The Brain: How do we learn accents?
Wednesday 4th June 2025, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (London Time)
Did you know that babies learn accents before they are even born? Did you know that there is a neurological condition where people wake up one morning and start speaking with a different accent than they did when they went to bed? Did you know that people with a foreign accent are perceived as less competent and less trustworthy than those without an accent? Can one’s accent be influenced by pollution? Why is it so difficult for late learners of a second language to acquire a native-like accent? Can voice coaches for actors help speech therapists develop exercises for people with communication problems?
In her talk on the neuroscience of accents, Dr Miha Constantinescu (Department of Psychology, University of East London) will address some of these questions.
Miha Constantinescu is a Senior Lecturer in Cognitive and Developmental Psychology. Before joining UEL in 2018, she earned an MPhil and a PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of Cambridge. Miha has published research in the following areas: cognitive development and spatial abilities; sex differences in infancy and childhood; hormones and behaviour.
More recently, Miha has embarked on a research project on bilingualism and foreign accentedness, which seeks to investigate and understand the complex and subtle ways in which existing biases and stereotypes concerning foreignness can impact an individual’s perceived competence and trustworthiness.
🏷️ Price £30 (UK VAT inclusive)
🎥 Recording automatically sent to all who book (even if you cannot attend live)
▶️ Rewatch as many times as you like
📜 Certificate of attendance available
Dr Miha Constantinescu
Miha Constantinescu is a Senior Lecturer in Cognitive and Developmental Psychology. Before joining UEL in 2018, she earned an MPhil and a PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of Cambridge. Miha has published research in the following areas: cognitive development and spatial abilities; sex differences in infancy and childhood; hormones and behaviour.
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
Learn MoreSorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.
Tuesday 5th August 2025
1:00 PM - 12:00 PM
Tuesday 12th August 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday 19th August 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday 26th August 2025
1:00 PM - 12:00 PM
Tuesday 2nd September 2025
1:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Tuesday 9th September 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday 16th September 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday 23rd September 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
(London Time)
Certificate in Acting Approaches for Singing Teachers
Louisa Morgan
Are you a singing teacher looking to elevate your students’ performances? Join our very own Louisa Morgan, as she takes a deeper dive into acting approaches that singing teachers can use to integrate powerful acting techniques into singing lessons. This 8 session course is perfect for those who want to help their singers connect deeply with the story behind the song. Gain practical tools and techniques that you can immediately apply in your teaching! Come along live for an interactive experience, or watch on playback at your leisure.
Thursday 11th September 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
The Tongue as a Gateway to Voice, Resonance, Style and Intelligibility
Dr Angelika Nair
Healthy vocal production depends on a finely tuned, athletic apparatus—a symphony of muscular interaction engaging the respiratory system, the laryngeal mechanism, and the resonance spaces of the pharyngeal, oral, and nasal cavities. Among these, the tongue stands out as one of the most critical yet least understood contributors to voice production. Join Dr Angelika Nair as she unpicks the essential anatomical insights that reveal the tongue’s role in shaping sound, influencing resonance, and impacting style and intelligibility!
Tuesday 16th September 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
The Science Underlying Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercises (SOVT)
Dr Ingo Titze
Karin Titze Cox
Semi-occluded vocal tract exercises have a long history. Humans and animals have discovered that aerodynamic and acoustic pressures above the larynx can position the vocal folds for better self-sustained oscillation. Join Dr Ingo Titze and Karin Titze Cox as they unpick this fascinating topic!