Accent Advisor
Accent Advisor Review
Accent Advisor <—- (Click here to Apply) is an American company that specializes in teaching the American accent. Most of the students are adult expats who live in the US, are fluent in English, and want to reduce their foreign accent. Some of the students live outside of the US, so classes are available 24/7. Teachers must have a North American accent, at least two years of ESL teaching experience and hold either a TESOL/TEFL/CELTA certificate or a degree in English/Linguistics/Vocals. Teachers set their own schedule, ranging from 10–30 hours a week (peak times are from 7 am–midnight EST). This is a part-time position. Classes are recurring, so your schedule remains the same every week. Accent Advisor pays $16 USD per hour and there is a guaranteed pay rate increase of $1 USD per hour for every 500 teaching hours until it reaches $25 USD per hour. Teachers get fully paid for student no-shows and classes that are canceled with less than 2 hours’ notice. Unlike most other schools, there are no payment penalties for being late, taking time off, last-minute cancellations, technical difficulties, etc. Accent Advisor trusts their teachers to provide the best service possible to their students
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36 Comments
TW
I have had the pleasure of going through the interview process with Accent Advisor, and I must say it was one of the most thorough, detailed, and interesting experiences I’ve had in my career journey. From start to finish, the process was impeccably designed to bring out the best in candidates and ensure a seamless fit with the company’s values. The videos sent in advance provided valuable insights into the company’s culture, expectations, and the specific skills they were looking for. These resources not only helped me prepare adequately but also demonstrated Accent Advisor’s commitment to transparency and setting candidates up for success. The interview hosts exuded a warm and friendly demeanor, instantly putting me at ease. It was clear that they genuinely cared about creating a positive experience for the candidates. Their approachability encouraged open communication, they answered all of my questions. I, for one, like that the interview process is more rigorous, it means they are looking quality over quantity and would recommend them to anyone who is looking to work for a serious company that is truly interested in their students and teachers.
Mark McDowell
During my second interview, which was with Joel Miller, I explained that one thing I liked to do was have students exaggerate their speech as a way of getting out of their native language and help them sound more American like, yet Joel dismissed this by imitating it in a ridiculing manner maintaining a foreign accent claiming it doesn’t work. However, this idea came directly from a video of a Vietnamese fellow who used this technique to learn the American accent on the YT channel AskVinh, proving that Joel did not know what he was talking about.
I also mentioned that I felt that issues of formants, placement, and muscle stress were most important in accent reduction, but Joel dismissed that as being very advanced. However, on the channel Rachel’s English, that is practically all she ever talks about. In Rachael’s English video “Reducing your Accent” she stated that “Working on placement can really just transform everything about how you speak.”
I asked how long it takes them to get results and was told around two years!! Two years? Many people can imitate an accent instantly. If it takes Accent Advisor two years to get results, they must be doing something very wrong.
I was only able to get a third interview through persistence.
I had my third and final interview with Jillian Powlesland. It went much the same way. Jillian didn’t seem to have any understanding of just what an accent actually was and seemed to disapprove on my focusing on overarching issues of muscle stress and placement by asking, “You don’t teach sound by sound?” Let me refer again to Rachel’s English: “Working on just the sound doesn’t even make sense, but working on the core concept of the placement transforms the sound in a way that just working on the sound could never have gotten there [achieved].”
She wants teachers to teach the American accent sound by sound while ignoring accent is the product of muscle stress and placement. That’s the very reason people with no training in linguistics or phonetics can imitate accents. One woman on YouTube can imitate every accent in the world and she certainly didn’t learn to do that my learning accents sound by sound. Please watch https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZOOYkJw6TZc
Right in their job description they say they seek people who can imitate accents, but then teach that accents must be learned sound by sound. Is this a joke? You can’t have it both ways. If accents can be imitated, you certainly don’t need to learn phonemes one at a time. You just need to adjust the way you produce sound. Some specific pronunciations may still need to be worked on individually, such as the American R, but that is actually a different issue, not one of accent.
Though I was correct in everything I said and have over twenty-two years of experience in teaching English, I wasn’t hired. These people truly do not know what they are talking about or how to teach accent reduction.
Linda
August 2022… I am a native speaker who has doctor’s degree in lingustics, has done scientific research about lingustics, and is working as an assistant at a well-known American university. I wanted to get a side-hustle while being on my maternity leave so I applied and… I didn’t get the job because I knew more about linguistics then the interviewer. 🙂
Don’t waste your time, guys. I gave an example that wasn’t in the interviewer’s notes, she thought the thing didn’t exist, got confused and never called me back.
