Individual:
All clients receive 1:1 instruction with Sylvia Whiteside, Speech-Language Pathologist. Sessions take place at Sylvia's office at Bayview and Leslie in Toronto. Instruction is also now available through life video conferencing for clients who are unable to travel to the office. There are four components to each course:
Assessment.
Clients are first formally tested using the Compton Phonological Assessment of Foreign Accent. Testing takes approximately one hour and involves an evaluation of the client's speech in words, sentences, paragraphs and conversation. The assessment session is recorded and analyzed in detail. The analysis of the speech sample reveals what sound patterns are making the client difficult to understand. Goals are then selected based on this information.
Training.
The client is seen for approximately 13 hours of training, including a final reassessment. Sessions are typically one hour long, once per week but more condensed courses can be arranged to meet individual needs. New goals are introduced each week and previous goals are worked on at increasingly higher levels (words, then sentences, conversation, mock interviews and presentations etc.).
Home Practise.
Homework is assigned after every session. Clients can choose to purchase materials on Audio CD, CD-Rom or audiotapes. Regular, daily practise is the key to success. In order for new sounds and patterns to become a habit, clients must be committed to practising.
Reassessment.
A final assessment is completed at the end of the course and the results are compared to the first assessment. The cost of the final assessment is included in the session fees.
Please contact Sylvia for specific information about the cost of the assessment, materials and course.
Corporate and Group Classes:
Group classes are similar to the individual course except that up to 5 people are worked with at a time. People are asked to form their own groups although Sylvia will keep a record of individuals looking to join a group. It is not necessary for group members to speak the same native language. For groups of 3 or more, the course can be completed at the clients' worksite. For groups of 2, courses can be arranged at the worksite, but a travel fee may apply depending on the location. There are 4 components to the course:
Assessment.
The initial assessment is completed individually using The Compton Phonological Assessment of Foreign Accent. The assessment is recorded and analyzed in detail following the assessment. Goals are established based on the results. Mid-course conferences are held individually to discuss each client's progress.
Training.
The training part of the course is divided into 13 sessions. Group sessions are generally longer than individual classes (about 1.5 to 2 hours) in order to ensure that each client has an adequate amount of time to practise his/her goals during each class. There is a mid-course conference where each participant is met with individually to discuss his/her progress. The course can be condensed into a shorter time frame with longer sessions, if desired. New goals are added each week and previous goals are worked on at increasingly higher levels (words, then sentences, conversation, mock interviews and presentations etc.).
Home Practise.
Home practise is assigned after every session and is tailored to meet each individual's needs. Clients can choose to purchase materials on audiotapes, CD-Rom or Audio CD. Practise is a critical component of the program and homework must be completed in order for new sounds and patterns to become a habit.
Reassessment.
The testing from the initial assessment is repeated and the results are compared. The cost of the final assessment is included in the session fees.
There is a separate cost for the initial assessment and materials.
Group discounts are available as follows:
Group of 2: 10% discount
Group of 3: 15% discount
Group of 4: 20% discount
Group of 5: 25% discount
For specific information about the cost of an assessment, the materials and the course, please contact Sylvia directly.
Companies interested in organizing classes for their employees are invited to visit the Employer's page or contact Sylvia for more information.
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