Christi Barb
Accentologist at Adastra Speech
Professional Training and Coaching
Education: BA - University of Kansas - PhD, MA - Wichita State University
Kansas City, MO, USA
Biography
I am a speech coach that specializes in foreign accented English. I help people who already know and use English daily reach a higher level of success in their spoken English communication skills. I started my own business, Adastra Speech, to provide individual speech evaluations, private speech coaching, workshops, and guest speaking for companies and organizations.
I just completed a book about my method of accent modification, "Thinking About Speaking: The Adastra Approach to Mastering the American Accent." This book details a research-based approach to refining spoken English communication skills for both non-native speakers and teachers of English language learners who want to go beyond surface-level pronunciation drills and explore the deeper cognitive aspects of speech learning and teaching.
Passion
I am grateful every single day that I am doing exactly what I love to do. What I do is not just about teaching pronunciation or speaking in a different way. Accents reveal the story of a person's life experiences and personality and what I do is help people gain control of their own story so that it represents not just where they've been but where they want to go. It creates the most rewarding feeling when I hear that I have contributed to improving the quality of someone's life through communication skills they didn't know they could achieve. That achievement is different for every individual and it's a peek into a life path that leads a different direction than mine, so it's all the more significant that this moment our paths have crossed is so transitory yet transformative.
Best Story
I will always remember the way one client described her rationale for seeking my help with her speaking skills. For many people, the detailed information I'm giving them about speech production and pronunciation is providing a foundation that they missed in the early stages of their acquisition of English. This particular client described it as, "It's like I've built a big house by becoming successful with the way I speak now, but it's built on a shaky foundation. Now, I want to go back and make a stronger foundation. If I came this far without a good foundation, think of how much more I could do with a strong foundation." I love that this could apply to any skill that you want to focus on to strengthen and improve.
Origin Story
I combined speech-language pathology with teaching English as a second language. I have researched and created my own methodology for accent modification through my dissertation research and teaching. I specialize in working with people in the science fields because I am able to present the giant abstract concept of "communication" in concrete ways for the thinkers who prefer rules and parameters. I did this specialty work on the side of my full-time university teaching, but I have left academia to dedicate my time to my business, which is my passion, on a full-time basis.
Example talks
Everyone Has an Accent, Now What? - Tips for Speaking & Listening
Diversity in the workplace equals diversity in communication. Communication is a two-way street and both people can improve the flow by increasing their awareness of what to listen for and control how they are speaking. This presentation is for speakers and listeners of all languages, dialects, and accents when they are communicating in English.
Join the Discussion
Learn about US cultural expectations in group discussions, meetings, and conversations. This presentation focuses on pronunciation and intonation of specific key words and expressions to enter/direct/exit a discussion as well as strategies to improve listening skills.
The Root of American English Pronunciation
Learn the basic variables that describe every speech sound, what the most common sound in American English is, and when to use it. Practice identifying and trouble-shooting pronunciation differences between accented Englishes.
The Music of English
You may have an idea about what to say, but do you know how to say it? This presentation explains how native English speakers use their voice to emphasize important words and ideas. You will have the opportunity to practice how to do this, receive immediate feedback, and learn strategies for how to analyze your own recordings so you can continue to practice on your own.
Featured Video
Featured Book
When it comes to payments
I generally get paid for speaking but make exceptions
Topics
Best Story
I will always remember the way one client described her rationale for seeking my help with her speaking skills. For many people, the detailed information I'm giving them about speech production and pronunciation is providing a foundation that they missed in the early stages of their acquisition of English. This particular client described it as, "It's like I've built a big house by becoming successful with the way I speak now, but it's built on a shaky foundation. Now, I want to go back and make a stronger foundation. If I came this far without a good foundation, think of how much more I could do with a strong foundation." I love that this could apply to any skill that you want to focus on to strengthen and improve.
Origin Story
I combined speech-language pathology with teaching English as a second language. I have researched and created my own methodology for accent modification through my dissertation research and teaching. I specialize in working with people in the science fields because I am able to present the giant abstract concept of "communication" in concrete ways for the thinkers who prefer rules and parameters. I did this specialty work on the side of my full-time university teaching, but I have left academia to dedicate my time to my business, which is my passion, on a full-time basis.
Example talks
Everyone Has an Accent, Now What? - Tips for Speaking & Listening
Diversity in the workplace equals diversity in communication. Communication is a two-way street and both people can improve the flow by increasing their awareness of what to listen for and control how they are speaking. This presentation is for speakers and listeners of all languages, dialects, and accents when they are communicating in English.
Join the Discussion
Learn about US cultural expectations in group discussions, meetings, and conversations. This presentation focuses on pronunciation and intonation of specific key words and expressions to enter/direct/exit a discussion as well as strategies to improve listening skills.
The Root of American English Pronunciation
Learn the basic variables that describe every speech sound, what the most common sound in American English is, and when to use it. Practice identifying and trouble-shooting pronunciation differences between accented Englishes.
The Music of English
You may have an idea about what to say, but do you know how to say it? This presentation explains how native English speakers use their voice to emphasize important words and ideas. You will have the opportunity to practice how to do this, receive immediate feedback, and learn strategies for how to analyze your own recordings so you can continue to practice on your own.