Thinking About Speaking: The Adastra Approach to Mastering the American Accent

Christi Barb

May 2025 · Adastra Speech

About this ebook

Communication is more than words—it’s connection, understanding, and the foundation of relationships. For non-native English speakers, communicating clearly in American English can be challenging, with misunderstandings creating distance and frustration.

In Thinking About Speaking, Dr. Christi Barb, an expert with 25 years of experience in accent modification and speech-language instruction, offers a research-based approach to refining spoken communication. This book goes beyond surface-level pronunciation drills, exploring the deeper cognitive aspects of speech. 

Through engaging explanations and insightful case studies, you’ll discover:

The science of accents and how they shape identity, perception, and connection.

The role of memory in speech in how it facilitates learning, retention, and recall.

A systematic approach to teaching and learning changes to speech.

Strategies for measuring progress and building habits that lead to lasting change.

Designed for English language teachers and learners alike, Thinking About Speaking provides the foundation that bridges gaps in traditional speech instruction and empowers speakers to make lasting changes. Whether you’re a professional looking to enhance your speech or an educator seeking innovative methods, this book will transform the way you think about speaking.

About the author

Dr. Christi Barb is a professional speech coach and “Accentologist” who founded her own private speech coaching business, Adastra Speech. With a PhD in Speech-Language Pathology and over 20 years of experience, she specializes in helping advanced English learners and professionals not only sound better, but feel more confident and in control of their spoken American English.

Her approach integrates speech science, cognitive psychology, and teaching expertise to create highly personalized, research-based coaching. She has spent years using speech analysis to help clients improve their communication skills by teaching the power of prosody and guiding them to meet their specific speech goals.

She is the author of Thinking About Speaking: The Adastra Approach to Mastering the American Accent, a guide for ESL teachers, Speech-Language Pathologists, and motivated learners who want to understand what accents are and how to make changes.