Question:
I speak in English at work, but it is not my first language. I feel uncertain about how I sound and which words to say. Will your program boost my confidence?
Answer:
In short, YES! Many of my clients have told me that one of the biggest benefits they received upon completion of my programs is an increased confidence in their speaking skills.
Let’s explore some reasons why and then let them speak for themselves.
You will be able to say industry words and names of colleagues correctly by practicing patterns of syllable stress
Many times, when speaking North American English, it is difficult to know which syllable is stressed in a word. Not using the correct rhythm when speaking adds to the difficulty in being understood by others.
My students spend quite a bit of time learning the basic patterns of syllable stress in words and how to transfer that to everyday words they might say. This can include the names of colleagues, industry terms, geographical places, and more. Knowing the stress patterns of words can alleviate the fear one has in saying those “big” words. Instead of rushing through them, hoping for the best, you will develop confidence to say them correctly. The true meaning of your message will be heard.
You will know how to use emphasis in your message that will help convince superiors of their successes or needs at work
Building upon stress patterns within a word, my students also learn stress patterns within a message. Native speakers of English intuitively know there are certain types of words within a sentence that receive the most stress. This is typically tied into grammar, being the last most important word of the message. That is usually a noun, verb, adjective or adverb. Less often is this the first word in the message. Knowing which word to emphasize adds additional meaning to your message because just like dynamics in music, intonation patterns for this bring highs and lows to your words. Those highs and lows tell your listener what your intent is even without having to hear each and every word clearly.
You will have confidence to place orders in restaurants and coffee shops without fear of saying something incorrectly or not being understood
Think about where you are the least confident speaking. Is it around others? Is it when expectations are placed to say things just like those around you? Think coffee shops and restaurants. Baristas and restaurant workers hear their menu items being spoken countless times throughout the day. Coffee shops and restaurants are noisy places. Put those two variables together, and you might be a little stressed about your English speaking skills when you place an order. Some of the menu items may be words that you aren’t familiar with or have much practice saying.
My students have confidence to use their skills in their everyday lives, in situations such as this. They can transfer pitch fluctuations, stress patterns in messages, and nuances of vowels and consonants in English to any speaking situation because they have put in the time for learning and practice.
I like to emphasize role playing with my students so that we can make our practice relevant. I create scripts that are loaded with a pronunciation rule or English feature (can we say idioms!), and we practice these taking on both speaker roles. It’s a fun way to see how these principles learned come to life, and it’s a functional way to help my students transfer and maintain their newly learned skills. The more one practices, the better they become at the skill they are learning. That holds true for speaking English.
You will know how to make vowels and how to adjust your jaw, tongue, lips along with which vowels you might say differently than NAE
My students know more about vowels than the average English language learner. A good portion of their instruction centers on vowels. I dive deep into the various vowels of North American English, the features of those vowels, and which ones my students need to perfect as they are different from their first language. We learn features about how to physically say vowels, in terms of how to shape our tongue, jaw and lips. We also learn about tension and duration of vowels to further distinguish them. Knowing these key features helps reinforce the ear so that my students become their own coach, analyzing their speech and making adjustments in real time. Talk about a boost in confidence. This is the key. If you can listen to yourself and adjust your speech based upon the feedback you receive from others, there is no reason to not be bold and take on any speaking challenge you might have. The power is in your hands at that point.
You will work on speaking and English development in functional work situations
As mentioned before, I like to work on roleplaying using scripts targeting my students’ individual goals. That might include a series of idioms or a series of phrasal verbs we’ve been working on. By putting them into a script, you can see how these expressions are used naturally in conversation. It’s pretty scary to decide to use an expression that you’ve heard before and not have the confidence you put it in the right context. I address that in my programs.
Furthermore, my students and I also work on presentations, lectures, and talks that they will be giving. Putting all goals into practice is the best way to boost your professional speaking skills. Practicing with feed-back in the moment, correcting and trying again does wonders to boost your confidence. This is really where it’s at. Taking nuts and bolts and creating a beautiful product is the overriding goal of my programs. My students that have done this know they are all the better for it. They can approach speaking situations required of them with a new found confidence. It no longer matters that they speak with an accent because they have tools to use when needed in order to be understood.
I’ll let my students speak for themselves
“This program has provided me with the confidence to engage in meaningful conversations, conduct presentations, and express myself effectively in various professional and social settings. I am proud of the progress I have made, and I am excited to continue utilizing my enhanced English proficiency to achieve my academic and career goals. “
Professor
“I would recommend this program because “It would help them to feel more confident and understandable.”
Mental Health Professional
“My coworkers understand me without repetition of what I have already said. I’m happy finishing this course! I have a plan to take another one.”
Surgical Assistant
“As a foreigner English speaker I was always conscious about my accent and if I am understood by native speakers. Sometimes it had a negative effect on my self-esteem when I was having trouble communicating because of my accent. This program helped me to understand better the differences between vowel sounds and which area of the mouth creates the sounds. It helps a lot to be understood by native Americans. “
Interior Designer