It is the process of learning the sound system (or phonology) and melodic intonation of a language so the non-native speaker can communicate with clarity.
[1] Areas of focus may include teaching students clear articulation of vowels and consonants as well as the intonation patterns that are unique to each language.
Accent improvement focuses on teaching students how to pronounce difficult sounds such as /θ/, /ð/, /ɹ/, /l/, and /w/; intonation, stress, and rhythm.
According to Dennis Baron, a linguistics professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, eliminating an accent is difficult.
The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission does receive a number of complaints every year from individuals who believe they are victims of accent-related job discrimination.