I've been busy setting up lots of new courses and free groups to help people network and improve their spoken English. Have you been learning new skills while you've been at home and working remotely? Strange not to be sitting in traffic anymore and I like it. I sure miss seeing people in person, though. 
Check out my Meetup Group, American English Conversation Hour and my new Eventbrite American English Pronunciation Coaching Webinar. 

Friday, I was working with Danilo, a private 1 on 1 pronunciation client, I asked how he was doing.
Danilo said, “I coped pretty well the first 3 months of the pandemic, but now it’s getting harder.”
I replied, “I think this “new normal” is going to last much longer until we get vaccine.”
 
Have you tried to create a “new normal,” by changing a bad habit like not smoking, or starting a good habit like exercising, eating healthy, or speaking a 2nd language?
 
Before Covid, I went to the YMCA 4-6 times a week to exercise. It didn’t start that way. When I first joined the YMCA, I paid for three months before I even attended a class. That wasn’t doing me any good, I decided!  What changed? I had to change.
 
Exercise only became a habit, or my “new normal,” when I consciously added the classes to my calendar and went. I hate to admit that today, my exercise routine has suffered because of this Covid “new normal.” I’m taking action to start a new habit by walking in the park every day.
 
The goal of my accent reduction course, the ABC’s of an American Accent, is to help you create a “new normal,” to speak English effectively with confidence. You’ve accomplished the hard part by learning English grammar, vocabulary and reading. So, what’s next?
 
Update your English Pronunciation to equal your technical skills. How would reducing your accent transform your life? Would it?

• Improve your interviewing success
• Open doors to opportunities
• Advance your career
• Make your presentations impressive
• Establish your authority and increase your credibility

 
If you’re serious about creating a “new normal” for speaking English, take action today and enroll in my dynamic interactive 8-week online course, the ABC’s of an American Accent.
Don’t hide your talent. The world needs you. ENROLL TODAY to start your "new normal." 

Cheers,
Donna

How are you coping with this challenging times? Last Thursday, I didn't want to get out of bed. The days all seem to be the same since I've stayed in lockdown. I miss seeing my friends. And this appears to be the new "normal." So, I'm staying motivated by helping others. 
So many people have lost their jobs. So many of my clients are looking for a job. Every time I finish a project or a class, I'm out of work, so I know how that feels to keep starting over. Lonely. Scary. Stressful. 

When I take action, I start to feel better. So, here's what I've created to get unstuck. Join me. 
 English for Interviews starts Thursday, August 20.  Enroll Today.

This is a live webinar coaching course to support your interviewing. Each month, we will meet on the 1st & 3rd Thursdays from 6-7:00 pm CST. We will rehearse your interview questions and answers, learn how to make "cold calls," present your "elevator speeches" with style and master job search skills. 
Using correct pronunciation during interviews, sounding confident and making a memorable good impression will gain you a competitive edge in today's global work market. You do not have to do it alone.  join the group, get energized and go to work.
Cheers,
Donna

Hello everyone,
I hope you are safe. The unrest across the nation is extremely distressing. It's hard to describe the range of emotions I am feeling about the U.S. now.  I stand for peaceful radical change. All lives matter. Your lives matter. Let's stand up for each other and positive change.
Now, to get off my "Soapbox." (Idiom: a thing that provides an opportunity for someone to air their views publicly.)

On the 1st Monday of each Month, I have a free Zoom accent reduction hour, Talk with the Coach, for the students enrolled in my 5 Day Accent Reduction Challenge (http://www.clearenglishcoach.com).  The next one is July 6, 7-8:00 p.m. CST.

We were talking about ways to practice speaking, so I thought I'd share these with you.

• Read out loud 10 minutes daily - good way to practice Mouth & Tongue exercises (Youtube video: https://youtu.be/lFyWC6u9bMk)  intentional pronunciation of the last consonant sound, correct articulation of the American alphabet
• Listen to TEDTalks: find topics that interest you and speakers that are easy to understand
• Business English Pod: free podcast audio lessons with hundreds of business topics
• AmericanRhetoric.com:  100 best speeches with audio and script to follow and listen for pace, pauses, inflection, intonation and articulation. Barack Obama is a wonderful speaker.
• Nursery Rhymes: Youtube has lots of these, great for stressed and unstressed words, rhythm and beat
• Tongue Twisters: (Google Tongue Twisters, search Youtube) great workout for your tongue coordination and flexibility

ENROLLMENT is open for my ABC’s of an American Accent. My 8 week online pronunciation course starts June 15-August 9 with video lessons/exercises Mon. Wed. & Friday, 8 hours of live Zoom coaching on Sunday with Lifetime access. Click on the link to see all the details and payment options. I’d love to have you in the course.
$100 Scholarship Coupon Code: STAYHOMEJUNE -available for the first 4 people who use it on the Full Price option
See you on June 11, 7-8:00 p.m. CST. Remember to pre-register.
Cheers,
Donna

Register Today

The ABC's of an American Accent: June 15 - August 9, 2020.
If you're serious about speaking so Americans can understand you, this course is for you. I will guide you through the building blocks of American articulation and intonation to speak American English clearly.  Start today to increase your fluency and comprehension. Let's get started.
​Cheers, Donna 

How the 8 week course works:

• Video lessons arrive in your inbox on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to study, practice and repeat at your convenience 24 hours a day, forever
• Sunday at 8:00 p.m. CST, 8 Live interactive Zoom meetings - for review, Q&A and real time coaching and feedback. Webinars are available for replay  
• Over 64 lessons (2-15 minutes long) provide instruction, activities, practice exercises and assigned audio recordings to learn new speaking techniques 
• Personalized Written Feedback of your assigned audio recordings identifies the differences between your speaking habits and speaking English
  
• Conscious Self-correction techniques to maintain the change of your accent.
• Dedicated Intentional Practice of 30-45 minutes each day retrains your brain and muscles to learn and maintain your new American Accent
• Global Community-you become a supportive member providing practice partnering, listening feedback, accountability, motivation and encouragement

Hi everyone,
I hope you are safe and healthy during our pandemic STAY HOME situation. I'm guessing that you are not speaking much English. I've started a new online Meetup Group, American English Conversation Hour. This is an opportunity to meet new friends, practice conversational skills and reduce our loneliness. 

Our 1st online event is Thursday, May 14 from 7-8:00 p.m. on Zoom. Join the group. It's free and RSVP to attend. Talk to you Thursday. 

Challenges in life help us examine our priorities and use our creative resources to find new solutions to adjust to change. I have spent the last two weeks packing and preparing for my move into a new apartment. Fortunately, I was too tired to become fearful about the world news. Maintaining my peace and faith in the "good of human nature" to work together towards a common solution is what sustains me. I trust we will emerge from this world health and economic challenge with compassion, care, cooperation and a closer connection to each other. Blessings to you, Donna

Good English Intonation uses 8 tones for stress, which is the pitch change. Our voice uses a higher tone for the stressed word or syllable to give it emphasis. We also use glides which can go down or up to bring attention to the important content words, last noun in the sentence, for inflection, unfinished thoughts and questions. 

This 8 Note Scale exercise increases the capacity of your vocal chords to use all 8 tones. Record yourself and listen back to see if you can do the steps and glides. This will make a dramatic change in the way you speak to sound more American. Remember, it should feel strange or sound weird, or you're not changing anything. Good luck. Let me know how you do. Please like and share. Cheers, Donna
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