The first year of the acting conservatory program includes an introduction to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) with a concentration intentional and clear speech that serves the story. The importance of IPA fluency is stressed as a practical tool for ‘scoring’ classical text and learning dialects. During the second semester, poetry and Shakespearean sonnets are introduced as application opportunities for further skill development. Advanced Speech classes formally introduce dialect work and can include coaching on full-length productions.