Being refused for being more competent than the interviewer was the weirdest experience of my life.
So if you make mistakes- you won’t pass. If you’re too competent – you won’t pass either.
D
Has anyone had any experience with the second and third interview? I passed the first one. It was as weird as everyone here says. Young woman from Mexico reading off a script, not listening to my answers (she asked me if I have another job after I JUST said I’m working in the afternoons) and then gave a ridiculous pronunciation of the word “ring” that I was supposed to correct. I made it through, I think only because I got the “second syllables stress” question right.
Now I’m supposed to watch another video for interviews 2. Anyone have experience with this?
B
I did all 3 interviews and enjoyed them. Everyone was pleasant and informative. I like to think if an interviewer asks me a question about something I just said it is probably due to them not hearing me the first time or there was a cut in the connection, let’s be honest this happens regularly, and I don’t take those little hiccups personally. Many interviews are scripted, especially if it’s more of a technical screening, they have questions and fields they need to fill out. I have to say I am shocked how many reviews mention this “second question” as the reason they did or didn’t make it through to the next interview. I can guarantee the answer to that question is NOT the deciding factor on who is invited to the second interview, I know because I got it wrong and was still invited to move on to the next step. And let’s be realistic – if the company based its entire vetting process on one question it would not have lasted. If you read the emails carefully and watch the videos to prepare you will have all the tools you need for the interviews. But of course, there are other factors in getting hired, like any job interview – personality, cultural fit, neutral accent, relevant experience, availability. I have been working with AA for a while and overall my experience has been positive. A lot of the reviews here are quite old and the information is not accurate – like regarding training and communication with the company. The company has grown a lot. There are now many training videos, and tutorials to know how to use the platform and there is even a full demo class you can watch. And you can always reach out to admin for help/support. They are very communicative. If you are interested in AA, I suggest checking out their other reviews like on Glassdoor, and they have an FAQ section on their website https://accentadvisor.com/careers/
A
Interviewed with them a few weeks ago and also got the same interview example of the word “wrong”. The interviewer said the word as if they never heard it said before, which is fine, but unrealistic unless you’re being needlessly obtuse. I found it very unnatural since there doesn’t exist a student on planet Earth who would pronounce it she did. I have about 7 years in ESL and have taught hundreds of students in Asia and Latin America. Language acquisition doesn’t occur in a vacuum, and mistakes almost always come from using the rules from your first language as a crutch for
She pronounced the “wr” as a /j/ sound, the “o” as a short-o /ah/ and the nasal “ng” as a hard-g /guh/ sound.
I demostrated each part of pronunciation, their linguistic names, and gave written phonetic examples for each syllable. /ruh/ – /aw/ – /ng/. Then reviewed and showed the proper mouth/tongue shape in order to make the correct sound. I also included other words to use as distinct examples in order to compare and contrast.
At the end of the interview, which lasted 25 minutes, she asked if I reviewed the the videos provided before the interview, which I found confusing as if she was implying I didn’t and should have. She didn’t give any feedback and seemed to be reading from a script on the computer screen.
To this day, I still wonder what kind of candidate they’re looking for. Are they looking for a PHD in linguistics who is going through a mid-life crisis to take $15/hour? Who knows. But it tells you something about the company when they’ve been using the exact same interview question for more than two years. Felt like a waste of time and won’t be applying again
K
I interviewed with this company last week. My interviewer was a friendly Latina woman probably from Miami. As mentioned previously by QuiVous, during the student role play part of the interview the word I had to correct was “wrong.” The interviewer was pronouncing the “r” as a rolled Spanish “r” to which of course I corrected her. Then she was pronouncing the “ng” was a strong “g” sound. Afterwards, she asked me why the “t” sound in “attack” is different from the “t” sound in “water.” I couldn’t come up with a good enough answer, and she told me I could research it after the interview and that was the benefit of having the same students every week. After researching it, I found out the “t” sound in “attack” is an aspirated “t” so you use more air when pronouncing this “t.” I guess if you can answer this question well you will move on to the next step since they don’t cover this in any of the pre-interview videos you’re supposed to watch, and I received an email saying they didn’t want to pursue me as a candidate. I also found out they pay through PayPal and do not withhold taxes because you are considered an independent contractor. They provide materials but also encourage you to use your own outside resources as well. My interviewer said they have 90 teachers working for this company now. She couldn’t answer when I asked her how many students this company has. Also, unlike most other online companies where you open available time slots and students choose you, it’s the opposite with this company. Instead, you see students available time slots and choose the students, then meet with that same student every week. I also found out they have headquarters in both New York and Miami, which is why I assume my interviewer was from there. Hope this helps anyone else wanting to apply to this company because I probably will not be trying again.
