learner "movement" through the readings. The MT4 uses an annotation system similar to music tablature. 

Haptic work involves the use of a wide variety of "embodied oral readings" where typically there is an MT4 assigned to most, if not all, prominent stressed elements in a word, phrase or clause. To get a good sense of how those work, watch some (or all) of the four videos of lessons from the new Haptic English Accent and Pronunciation Course. That should give you a good introduction to KINETIK method and the new "MT4s."

Introduction (45 minutes)

Lesson 1 (30 minutes)

Lesson 1 Follow up/feedback session (45 minutes)

Lesson 2 (30 minutes)

The complete course will be available on Vimeo later this fall!

Keep in touch!

A new, short--but terrific-- course in Haptic Pronunciation Teaching

For all of you whose bodies are just dying to teach pronunciation "whole-bodily" and haptically . . .good news! I'll be offering a special 6-hour KINETIK Method seminar, four saturdays, 12-1:30 EST, October 19th to November 9th. $200 USD. There will be a couple of hours of optional homework assigned and all sessions will be recorded in case you miss one. Here are the topics covered:

• October 19th - Fluency and rhythm
• October 26th - Stress and vowels
• November 2nd - Intonation and consonants
• November 9th - Integration of change in spontaneous conversation

This would be especially good for those teaching CLB levels 4~6. The course will follow the first half of the coming 10-week (Haptic) English Accent and Pronunciation Course.  Will also be offering courses for CLB 1~3 and 7~9 levels next spring. 

Course includes pre-publication draft of "Manual of Haptic Pronunciation Teaching," including access to new v7.0 instructional videos. 

For more information, get in touch--soon!

 wracton@gmail.com. 

More detail shortly! 

(Haptic) English Accent and Pronunciation Course - Begins October 3rd!

In case you missed the course announcement, HERE a quick video guide to it, and THE LINK to the course description! It is a new design, created especially for really busy, disciplined people. 

It is a 10-week, online, almost self-study course, WITH THE FIRST TWO LESSONS FREE! 

It does require a brief Zoom interview to actually join the course. (Just to make sure it is a good fit for you!)  

Enrolment is limited to 30 students. (So sign on soon!) 

For more information or to schedule an interview, email: wracton@gmail.com

Check it out!

New! (Haptic) English Accent and Pronunciation Course!

Better, confident pronunciation in three months 

• Course dates: October 3rd ~ December 18th (10 Lessons)
• Created for students who really want to improve their accent or pronunciation but do not have the time or schedule to attend a regular course--and are pretty good at studying on their own. 
• Fees: $300 USD ($420 CAD) - First two lessons are FREE!

Features of the course:

• Designed for post-secondary-age, nonnative English speaking learners
• Haptic (makes extensive use of body movement, gesture and touch)
• Materials provided'
• 80% attendance required to receive certificate
• Oral interview required to take the course.
• The course is based on the latest neuroscientific research on how the brain and voice and body  must work together for optimal performance and memory

Weekly (online) schedule:

• Thursday, anytime – view 30-minute recorded lecture.
• Daily homework of 20-30 minutes.
• The following Wednesday (at 9 a.m. PST or 6 p.m. PST) attend live, feedback class on Zoom. (You can also view the recorded session, beginning Friday morning.)

For additional information or to schedule an enrollment interview email: wracton@gmail.com.

Bill Acton, PhD, is an internationally recognized expert in the field of pronunciation teaching. His unique style of teaching pronunciation, developed over the last 40 years, the KINETIK Method, makes  leaning and changing pronunciation more efficient, memorable--and fun! For more about Bill's research and publications goto his website: www.actonhaptic.com. 

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Some Definitions:

• Accent could use improvement: Makes you difficult to understand sometimes when you speak quickly or are a little stressed!
• Pronunciation needs improvement: Makes you difficult to understand sometimes, even when you speak slowly.

SO . . . how does this work? How can this work? 

The key is something close to full-body engagement in the process, very much in the spirit of the Lessac method which featured both embodied speaking and extensive oral reading during homework. This course is primarily focused on "hacks," as opposed to "widgets," which come in only the last couple of lessons. Hacks encourage improvement indirectly, the usual stuff of homework, applied outside of conversational interaction, like rhythm exercises or word lists. Widgets, on the other hand are techniques we can use to alter or enhance our speech, moment by moment, without interfering much with thinking or coherence, like slowing down your rate of speaking or modifiing your posture, etc. 

Most of the work in this course involves various types of embodied oral reading, that is text that is synchronized with especially designed. gesture and touch, called Movement, tone and touch techniques (MT3s). MT3s provide an extraordinary quality of ongoing attention and emotional engagement that should strengthen  the learner's ability to change articulation of sounds and sound patterns and recall that later, plus integrate change improvement into their spontaneous speech. In addition, most of the readings involve confidence-building routines and and related voice resonance techniques. 

*Group, class and school rates available.