Do you set goals for yourself? For the past 25 years, I've been in a Master Mind group with link-minded friends. Which means I write my goals down, create an action plan, check in daily with my progress and weekly share my progress with my group. 

In 1995, the first year, I participated in Master Mind, one of my biggest dreams was to go to Indonesia. At that time, I was recently divorced and had never traveled outside of the US, or by myself. 

In 1997, reviewing my 1996  accomplished goals, I realized that I had done it. I had gone to Bali, Indonesia for 6 weeks. It was a miracle. That experience changed my life. I took a risk. It took courage, all my money and the desire to step outside of my comfort zone. I learned to speak Bahasa Indonesia, a few words at a time, by speaking everyday to the people.  My love for foreign cultures and the people who speak different languages continue to grow.

Happy New Year. What dreams do you have for your life? What baby steps can you take to make them come real? Let me know in the comments below.  

Here's a way to start a new habit.  Check out the 10 minute YouTube video below. 

I hope you had a Happy Halloween. Mine was very quiet at home. Here's a belated Halloween lesson on the 2 double "oo" sounds of English. Many of my clients have trouble with the relaxed "oo" for book, would, cook, took. Leave me a comment and let me know if this video helps you with these two different sounds. 

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.