Before I came to the US from my home country, I thought my English was great. I could read the news, write proficiently, and understand popular TV shows. But then I arrived and, to be honest, I was shocked. I was constantly being asked to repeat myself and I was also having trouble understanding people in my day-to-day life. Whether I was running errands, ordering at a restaurant, or meeting new people, I was really struggling. The confidence I had when I arrived was shattered in just a few days.
After a few months in the US, things were slowly getting better, but my accent was still really thick. I was always being asked where I was from and felt uncomfortable. I realized that I was starting to socialize only with people from my home country, just so I didn’t feel so insecure when speaking. But I knew I’d never be able to truly settle in the US unless I could communicate effectively in English.
I didn’t even know where to start looking for help. I didn’t need traditional English lessons - I had all the vocab and grammar down. Writing was no problem, but speaking is where I struggled. I just couldn’t figure out some of those sounds! While out for coffee with a friend, I mentioned that I was having trouble with my accent and was looking for help. Perhaps I could find a tutor for a few sessions who specialized in that? My friend said, “I have the perfect thing for you,” and started telling me about BoldVoice, an app that helps non-native English speakers improve their accent, pronunciation, and overall fluency in English. “I’ve used the app for the past year and it has completely changed how I speak!”
After our coffee, I went straight home to look into it further. I learned that the app offers videos from Hollywood accent coaches who have worked with Netflix, Hulu, Marvel, NBC, CBS, and Broadway, among others. BoldVoice also offers practice materials, and immediate feedback to help users improve their speech in real-time. The reviews (including a few really impressive video testimonials) were great, as was the coverage in Forbes and TechCrunch. BoldVoice offers a 7-day free trial, so I decided to try it out to see if it was as good as it sounded.
From the start, I found the app really engaging and easy to use. The videos from the voice coaches are so clear and provide really helpful tips on pronouncing specific sounds that non-native speakers struggle with. The app uses AI technology to provide feedback in real-time on pronunciation and clarity, and it gives you a detailed evaluation of strengths and areas for improvement. You get a list of the words you need to practice most (who else struggles with “sixth”?) and the study priorities for the sounds that you should be focusing on.
After the 7 day trial, I was hooked and definitely wanted to continue. Working with a coach 1-on-1 would cost up to $600 per month. But BoldVoice is only $90 for an entire year! How could I say no? After just a month of using the app, I’m feeling so much more confident with my speaking, especially when in social situations and meeting new people. I’ve made more friends and feel much more comfortable speaking, even on the phone! I definitely still have more work to do, but my confidence is coming back quickly thanks to BoldVoice and I’m feeling excited for what’s to come on my pronunciation journey!