D
Thanks so much for that helpful info!
Anonymous2021
I just wanted to say that my experience has been very positive. Another person on here wrote that you don’t get paid for students that don’t show up. This is not true. If you follow the protocol (which is very simple) to contact the student if they do not show up (ie. call via text, email after just a few minutes, leave Skype text messages), that is all they ask you to do. By making an honest effort, you are able to mark the student as a no-show, and in return you will still get paid for your efforts and for the session. Though everything is done remotely via Skype, I have found them to be very professional, the director is very easy to contact with any questions (he will respond promptly on text). There are materials available to you to use on their site, though it’s also nice to bring my own to the lessons (& you’ll want to, to have a variety or to meet the specific needs of a student). It will take a while to build up your students, but it’s incredibly flexible in that you can simply “pass” if you don’t want to teach a student that is offered on the board, and can slowly tailor it to accommodate your schedule. Other’s might complain about the pay, but I do not. I have been around enough English schools to know what other’s get away with paying some of their teachers, and in far worse terms/conditions. AA pays timely too at the beginning of every month (upon submitting your invoice). Yes it will take some time to build up enough students to really get earning, but once you do, $15/hour adds up nicely, and you will always have the incentive to continue teaching at length with AA because they will raise your salary $1.00/hour for every 500 hours worked. If you are committed and looking long term, you will eventually (in the years to come) be working towards the $20-25/hour range (maxing out at $25/hour), as they continue to raise you $1.00/hour consistently for every 500 hours worked until you reach $25/hour. The sessions are 25 minutes each, which is nice because you can help more people. The shorter sessions are also nice because they are very focused. I hadn’t really heard of them either until I replied to an ad I saw on Indeed one day. And it is true, they are extremely selective of their teachers. I went through 3 separate interviews before being offered the job as an independent contractor. Still, they were kind, supportive, and very professional. Do be aware that they monitor how long your students stick with you and base that on how many student offers are sent your way. If you can’t keep students interested and engaged or if students want to quit, they will stop sending you offers for new students and may even reassign your current students, so they are serious about teachers who are experienced, are sincere, work hard and are in it for the long haul. I hope this is helpful to some of you who might still be wondering about teaching with them.
Janet Mayme Defeo
Thank you for this information. I interviewed with them today. I was told I will hear back in about a week regarding if there will be a second interview. I like that they are selective, and I am really hoping to get a second interview. If I do not get chosen, I will definitely try again down the road.
Kimberly
I taught for Accent Advisor for about 2 1/2 months this year. The 25-minute classes with students from around the world are fun. Prep and eval time is paid and it’s easy to reach admin with any questions you have.
Then admin suddenly transferred 90% of my students to other teachers with no warning or explanation. They just decided that I didn’t keep people booking classes for long enough and took my students off my schedule. My students were angry and so was I.
My advise is to communicate better with your teachers and warn them if you’re going to transfer their students away.
Joy
I interviewed for them over 6 months ago. It’s not similar to ESL teaching, you need to be aware of your mouth movements when you speak and you have to explain the muscle mechanics.
Overall, I love working for them. They provide quality class materials with a stable platform. They are very professional and no hassle. You will be teaching adults 1-on-1. The management is very supportive and kind, the pay is always on time and they keep offering new students all the time so I’m already fully booked.
Marcey
I would like to know more about the company if you don’t mind sharing.
Coney
The management does not even response to emails during the hiring process. I asked what I needed to demo for a second interview. Twice. No reply. I wrote them after. No reply. It’s a less than minimum wage position that requires you to teach yourself everything needs. WTF?
QuiVous
Had an interview and did a student role play with the interviewer. I was asked to correct poor use of the R in the word “wrong” and explain why the T in “attack” was not a soft T sound. I answered the 1st question correctly but not the 2nd (it wasn’t covered in their pre-interview prep materials). I mentioned I didn’t know the exact reason, but that I would research it and get back to her as opposed to giving incorrect information. The woman abruptly thanked me and ended the interview and I was rejected for getting 1 question wrong after 25 minutes of what seemed to be a solid interview. Fuck this company.
