Margaret A. Watkins
Accent Reduction & Speech Communication Training
Phone: 714-505-2115
E-mail: MAWatkinsRE@cox.net
MAW is a Speech Pathologist with years of experience in working with children and young adults and extensive experience in aiding non-native adults to improve their American English accent in order to maximize their professional opportunities in the US. Additionally, Margaret has had an extensive career as a CA retail real estate broker, specializing in shopping center leasing and also working in property management and property development. Pronunciation Proficiency will be a pairing of speech communication expertise and knowledge of the business world so that her students can enhance their opportunities through real world speech training with appropriate vocabulary. This combination of skills makes for a powerful package of expertise.
Margaret’s fascination with the speech process goes back to her first public speaking class in the seventh grade, and the interest has never wavered. She has a great desire to see non-native professionals alter their speech patterns enough to be able to thrive in their American life, with confidence, enthusiasm, and with enough vocabulary to be able to express their deepest feelings and thoughts.
Education includes a BA in Speech Communications and a Master’s degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology. She competed in speech tournaments as a debate-team member and as an individual events member throughout high school and college.
Margaret’s teaching with the pronunciation and assimilation needs of non-native adults began in 1995 as local community colleges had recognized years earlier that the growing professional non-native population was a significant part of the college population and classes were required to help the students utilize their past education to function in comparable jobs in the US. Cultural sensitivity and awareness of the emotional challenges facing non-native professional is a part of her expertise and ability to help a client feel a sense of acceptance and respect which enhances the learning process.
