Dr. Antonia Johnson
Fail-Safe Questions
Fail-Safe Questions
For this week’s accent reduction advice, we have a speech tip video below. Also, whether you are a student meeting new people or an adult who knows no one at a work gathering, you can use fail-safe questions with particular themes to open and start conversations. Today, here are three:
- The journey theme: “Are you from here or did you move here? When? Why?”
- The recent past: “What have you been working on lately?”
- The situation you are engaged in now: “How do you know the host? What did you think of that presentation?”
Rerun from 11/4/2013
Polish Your Conversational Skills
Polish Your Conversational Skills
For this week’s accent reduction advice, we have a speech tip video below.
Also, an important aspect of English speech training is polishing conversational skills. If you avoid brief social interactions, try making pleasant connections with neighbors, co-workers or other people you see regularly.
- Smile at the woman serving you at the coffee-shop counter
- At the next gathering of friends or family, talk with someone you don’t know so you can make connections within the larger group
- Ask a co-worker how his or her day is going
Rerun from 10/28/2013
Tips to Perfect the Fine Art of Dialogue
Tips to Perfect the Fine Art of Dialogue
For this week’s clear English speech coaching, here are a couple of tips to perfect the fine art of dialogue.
- Good, engaging conversation is like a Frisbee that you catch, spin and toss to the next person. Marylynne Pitz
- March launches spring, spring break, and socializing outdoors. So now is an excellent time to brush up on your skill to speak with sincerity and style.
- Biggest error: Many people who meet for the first time or are beginning to develop a friendship often violate one of the important rules governing civilized conversation, according to Margaret Shepherd.
- She calls it “real-time blogging.” People are face-to-face, but they are still thinking out loud. They are just streaming or rambling about what interests them.
- What to do? Learn to dialogue. Catch that Frisbee of topic, look around and throw the Frisbee to the next person.
- Stay tuned for new approaches to gracious conversation and five fail-safe questions to open communication.
Rerun from Oct 21, 2013
