Figure Out Why You Are Presenting

Figure Out Why You Are Presenting What is the function of your talk?  Are you trying to inform, persuade, inspire, or entertain. What is your motivation for speaking -Were you asked to speak? -Were you ordered to speak? -Do you want to speak? What is your audience’s motivation for listening? -Does the audience want to […]

Accent Reduction- How do Chinese Youth Learn English and English Speech in School?

Accent Reduction- How do Chinese Youth Learn English and English Speech in School? An important question is: What does the current learning of English, especially learning to speak English, consist of in China? Knowing the answer to this question would help universities, graduate schools, and employers of native-born Chinese individuals know better about what to […]

Part 2 Deciding Whether You Should Accept an Invitation to Speak

Part 2 Deciding Whether You Should Accept an Invitation to Speak Second things first, too! Do you have something to say? -Either you have bunches in your experience or -You need to research! -Sometimes it is just better to decline Must you accept immediately? -You don’t have to accept immediately. -It is often better to […]

English Communication: How to Say Good-bye

English Communication: How to Say Good-bye Greeting people is easy compared to saying good-bye, especially when at a social gathering. Here are some of my favorite tips for graciously departing from a conversation.  The emphasis here is on “gracious.” The situation: You have listened intently and participated in a conversation.  You deem it is  time […]

Deciding Whether You Should Accept an Invitation to Speak- Part 1

Deciding Whether You Should Accept an Invitation to Speak- Part 1 (Of course, if your boss asks you to give a speech, do it!) First things first: Do you have the time in your schedule? o   You need time to get to and from the event and answer questions Do you have time to prepare? o   You […]

English Communication: How Are You? More Angles of View–In Person & On the Phone

English Communication: How Are You? More Angles of View–In Person & On the Phone It’s not what you say, but how you say it. “How are you?” is a ritual greeting in the United States.  But how you say it can move it from ritual to relationship. Here are a few more angles of view: Angle […]

Make the Last Words Memorable

Make the Last Words Memorable Here’s a simple formula for setting up your final line: just say, “I have one final thought that I want to leave you with.”  Or: “If you remember just one thing I’ve said today, remember this…”  Then give them a whopping thought.  Make it strong and make it relevant — […]

English Communication: How Are You? Two Angles of View

English Communication:  How Are You?  Two Angles of View “How are you?” Simple little phrase, yes? But it drives international people a little crazy in the U.S. That’s because in their home country, if people say, “How are you?”, they really do want to know how you are doing or what is happening in your […]

Write It Out

Write It Out You should write out your conclusion for two reasons. First, writing the conclusion combats stage fright. This time is the second most nerve-racking time for speakers So if you write it out, you don’t have to worry about forgetting it. Second, and most important, if you write out the conclusion, you’ll know […]

English Communication: Wicked Awesome Words

English Communication: Wicked Awesome Words The other day, Roberta (from Italy) commented, “Why does English have so many words for everything? ‘Smart,’ ‘Clever,’ ‘Brainy,’ ‘Intelligent’– in Italian we just say ‘Intelligente!’ It’s true, English has a lot of words!  You may think too many.  Most experts count at least 250,000. (Other experts say half a […]