Hey there, Exeter actors! Are you ready to take your career across the Atlantic without actually leaving Devon? If you’ve been staring at self-tape instructions that say “Standard American accent required” and felt that familiar pang of “Oh no, not again,” then I have some very exciting news for you.

I’m heading to Exeter this May for a one-day-only American Accent Intensive, and I want you there. Whether you’re a seasoned pro looking to polish your vowels or a young performer just starting to explore different characters, this is the workshop that changes everything.

Why the American Accent is Your Most Important Tool

Let’s be real: the industry is more global than ever. With streaming giants like Netflix, HBO, and Disney+ constantly casting in the UK for American roles, being a “dialect-ready” actor isn’t just a bonus, it’s a necessity. If you want to book the job, you need to sound like you were born in Ohio, even if you just had a cream tea in Topsham.

As an accent coach who has worked with actors at every level, I see the same thing over and over: actors who are brilliant in their native tongue but lose 50% of their acting ability the moment they try to “do” an accent. My job is to make sure that doesn’t happen to you.

The Valentine Method: It’s Not Just Mimicry

I’ve been ranked as one of the top 20 accent coaches globally, and that’s not because I’m good at doing impressions. It’s because I developed the Valentine Method.

Most people try to learn an American accent by listening to a podcast or watching a movie and trying to copy the sounds. The problem? That’s all surface-level. If you don’t understand where the sound is coming from in your mouth, the moment you get a difficult line of dialogue or an emotional scene, the accent will crumble.

In my Exeter workshops, we go deep. We look at:

• American Placement and Posture: Where does the sound live? (Hint: It’s not where your British accent lives!)
• The “American Spark”: This is my secret weapon, a fast-track way to jump into the accent instantly.
• Mouth Shaping and Clarity: How to use your articulators to get that crisp, clean US sound.

If you can’t make it to Exeter, you can always check out my 1-to-1 Standard American Accent coaching online, but there is something truly magical about working in a room together.

What We’ll Be Mastering: The Core Sounds

We aren’t just going to wander around saying “Y’all” and “Burger.” We are going to get surgical with the phonetics. We will focus on the core sounds that usually give UK actors away:

1. The “R” (Rhoticity): The most famous part of the American accent. We’ll learn how to master the “bunched” or “retroflex” R without sounding like a pirate.
2. The “L” (Dark L): Americans use a different part of the tongue for their Ls than we do.
3. The A, O, T, and D: These are the “tell-tale” sounds. We’ll work on the “Flap T” (making ‘water’ sound like ‘wader’) and the specific resonance of American vowels.

Workshop 1: Young Actors (Ages 12–16)

Date: Saturday 9th May
Time: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Price: £85
Spaces: Strictly limited to 10 students
Register: https://calendly.com/sasvalentine/american-accent-intensive-12-16

For the younger stars, we keep things high-energy and fun. I’ve coached many young performers for major film and TV roles, and I know that the best way to learn is through doing. This isn’t a boring school lecture. We use games, physical exercises, and actual scripts to get the kids using the accent immediately.

Confidence is the biggest hurdle for young actors. Once they realize that an accent is just another “costume” they can put on, their performance levels skyrocket. Parents, if your teen is serious about acting, this is the perfect investment. I also offer a 1-to-1 Teens Self-Tape Course if they want to keep the momentum going after the workshop!

Workshop 2: Adult Intensive

Date: Saturday 9th May
Time: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Price: £120
Spaces: Strictly limited to 10 actors
Register: https://calendly.com/sasvalentine/american-accent-intensive-adults-17

The afternoon session is for the grown-ups. This is a performance-focused intensive. We start with the technical foundations, placement, posture, and the “American Spark”, and then we dive straight into script work.

I don’t just want you to say the words; I want you to act in the accent. We will look at rhythm and flow, which is often where British actors trip up. The American “music” is flatter and more sustained than the melodic peaks and valleys of British RP.

With only 10 actors in the room, everyone gets individual coaching. You’ll get direct feedback on your specific “problem areas,” whether it’s a stubborn vowel or a tongue that just won’t stay down.

Why is it Limited to 10 Spaces?

I’m a bit of a stickler for quality. I’ve seen workshops with 30 or 40 people where you barely get to speak. That’s not how you learn a dialect. To truly learn an American accent, you need a dialect coach who can hear every single phoneme you drop. By limiting these sessions to 10 people, I can guarantee that everyone gets the attention they deserve. You will leave the room with a clear understanding of what you need to work on.

Urgency: The “UK Countdown” is On!

I love working with UK actors, but I have a bit of a deadline. I am only in the UK until December 2026. After that, I’ll be heading back overseas, and my in-person workshops will become a lot rarer.

If you’ve been thinking, “I’ll do an accent course next year,” this is your sign to stop waiting. The industry doesn’t wait for you to be ready, it expects you to be ready when the audition lands in your inbox.

Speaking of auditions, if you ever find yourself with a last-minute script that needs an American (or any other) touch, I offer Audition Script coaching to help you nail those high-pressure tapes.

How to Prepare for the Workshop

You don’t need to be an expert to show up. In fact, if you’ve never tried an American accent before, that’s fine! It’s often easier to teach someone from scratch than it is to “undo” bad habits.

If you want to get a head start, I highly recommend picking up a copy of my book, The Actor’s Guide. It’s packed with insider tips on launching your career and managing the technical side of the craft. You can grab a signed copy here: The Actor’s Guide – Signed Copy.

Summary of the Day

• What: American Accent Intensive
• Where: Exeter (Location details provided upon booking)
• When: Saturday, May 9th, 2026
• Young Actors (12-16): 9:30 am – 12:30 pm | £85
• Adults: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm | £120
• Host: Sarah Valentine, International Dialect Coach

How to Book Your Spot

Because spaces are so limited, these will go fast. Book directly using the links below:

• Young Actors Workshop (Ages 12–16): https://calendly.com/sasvalentine/american-accent-intensive-12-16
• Adult Workshop: https://calendly.com/sasvalentine/american-accent-intensive-adults-17

Don’t let another American audition pass you by while you’re still “faking it.” Come and learn the science, the soul, and the spark of the US sound. I can’t wait to see you in Exeter!

Stay vocal,
Sarah Valentine
Actors Accent Coach

Looking for other accents? Check out our DIY courses for British RP, Cockney, or even a West Country twang!