Quinn
Ummm there’s no such thing as a “soft t” sound. Unless they were referring to the “th” sound. Im confused by that question and a little humored. t always says the same sound unless paired with h. right?
Anonymous
Ahh the mystery is solved. I’ve just learned some inside information about why they’re so mysterious. They have good reason to be. As people were saying, they’re selective. A hard -to-get -approach. Hypothetically speaking handfuls of applicants may have the same skill set, but they’ll carefully select someone who they think they can push around. (In their minds anyway. Not sure what the trigger is). They high pressure you to retain students. This is even if a student has had a tragedy in their life. Nope. They”ll be pissed and stop sending you students. They usually find an excuse to do that, regardless. If a student doesn’t show they get paid, you get zilch. If you want out of your contract, they’ll hold on to your last paycheck. If they’ve already paid you, they’ll illegally reverse it. I was ripped off by something unrelated to this. A sympathetic paypal employee told me to call my credit card company or bank. As I quote: “They have more power than us.” Anyway, if you do get hired, and this happens, don’t let them intimidate you into being ripped off.
FirstAlert
And you know this how? Do you know someone who works for them?
Christina Gartrell
I am considering applying but I am wondering about the curriculum.
Is it provided once hired on?
What amount of preparation is required outside of class?
Do I have to create my own lessons?
What are my responsibilities after class?
Do classes last an entire hour or does it vary depending on the situation?
Is is possible to negotiate a higher starting wage if you are highly qualified?
Noma
Why do you ask here instead of emailing them ?
Emily Bruce
Honestly, I found it to be way too much work for such little pay. I interviewed with them last fall, and they told me they don’t offer any training. You just have to watch Youtube videos in order to learn how to teach a neutral accent. I didn’t find that very professional. There are lots of other companies out there that offer better pay and less prep time.
Bonnie
I have a friend who has been working there for about six months and she said they had around 40 tutors when she joined and now they have around 60 tutors.
I have a BA and linguists so I think I’ll be a great fit. I applied 3 weeks ago and received an interview invitation within a week.
My interview was today and I was greeted by a friendly woman who explained more about the company. According to her, they are relatively small, compared to the Chinese ESL companies, and they are very selective in their hiring process.
At the end of the interview, she said they’d send me an email within a week with their decision. I have a good feeling 🙂
Jenn
Hi, Just wondering if you heard back? Were you hired?
B123
I just interviewed with them today. They said it will take up to one week to hear back. They also said that they only have 50 teachers again… I’m still very perplexed by this company. I also was surprised to hear that there is a minimum of 15 hours per week. I’ll keep updating!
Cole Clawson
Update: I finally succeeded in getting a recording submitted to them and have an interview with them via Zoom on December 12th.
Teddy Mac
Please let us know how it goes!
Cole Clawson
I’ve tried to submit a required voice recording via their website and it won’t upload… I’ve tried on four different browsers and no go.
wade
I actually had a hard time with them. I interviewed with them twice within a period of a few months under different emails. I am experienced as an accent coach. The first time I watched their required videos where a pretentious woman is demonstrating phonetic sounds and later insulting her husband on a podcast. I was interviewed by a guy who yelled that I was showing him wrong despite the fact that I was going with what was given to me. I wasn’t hired. The second time I was given an interview they had more of an indepth collection of videos to view. The second time the interview was given by a woman who was at least friendly, unlike the guy. She tested me, and I got it right. I wasn’t hired but the rejection email was warmer explaining they wanted to eventually expand and to keep in touch. Though what was weird was that during the first interview I was told they had 50 teachers and was also told the exact number during the second interview. Bizarre-o place.
Jenny
Hi – I just wanted to add that Accent Advisor is a legit company, I’ve been working with them for over 6 months. I have no complaints; steady students, reasonable pay (for an online company) good support.
Vyrissi
Jenny, I have an interview coming up. How do you like working for them? Are you getting the number of hours you wanted? How do you like the platform?
Noel
Very Interesting , but mysterious.
Let’s get some more information, please!
Miss Chicka
Applied and had an interview. Haven’t heard from them back.
Lauren
Did you ever hear back from them? I have an interview with them next week.
Nathaniel Bas
Hey how did the interview go? Did you hear back from them Lauren? I have an interview in a few days.
Accent teacher
This doesn’t appear to be a registered company. There is absolutely no information on them anywhere. No name, no phone number, no address, no profile on BBB. Location unknown. I wish they were a real company, but I would be very wary of applying with this company.
Ducky
Still the same in 2021 rather fishy eh?