Accent Modification & Communication Skills – Packard Communications
Free American English Pronunciation & Communication Resources
Accent Reduction | Accent Modification | American English Pronunciation | Online & In-Person | Portland, Oregon & Worldwide
Curated videos, tools, and tutorials — created by a licensed accent coach and speech-language pathologist.
Take the First Step Toward Clear, Confident
American English Communication.
Free Resources
For over 25 years, I’ve developed a wide range of free videos, tools, and classes to help people improve their American English pronunciation, reduce their accent, and communicate more clearly.
These resources are part of nearly every course I teach. They’re completely free and open to anyone, anywhere in the world.
Whether you’re looking for American accent reduction in Portland or joining me from across the globe, these tools are a great way to get started.
I’m a licensed speech-language pathologist and online accent coach based in Portland, Oregon, serving clients throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Free Monthly Meetup Classes
In 2011, I launched a free American English pronunciation Meetup group in Portland, Oregon.
What started as a small in-person gathering has grown into a global virtual community with over 2,100 members worldwide.
Each month, I lead one or two live, online pronunciation classes — completely free, with no registration fees and no strings attached.
Whether you’re working to reduce your accent, explore new training methods, or connect with others on a similar journey, this is a welcoming and supportive place to begin.
What You’ll Learn:
- Vowel and consonant pronunciation
- Speech melody, pitch, and rhythm
- Real-life communication practice
- Step-by-step feedback and coaching
This is one of the longest-running Meetup-based accent reduction groups in the world — and a great way to preview my approach before joining a full program.
“I have learned a lot from Darren at Packard Communications. He is very patient, very thorough, and helped me improve my pronunciation of words that were difficult for me to say in English. I highly recommend Darren.”
Senior Developer, L3Harris Technologies
Lake Worth, Florida | Native Language: Vietnamese 
Want results like VanAnh? Explore our classes
Free American English Pronunciation Videos Sounds American YouTube Channel
Free American English Pronunciation Videos Trusted by over 500,000 subscribers and millions of learners worldwide
In 2019, I partnered with two of my former students to create Sounds American — a YouTube channel dedicated to American English pronunciation.
It fills a major gap in free, high-quality online accent training, offering practical tools for learners around the world.
Each video is based on years of clinical and classroom experience, and I narrate every one myself. These are the same tutorials I use in my coaching sessions — and they’re completely free and available to everyone.
📺 What you’ll find on Sounds American:
- Learn how American English sounds are represented in spelling — including common variations
- Learn how to correctly pronounce every American English vowel and consonant sound
- Learn the most common pronunciation mistakes for every sound in English
- Practice each sound in the most frequently used words in American English
- Audio exercises to build your auditory discrimination and listening skills
This is one of the most widely trusted English pronunciation YouTube channels online — and it’s used in nearly every class I teach.
Whether you’re looking for American accent training videos or just getting started with self-study, it’s a great place to begin.
Want to know more about my background and why I teach this? Learn more about me
“I took the small intensive accent modification online class and the communication assessment in the summer of this year. Darren is an exceptional teacher. The curated playlist of his YouTube channel ‘Sounds American’ provides a great visual tool to learn and practice the content of his class. I see an improvement in my accent and a better understanding of my accent overall.”
Senior Staff Systems Engineer, Intel Corporation
Portland, Oregon | Native Language: Hindi 
See more client success stories on our Reviews page
Free Tools for American English Pronunciation and Accent Training
Here are a few trusted, free pronunciation tools I recommend to students who want to explore American English pronunciation more deeply — whether they’re working with me or studying on their own. These self-study resources are a great way to build skills outside of class.
What it is:
An animated video from the National Institutes of Health that explains how breathing, voicing, and speaking work together.
Why it’s great:
It visually shows how speech is produced in the body. Great for learners of all levels who want to understand the physical mechanics of voice, breath, and articulation.
What it is:
A comprehensive pronunciation website with video lessons, audio examples, and sound-by-sound breakdowns of American English.
