Accent Reduction

In Toastmaster magazine for June 2009 there is an article called Turning Accents into Assets. In it Sher Hooker points out that multilingual members [of Toastmasters clubs] bring a rich diversity of ideas to the speaking arena and that it is often exciting to listen to a speaker with a different vernacular and phrases we haven't heard before.
She points out though, that we can't enjoy a speaker if we can't understand them.
If your accent is so heavy that people can't understand you, you might need to do some work.
Here are 10 tips that come from Lisa Mojsin on her website http://www.accurateenglish.com/
"Observe the mouth movements of native speakers and try to imitate them.
Until you learn the correct intonation and rhythm of the language, slow your speech.
Listen to the "music" of the language.
Use your dictionary.
Make a list of frequently used words that are difficult for you to pronounce and ask a native speaker to pronounce them for you.
Buy books on tape.
Pronounce the ending of each word.
Read aloud in the language for 15 to 20 minutes a day.
Record your own voice and listen for pronunciation mistakes.
Be patient."
Lisa has a blog attached to her website where people chat about pronunciation. you might find it helpful.