Frequently Asked Questions

Who are Vox London’s sessions for?

Vox London works with professionals who use English in high-stakes international contexts, including environments where speech is recorded, broadcast, or mediated by technology.

Sessions are designed for:

• International professionals working across borders.

• Executives, founders, and senior leaders preparing for presentations, negotiations, interviews, or media appearances.

• Experienced English professionals seeking advanced spoken-English methodology.

Vox is not general “English lessons”. It is high-level speech, British English communication, and presentation coaching for professionals who understand that how they sound is as important as what they say.

What is Mary’s professional experience?

Mary is a qualified English teacher with specialist post-graduate training in linguistics, phonetics, and speech therapy. Her work at Vox London focuses on how spoken English functions in real professional use. Working with a client’s sound, rhythm, emphasis, and vocal control, she can quickly identify which parts of the speech project clarity and authority, and which may obstruct how their English language message is received. She has worked with senior leaders and professionals, including executives at blue-chip companies, tech founders, academics, public figures and performers.

Do you only work in the British (RP) accent?

British Received Pronunciation is used as a reference framework because of its clarity, stability, and usefulness in the global workplace. For some clients, selected features of British speech are strategically helpful. For others, they are not.

Vox London’s focus is always on:

• Global intelligibility.

• Authority and credibility.

• Strategic control over how your voice is perceived.

You are not expected to ‘try to sound British’ or speak like King Charles or Emma Watson (unless, of course, you choose to or are investing in Vox London RP British English training).

Do I need to change my accent?

No. Accent is rarely a challenge.

Vox London helps you identify which features of your speech support clarity and credibility internationally, and which may unintentionally weaken your message, particularly in recorded or mediated settings.

Any adjustments are deliberate, selective, and functional. Your mother tongue accent is part of who you are, and we work with it.

Is Vox London suitable for native speakers who wish to improve how they’re perceived in a professional environment?

Yes. Many native English speakers struggle with:

• Clarity under pressure.

• Strong regional accents in international contexts.

• Vocal presence in leadership or media settings.

Vox London helps native speakers refine how they are heard so their voice lands as intended.

If you’re thinking about speech lessons, why not book a private speech assessment with Mary?

Who is Vox London NOT suitable for?

Vox London may not be suitable for you if:

• Your English is below a strong B2 level; Vox London assumes fluent professional English and focuses on refinement, not foundational language building.

• You are looking for low-stakes coaching or a quick fix. The Vox London Method is bespoke, structured, and designed for professionals who understand that spoken communication affects credibility and career trajectory.

If you are unable to commit to focused vocal work, or are seeking something casual to dip in and out of, you may wish to try Mary’s 80 minute online Masterclass, “Speak with Authority”.

Mary talks a lot about AI voice and speech. What does she know about it?

Mary has worked extensively with AI-assisted tools across teaching, speech coaching, content development and business, including contributing to research evaluating speech and text for human-likeness. She has also developed her own AI-supported apps and diagnostic tools, giving her a practical understanding of the technology behind them. Her particular focus is how AI interacts with human speech: transcription, summarisation, speech recognition, accent variation, and the ways meaning can be lost, altered or misinterpreted when spoken language is processed by machines. You can read some of her thoughts on this in her book, Global English, Clearly.

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Still unsure? If you are still a little uncertain whether Vox London is appropriate for your context, please do make contact and we can discuss, or even take a step further and book a full speech assessment with Mary. In the meantime, why not assess your spoken English with the free speech diagnostic tool, Clarity.

Not ready for a full, personalised programme? Then please take a look at Mary’s 80 minute Masterclass, “Speak with Authority”. Aimed at international professionals whose English is already strong, you will learn how to use your voice more effectively, make complex ideas easier to follow and hold your ground under pressure. The package includes five focused videos, a full workbook and a Quick Reference Guide for use before important meetings. It is not personalised learning, but it is the best way to experience Mary’s practical approach and start making changes immediately.