I offer American accent coaching for non-native English-speaking software engineers. We work on the sounds, stress, rhythm and intonation of American English, using the technical vocabulary from your own work.
I also coach electrical engineers, scientists and other STEM professionals.
I'm Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP, a licensed speech-language pathologist. Sessions are one-to-one and live on Zoom.
Does this describe you?
- Teammates ask you to repeat yourself in daily stand-ups.
- You want to be easy to follow in code reviews and design discussions.
- Technical interviews make you think hard about how you sound.
- You present to non-technical stakeholders and want your points to land clearly.
What we work on
- Vowels and consonants: the American English sounds that are hardest to hear and to say.
- Word stress in technical terms: where the emphasis falls in words such as algorithm, database and architecture.
- Rhythm and reductions: how native speakers shorten and link words in fast conversation.
- Intonation: the rise and fall of your voice when you explain a design, ask a question or give a status update.
- Pacing and pausing: how to group your ideas so listeners can keep up.
Abbreviations, product names and long compound terms are easier to say once you know where the stress goes. We practice them on their own and in full sentences.
Bring your own technical vocabulary and real work situations: a stand-up update, a pull request description or a slide from a recent presentation. We'll practice with them.
How it works
- Send me a message through the contact form.
- I reply within 1–2 business days and we schedule a free Planning Session.
- We design your course and book your sessions on Zoom.
Price
- $250 an hour
- $1,875 for a 10-hour package
- Materials: $150, which includes one year of English Pro
- Free Planning Session
If your employer is paying, I can invoice your company.
An optional Speech and Accent Evaluation is $375.
Prefer a group class or a self-paced course? See all options and prices.
What engineers and scientists say
Rocio P.
Spanish, Software Engineer
"The way Julie teaches the sounds is unique. Nobody else gives as many details on how to make a sound, to be honest!"
Sunit V.
Hindi, Electrical Engineer
Working with Julie was awesome! She helped customize the syllabus as per the feedback from my initial performance review, which helped me focus on my weak areas such as understanding intonation, consonants, and American English pronunciation. The course gave me a jump start to becoming a better storyteller.
Hong Y.
Mandarin, Senior Scientist
Before I attended Julie's 4-week seminar, I thought my pronunciation was pretty good. After the first class, I realized that there are still many things I can improve on. The information I learned in her classes helped me to hear and understand better what others are saying. And with practice, I feel others can understand me better as well. This is exactly what I need to improve.
Common questions
Do you offer accent coaching for software engineers?
Yes. I coach non-native English-speaking software engineers one-to-one, live on Zoom. I also coach electrical engineers, scientists and other STEM professionals. We build the sessions around your goals and your work. A free Planning Session is the place to start.
Can we work on the vocabulary I use at work?
Yes. Bring the technical terms and work scenarios you use most, and we build the practice around them.
How many sessions will I need?
A typical client does 10 sessions. Your number depends on your starting point and goals, and we'll talk about it in your free Planning Session.
Are sessions online?
Yes. All sessions are live on Zoom, so you can join from wherever you are. You only need a quiet space, a stable internet connection and a device with a camera and microphone.
Related pages
How stress shifts in long words, and the suffix rules behind it.
Four ways to shorten words, such as contractions.
Three rules for grouping words into thought groups with pauses.