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Speech Tips

Accent Reduction – How to say the th sound – Tip 63

In this video Dr. Antonia Johnson shows how to pronounce the th sound. She uses the word “authentic” as an example.

Let us know what sounds or words we should do next!

For more information on Accent Continue reading

Tips for Your Presentation and Enthusiasm

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For your weekly dose of clear English speech, we have a weekly speech tip video below. Let’s turn now to tips for your presentations and enthusiasm. According to Michael Klepper, most presentations suffer from a lack of enthusiasm.
 
1. Start with this viewpoint from Kevin Daley. The five watchwords for presentations are: credibility, commitment, integrity, enthusiasm, knowledge. Can you get all these in your speech?
2. Enthusiasm is what gets and keeps people’s attention. How much enthusiasm? The bottom line? Find a comfortable level of enthusiasm that makes you sound interesting and believable. The level you seek is probably higher than your current delivery level.
 
Next week we heat up the “enthusiasm” issue.

English Pronunciation: How to Overcome Your Speech Mispronunciations in Daily Life and Presentations

Let’s talk about a clever strategy to overcome your speech mispronunciations in daily life and presentations to give you the strength of confidence. 

shutterstock_164889821The biggest key to people understanding your words is the accuracy of your pronunciation, and the sounds being loud enough for them to hear. 

We’ve all been there: you are confident your speech is intelligible, understandable and your voice rings out. Your listener does understand every word. Another situation, you are not so confident in the pronunciation of some words. They have your difficult and error sounds. 

For example, Yerin wants a momento of her dinner with valued friends. “Use my camera,” she says. All of a sudden her voice plummets down to soft, and she mumbles the word. Her friend says “What?” She is embarrassed. 

What’s a person to do? 

Do what Raul does, and Saeng, Carlos, Xiaowei, and Vik… On the particular words with the difficult sounds, do the word carefully and slowly so you are accurate with all the sounds. If it is a multiple syllable word, make your muscles do each syllable like a word. 

You will love how that helps you. Your listeners will love that they easily understand that word. 

So with confidence, tell your friends you want them to use your camera to take your treasured picture. 

Below is a pronunciation tutorial for the “r” in “camera.”

 

Accent Reduction – How to say the r sound – Tip 62

In this video Dr. Antonia Johnson shows how to pronounce the r sound. She uses the word camera as an example.

Let us know what sounds or words we should do next!

For more information on Accent Continue reading

ESL Speakers: You Probably Speak Too Fast!

For your weekly dose of clear English communication coaching, we have a weekly speech tip video above. AND hear this:
 
1. “My own observation is that most presenters overaccelerate their rate of delivery, making it difficult for audiences to stay in step.” Michael Klepper
 
2. “One way to curb overacceleration is to make certain you enunciate every letter of every word.” Michael Klepper on the art of public speaking
 
Michael Klepper was advising native-born English speakers.
 
Advice for ESL speakers: You probably speak too fast, also. Remember perfect pronunciation especially for the consonant at the end of a word.