Policies and Practices Regarding Students With Accents in Speech-Language Pathology Training Programs

Abstract

Speech-language pathology (SLP) training programs are the initial gateway for nonnative speakers of English to join the SLP profession. An anonymous web-based survey in New York State examined policies and practices implemented when SLP students have foreign accents in English or in other languages. Responses were elicited from 530 students and 28 clinic and program directors. Few policies delineated criteria for determining how native like or intelligible students’ speech needed to be for them to work effectively or for determining when accent modification was required. Students with foreign accents in English were asked more often to undergo accent modification than were students with foreign accents in Spanish or other languages. Strategies for practices regarding SLP students with accents are proposed.

Beliefs Regarding the Impact of Accent Within Speech-Language Pathology Practice Areas

“…Surveymonkey (www.surveymonkey.com) software was used with an encryption device for assuring anonymity. For details regarding the development and circulation of the surveys, please see Levy and Crowley (2011), which reported on policies and practices regarding SLP students with accents in different languages. The present article reports on the respondents’ beliefs regarding degree of native-like speech needed for the various treatment and evaluation areas serviced by SLPs.…”

A Short note on Accent–bias, Social Identity and Ethnocentrism

“…Since communication involves interlocutors, simultaneously addressing nonnative accent from both speakers and listeners' perspectives would be more productive in the long run. This is especially critical because, compared to foreign accents in Spanish or other languages, students with nonnative accent in English were asked more often to undergo accent modification (Levy & Crowley, 2012). ASHA is allocating substantial amount of resources to improve multicultural sensitivity, however, even among SLPs and the community in general, intolerance and arbitrary association of accent and unrelated attributes are not rare (Corona et al, 2016).…”

“…However, Levy & Crowley (2012) offered a list of suggestions for SLP's who do not have native Spanish proficiency or phonological skills as policies and practices. The way Levy & Crowley's (2012) suggestions were drafted, they are relevant even beyond aspiring Spanish speakers and could be applied to any SLP from any linguistic background attempting to modify their phonological accuracy for a target language. Levy & Crowley's (2012) suggestions are mildly modified below to contextualize in the global linguistic scenario.…”

Exploring a Phonological Process Approach to Adult Pronunciation Training

“…ASHA clearly states that foreign accents demonstrate speech differences rather than speech disorders (ASHA, 1997). Regardless of this distinction, the same clinical rigor applied to the treatment of speech disorders should also be applied to accent modification services (Franklin & Stoel-Gammon, 2014;Levy & Crowley, 2012;Muller, Ball, Guendouzi, & Muller, 2000;Sikorski, 2005). This clinical rigor is encapsulated in the framework of evidence-based practice.…”

“…In such cases, nonnative speakers may elect to receive accent modification from teachers of English to speakers of other languages or speech-language pathologists to improve their communication skills. In fact, depending on the clinical population served, some speech-language pathologists may benefit from receiving accent modification if they plan to provide services outside of their native language community (Levy & Crowley, 2012).…”