Self-monitoring is your ability to regulate your behavior. What does this mean in terms of improving your accent? Self-monitoring is one of the most important strategies you will learn to help you decide when you need to code switch. It means being an active listener and constantly paying attention to what you say and how you articulate it. After you begin working on certain sounds, you will need to monitor your pronunciation of those sounds and sometimes correct them during conversation. Your listeners will sometimes help you monitor. Look for cues from them (a question mark on their faces, a comment that they did not understand you or a request to ask you to repeat what you said). These cues will indicate your need to code switch and speak with a more Standard American English accent. The more you are able to self-monitor, the more you will be able to generalize and apply what you have learned to your everyday speech.