Testimonials and Reviews
Real Reviews from Real Students: American Accent Training
Authentic reviews from students who trained with Darren Packard, a licensed online American accent coach and speech-language pathologist.
Take the First Step Toward Clear, Confident American English Communication.
Real Students. Real Reviews.
Discover what former students are saying about their experience with Packard Communications. These testimonials come from real people with real results — gathered from LinkedIn, Google, Yelp, and Meetup. If you’re wondering whether American accent training really works, you don’t have to take my word for it.
My clients include professionals, students, and everyday English learners from across the U.S. and around the world who want to speak more clearly, sound more natural, and feel confident in every interaction. Whether you call it accent reduction, accent modification, or American English pronunciation coaching, the goal is the same: helping you be understood the first time, every time.
Through personalized online coaching, you’ll learn how to pronounce American English sounds accurately, master natural rhythm and intonation, and develop communication skills that help you connect with others. Many students report noticeable improvement after just a few sessions, and their reviews show how the right guidance can make a lasting difference in both personal and professional life.
LinkedIn Recommendations
Explore verified testimonials from students and professionals who completed accent training with me. These reviews — directly from LinkedIn — highlight real progress in pronunciation, clarity, and communication confidence.
“Honestly, I’m really lucky to have had a chance to learn some lessons from Darren. He’s talented, dedicated, and so humble. You can easily find him smart, detail-oriented, funny, and patient at the same time. He’s the type of guy you don’t get bored listening to. Overall, he’s one of the best for sure. Do not hesitate to register for his awesome classes.”
Systems Service Engineering Manager, Boeing
Seal Beach, California | Native Language: Farsi 
Learn more about the training options that helped Moe succeed
“Darren is an expert in what he does, and he is very committed to his students. His classes are small, so you get a fair amount of one-on-one time and attention. Darren is great at identifying your individual issues and providing you with targeted help and great resources. I was very happy with the course and plan to use the resources regularly to improve my pronunciation. I would recommend taking his classes if you’re ready to make real progress!”
Senior Globalization Project Manager, Nike
Portland, Oregon | Native Language: Polish 
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“I joined Darren’s intensive online pronunciation class and loved how clear and detailed every lesson was. He gave me tools I could use immediately, and now I can identify pronunciation mistakes I didn’t even realize I was making. My listening has also improved a lot. I’m thrilled with the results.”
Engineer, Senior System Engineer, Microsoft
Portland, Oregon | Native Language: Spanish 
Curious about my background and training? Learn more about me
All recommendations quoted here are publicly available on my LinkedIn profile. Connect with me!
Average Rating: 5.0 Stars
These are just a few of the accent training testimonials from clients who’ve completed pronunciation coaching and communication training with me. Whether you’re in Portland, Oregon or connecting online from anywhere, the results speak for themselves:
“I took Darren’s accent class to improve my American accent, and it was a game-changer.” I had taken many speech and accent classes before, but I had never been taught with such detail and specificity about certain sounds.
Amazing 11/10 stars!” I feel more confident speaking during my weekly work meetings and in my personal life as well.
“I believe it’s one of the best learning investments I’ve ever made.” I’ve learned pronunciations no one has taught me before. Strongly recommend this.
“Life-changing experience.” I accomplished in weeks what I couldn’t do by myself in three years living in the U.S.
Average Rating: 5.0 Stars
Students on Yelp consistently praise the quality of training, the clarity of instruction, and the confidence they gained through accent modification and communication coaching.
“Darren is a very experienced and knowledgeable teacher.” I strongly recommend him to anyone who wants to improve their English-speaking skills.
— Fei Y.
“Nobody taught me like him how to use my lips and tongue when speaking English.” My pronunciation is not perfect yet, but I now have confidence speaking with coworkers and friends.
“Darren’s class covers all the American sounds.” I got to practice each sound in the correct way. Darren listens carefully to each person in the class and corrects our mistakes. After a few classes, I was able to tell which sounds are my weaknesses and learned how to correct myself.
— Tonia I.
These reviews are sourced directly from Yelp and reflect the experiences of real students. Read them and more »
Looking for tips and strategies to practice on your own? Visit my Blog
Discover What’s Possible With Accent Training.
Average Rating: 4.9 Stars (580+ Reviews)
I’m known as an American accent coach Portland professionals recommend, an online accent coach trusted across the Pacific Northwest, and a speech coach Portland OR students rely on for communication success.
But my reach is global — students from across the U.S., Europe, Asia, Latin America, and beyond regularly join my free online classes.
“Darren’s classes on Meetup are welcoming, insightful, and effective.” I recommend them to anyone serious about improving their American English pronunciation.
“Darren’s Meetup classes make learning American English pronunciation fun and effective.” The live practice and clear explanations have helped me improve my accent and feel more confident speaking in everyday situations.
“I’m so glad I found Darren’s free Meetup accent training sessions.” His step-by-step teaching and personal feedback helped me correct mistakes I didn’t even realize I was making and speak with a more natural American accent.
Experience My Teaching Style
If you’d like to see how I teach before signing up, I invite you to join a free online class or explore the Sounds American YouTube channel. I’ve personally written, narrated, and produced over 70 videos designed to make American English pronunciation clear, practical, and achievable.
These resources are a great way to build confidence, experience my teaching style, and explore whether I’m the right fit for your communication goals — no commitment required.
Free American English Pronunciation Practice Video
How to Pronounce the Flap T Sound in American English
Struggling with the Flap T sound in words like water, butter, or city? You’re not alone — it’s one of the most common pronunciation challenges for non-native speakers.
That’s why I created this free American English pronunciation training video, designed to help you master this sound step by step. In just a few minutes, you’ll learn:
- Exactly how to position your tongue and airflow to create the Flap T sound
- How and when “T” becomes a Flap T in real-world American English
- Common word patterns where the Flap T shows up
- 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
Want more practice? Explore more free accent training resources.
📅 Book Your Free Accent Reduction Consultation
Ready to speak English clearly, sound more natural, and communicate with confidence?
Start with a free consultation — designed for professionals and English learners who want to improve their pronunciation and speaking skills in American English.
What’s Included:
- Personalized accent and communication feedback
- A customized roadmap based on your goals, background, and industry
- A live Q&A to answer your specific questions
Whether you’re in Portland, Oregon or joining from across the globe, our online coaching and pronunciation training, accent reduction, and accent modification coaching is flexible, accessible, and designed to deliver results.
Most clients notice meaningful improvement after just one session.
If you’re preparing for a big presentation, stepping into a leadership role, or just tired of repeating yourself at work — or at Starbucks… Wherever you’re starting, I’ll help you move forward with expert strategies, personalized support, and real, measurable results.
Want the full overview of everything I offer? Return to the Homepage