Heather Hansen on Accent Bias, Pronunciation and Linguistic Privilege

Heather Hansen on Accent Bias, Pronunciation and Linguistic Privilege

In this episode of the PronSIG Podcast, host Mike Budden speaks with Heather Hansen, a communications trainer, author and speaker based in Singapore, who has become one of the leading voices in the fight against accent bias. Heather is the founder of Global Speech Academy, author of the award-winning book Unmuted, and is currently completing a PhD on accent bias in the workplace. Heather reflects on her journey from speech and debate competitor in the United States to training Singapore Airlines pilots, discovering the Lingua Franca Core, and building a career working with senior professionals in multinational organisations across Asia and beyond. The conversation explores what pronunciation coaching really looks like at executive level, why the goal of intelligibility and the reality of accent stigma often pull in opposite directions, and why telling a non-native speaker not to change their accent can itself be a form of privilege. They also discuss the challenges of training listeners as well as speakers, the surprising complexity of working with intonation and stress patterns across different language backgrounds, and Heather's work with NASA on accent bias in the workplace. Heather also shares her thoughts on the rapid rise of AI language tools, including accent translation technology and voice cloning apps, and why she believes these risk reproducing the same language hierarchies they claim to disrupt.

Robin Walker reflects on accent, ELT, intelligibility, and four decades of teaching and writing about pronunciation.

In this episode of the PronSIG Podcast, host Mike Budden speaks with Robin Walker, a teacher, writer and pronunciation specialist with decades of experience teaching English in Spain and training teachers across Europe. Robin is co-author, alongside Gemma Archer, of Teaching English Pronunciation for a Global World, published by Oxford University Press, and served for many years as editor of Speak Out, the journal of PronSIG. Robin reflects on his journey into pronunciation teaching, from arriving in Spain with a chemistry degree to becoming a key voice in the field of English as a Lingua Franca. The conversation explores what Jennifer Jenkins' Lingua Franca Core means in practice for classroom teachers, and why the assumption that native speaker accents are automatically intelligible deserves to be challenged. They also discuss the critical distinction between accent and intelligibility, drawing on the research of Tracy Derwing and Murray Monroe, the surprising connection between pronunciation knowledge and reading comprehension via the phonological loop, and what teachers should prioritise when working with learners in international contexts. Robin also shares reflections on his years as editor of Speak Out, including the making of the landmark 50th issue, the psychological damage that school language learning can leave on adult learners' self-esteem, and his thoughts on what human teachers offer that artificial intelligence cannot replicate.

Jane Setter reflects on pronunciation teaching, accents, and the evolution of PronSIG.

In this episode of the PronSIG Podcast, host Mike Budden speaks with Professor Jane Setter, a leading phonetician at the University of Reading and co-editor of the Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary. Jane reflects on her journey into pronunciation teaching, from teaching at summer language schools in the 1980s to becoming a prominent voice in the field of phonetics and pronunciation research. The conversation explores how pronunciation teaching has evolved over the past four decades — from a focus on “correct” accents to a greater emphasis on intelligibility and communication in global English. They also discuss analytical listening skills, the legacy of Received Pronunciation, the impact of English as a Lingua Franca research, and what teachers should prioritise when helping learners develop clear and effective spoken English. Jane also shares insights from her research on speech rhythm in Hong Kong English, her work on phonetic symbols and pronunciation dictionaries, and the social meanings attached to accent and voice.

Jonathan Marks reflects on the early days of PronSIG, authoring coursebooks and more.

In this episode of the PronSIG Podcast, host Mike Budden talks with Jonathan Marks, founding member and former coordinator of PronSIG and author of English Pronunciation in Use (Elementary). Jonathan reflects on his early career in the 1980s at International House Hastings and the people and experiences that led to the creation of PronSIG. He discusses how a community of teachers interested in pronunciation developed through newsletters, workshops, and conferences at a time when pronunciation was often given limited attention. The conversation also touches on Jonathan’s personal interest in pronunciation, early encounters with phonology in teacher training, changes in pronunciation teaching over time, and wider reflections on English spelling, accent variation, and professional development in ELT.

Gemma Archer and Adam Scott talk about PronSIG and their journey in pronunciation teaching.

PronSIG coordinators Gemma Archer and Adam Scott talk about pronunciation teaching, teacher confidence, accent diversity, and how PronSIG provides resources and community for anyone wanting to grow in this area.