Why it’s great:
Created by pronunciation experts, this free site covers every American English sound and includes clear examples. No sign-up required.
What it is:
A real-time medical video showing healthy vocal cords in motion during speech.
Why it’s great:
Ideal for visual learners. Helps you understand where and how pitch, tone, and voice begin.
What it is:
A tool that converts English text into IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet).
Why it’s great:
It reinforces spelling-to-sound patterns and helps learners visualize exact pronunciation. Great for advanced learners or those studying IPA.
What it is:
An online dictionary with audio pronunciation, phonetic spelling, word origins, and example sentences.
Why it’s great:
Helps build daily vocabulary and supports correct syllable stress and word rhythm. Easy to access on any device.
Whether you’re just starting out or working on fine-tuning specific sounds, these tools offer clear, expert-backed ways to improve your American English pronunciation.
They’re a great way to supplement private coaching or begin exploring accent training independently.
More Free American Accent and Communication Skills Resources
In addition to the core tools above, here are even more trusted websites with free pronunciation and communication skills resources for improving your American English — all 100% free to explore.
What it is:
One of the oldest and most respected free websites focused entirely on American English pronunciation.
Why it’s great:
Extensive videos, blog posts, and tutorials. Especially helpful for visual and auditory learners.
What it is:
An interactive platform offering pronunciation feedback and video-based speaking practice.
Why it’s great:
Has a free tier. Excellent for those working on clearer speech, fluency, and real-life English conversation.
What it is:
An official U.S. government website offering free tools for learning American English, including pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.
Why it’s great:
Authoritative and Google-trusted. Resources are well-researched, accurate, and designed for global learners.
What it is:
A global audio dictionary where real people upload recordings of word pronunciations in English and other languages.
Why it’s great:
You can hear how native speakers say the same word in different regions and contexts. Great for self-study and fine-tuning your ear.
These resources are excellent additions to any pronunciation training plan — and completely free to explore at your own pace.
Add Live Online Accent Coaching to These Free Resources
Free videos, tools, and online resources like the ones above are a great way to explore American English pronunciation and communication skills.
They help build awareness, reinforce foundational skills, and support real improvement — at your own pace.
But while blogs, apps, and videos are valuable, they can’t replace the impact of personalized coaching.
What Live Coaching Gives You:
- A trained expert listening carefully to your speech
- Immediate feedback on what you’re doing incorrectly — and exactly how to correct it
- Real-time adjustments as your skills grow
- A clear path that moves beyond isolated sounds, helping you master full words, sentences, and conversation flow
What Coaching Helps You Improve:
- Pronunciation clarity
- Tone and melody of American English
- Speech pacing and rhythm
- Volume, vocal control, and breath support
- Executive presence and communication confidence
If you’re serious about reducing your accent, improving your communication, and speaking naturally and confidently, live coaching will make all the difference.
Let’s build a plan that’s right for your goals, your voice, and your future.
Try a Popular Sounds American Lesson Right Now
Here’s one of my most-watched videos, so you can get a feel for how my training works.
Free American English Pronunciation Practice Video
How to Pronounce the Vowel Sound /æ/ (as in “cat”)
Mastering the American English /æ/ vowel — heard in words like cat, black, and man — can be tricky for many English learners.
That’s why I created this free American English pronunciation training video, one of my most popular lessons. In just a few minutes, you’ll learn:
- Exactly how to produce the /æ/ sound step by step
- Common mistakes to avoid — and how to correct them
- Guided pronunciation practice with real-life vocabulary
This video reflects how I approach accent and pronunciation training — combining speech‑language pathology methods, professional experience, and years of expertise helping non‑native speakers improve clarity.
Written and narrated by Darren Packard, M.S., CCC-SLP
✅ Free to watch or download — no signup required
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Let’s build a plan that fits your goals, your voice, and your life.
Serving clients in Portland, Oregon and worldwide with online accent training and speech coaching consultations.
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