By Valerie Kingston
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01 Jul, 2017
The business professionals that take my accent reduction sessions all have one thing in common-they lack confidence most of the time when speaking English. They come to my sessions so that they can speak more clearly and effectively when talking to clients, fellow employees and bosses. They are embarrassed and frustrated when they are constantly interrupted with someone saying "What did you say?" over and over again. Being understood in the work place is so important to business professionals. It can make or break a very important business conversation.
Now, let me throw a wrench into the equation. What if you are a business professional who needs to talk on the phone a few times a day or even all day long? Did you know that speaking English face to face is a visual thing as well as a hearing thing? If you're doing a /d/ sound in a word when you should be doing a /TH/ sound the American might understand what you're trying to say when you're standing right in front of them, but over the phone there is no way of having the visual help. Phone conversations can be so much more challenging for the person listening. Many telemarketers have this problem. Well, actually, the person listening on the other end has the problem if they can't understand what the telemarketer is trying to sell them. I tell all of my students- by taking accent reduction classes you are helping yourself become more clearly understood. You are also helping the American who is listening to you -or even another international person who speaks English- to understand you completely. When you know you are being clearly understood you feel more confident! I have seen many of my students stand up taller and carry themselves better knowing they have done what they need to do to become even more successful in their career choices with the help of my accent reduction sessions.
THE PHONE TEST:
After I work with my students on reshaping their sounds to sound more American, I introduce the "phone test". One of the last sessions we do together is actually done over the phone instead of meeting at my office. They talk to me the way they would talk to a client or boss and I listen to hear how much of their phone conversation I can understand. If they are running words together or not saying one of their re-shaped sounds correctly I can help them right then and there. It is a very effective way to keep my students on their toes for those important business phone conversations. I have found the phone test to be an incredible tool!
There are many things a business professional must do to be good at his or her job. First, if you are lucky or smart or both, you have gotten a superb education in the field you have chosen. Next, you need to dress the part for internships and job interviews. Then, if you know what you're talking about - you get hired. Some of my grad students, who take sessions with me, begin their accent reduction classes before they've gotten a job. They know that they need to be more clearly understood BEFORE they even step into someone's office for an interview. Each one of us has obstacles to overcome. To be the best teacher I can be I am always striving to find new ways to help my students reshape American sounds and have fun in the process! If I walked into my office wearing ripped jeans and a t-shirt you would probably think I was a slob and maybe not good at my job. You can know everything there is to know about being a financial advisor or publishing text books or being the next great scientist or doctor, but if people can't understand what you're saying, how far can you go in your chosen profession? You might as well be wearing ripped jeans and a t-shirt!