ClearEnglishCoach.com with Donna Durbin
​donna@clearenglishcoach.com
Phone: 713-893-7363
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Let's Talk Like an "American"

Do you have challenges with speaking English or American culture.  I'll share effective ways to improve your English Pronunciation, use American idioms and reduce your native accent.

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Day 6, How to Change Bad Habits

1/23/2018

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​Day 6: How to Change Bad Habits
The Power of Focus by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Les Hewitt
 
Ok, now you’ve discovered some of your bad habits. Start to study the habits of successful people. Read their books, ask questions, study them. Develop the Habit of Changing your Habits. Life is an ongoing learning experience. When you constantly strive to improve, you build character.
 
The Successful HABITS Formula:
1. Clearly Identify your Bad or Unproductive Habits. Think about the future consequences of your bad habit. Consider the long-term results. Be totally honest.
 
2. Define your New Successful Habit. Think about the benefits and rewards for this new habit. The more vividly you describe the benefits, the more likely you are to take action.
 
3. Create a Three-Part Action Plan. You must take action. Make a decision about which specific actions you are going to implement immediately and put them into practice. Remember, nothing will change until you do.
 
Next time: Action Step Formula
Accent Reduction Group Classes: REGISTER by April 6, 10:00 p.m.

6 Monday Evenings . 6:30-8:00 p.m.  April 9-May 14, 2018
Limited to 5 intermediate or Advanced speakers.  Advance Registration Required by April 6. 
9 Hours total for $600, includes Training Manual
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Day 5 - Habits that don't work for you

1/18/2018

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So how are you doing on replacing your unproductive habits? Here's another step to improving your life based on the book:
​
The Power of Focus by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Les Hewitt

DAY 5  Be aware of Habits that are not working for you.
How to IDENTIFY Bad Habits. Examples that hold you back.
  • Not returning phone calls on time.
  • Being late for meetings and appointments.
  • Poor communication between colleagues and staff.
  • A lack of clarity about expected outcomes, goals, etc.
  • Not allowing enough travel time for outside appointments.
  • Not attending to paperwork efficiently.
  • Allowing bills to go unpaid.
  • Talking instead of listening.
  • Forgetting someone’s name sixty seconds or less after being introduced.
  • Hitting the snooze alarm several times in the morning before getting out of bed.
  • Taking work home with you.
  • Having your cell phone on all the time.
What’s Yours???

Group Accent Reduction Classes start Feb. 3, 2018

6 weeks for 1.5 hours each session: $550 Total . Limited to 6 People. Advance Registration Required by Feb. 1, 2018. Call or email TODAY to reserve your seat.

Saturday Mornings 10:30-12:00 .  Feb. 3-March 10, 2018
Monday Evenings . 6:30-8:00 p.m.  Feb. 5- March 12, 2018
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day . Jan. 15, 2018

1/15/2018

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Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Today we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in America. This is an American federal holiday observed on the third Monday of January each year.
Martin Luther King Jr. represented nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960’s, to protest racial discrimination in federal and state law. King was inspired by the nonviolent activism of Mahatma Gandhi.  Sadly, on April 4, 1968  in Memphis, Tennessee King was assassinated.  Read More:
 
His speech, “I have a Dream” is listed as one of the Top 100 speeches on the American Rhetoric. Com website. Listen to the audio of his speech.
 
Read along with a transcript for his speech, “I Have a Dream.” 
His speech, “I Have a Dream” is listed as one of the Top 100 speeches on the American Rhetoric. Com website. Listen to the audio of his speech.

Group Accent Reduction Classes begin February 3, 2018

Do you want to be intelligible when you speak? Start this year. Learn the skills for clear, articulate American English. Speak with confidence.

Six weeks. 9 hours. $550. For Intermediate to Advanced non-native speakers. Class Limited to 5. Advance registration required. Call 713-893-7363 or email me today to reserve your space.
Near the Museum of Fine Art, Houston.

Two time choices:
Saturday Mornings 10:30-12:00 p.m.  February 3 - March 10, 2018
Monday Evenings . 6:30-8:00 p.m.  February 5 - March 12, 2018
Group Class Sign Up
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Speak Clear English with Donna Durbin

1/3/2018

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Picture

The Power of Focus by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Les Hewitt

Day 3 The Results of your Bad Habits usually don’t show up until much later in life.
When you develop a chronic bad habit, life will eventually give you consequences. Whether you like it or not, if you keep doing things a certain way you will always get a predictable result.
 
Here’s some really good news. YOU CAN TURN NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES INTO POSITIVE REWARDS. – SIMPLY BY CHANGING YOUR HABITS NOW.
 
Before you can change a habit, you need to know how long you have owned it. Long time habits may take a year or more. These important transitions can affect both your professional and personal life.
When stress levels rise or a crisis occurs you can slip back into your old pattern.
 
Up to 90 Percent of our Normal Behavior is Based on Habits. Our daily activities are simply routines; the way you dress, eat breakfast, brush your teeth, greet people....this is your normal behavior. We are creatures of habit. This is good, because we may be reliable, dependable and consistent. 

Group Accent Reduction Classes for 2018

START TODAY and discover how to advance your communication skills. For intermediate to advanced speakers. Each session limited to 6 people. 
Sign-up Deadline:Thursday, January 4 10:00 p.m.
Advance registration required. $550 for 9 hours.

6 Saturday Mornings  10:30-12:00 p.m.
January 6 - Feb. 17, 2018
or
6 Monday evenings  6:30-8:00 p.m.
January 8 - Feb. 12, 2018

Register NOW!
Call  832-366-6918
or email NOW!

donna@clearenglishcoach.com
http://www.clearenglishcoach.com
Midtown Location: 5200 Fannin @ Southmore - 1st UU Church
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Power of Focus - Habits for Success,  Clear English Coach

1/2/2018

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"The Power of Focus" by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Les Hewitt. ​​
Day 2    Here's a short reading for today.
How HABITS really work.
It’s so Hard When Contemplated in Advance, and So Easy When you DO IT.”  Robert M. Pirsig
 
A habit is something you do so often it becomes easy. It’s a behavior you keep repeating, eventually it becomes automatic....The great news is that you can reprogram yourself any time you choose to do so.
Example: If maintaining excellent health is a priority, exercising three times a week may be the minimum standard to keep in shape. A NO EXCEPTIONS POLICY means you will maintain this habit no matter what happens, because you value the long-term results.
 
It takes focused action, personal discipline and lots of energy every day to make things happen.
YOUR HABITS WILL DETERMINE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

2018 Group Accent Reduction Classes begin this week

  Are conversations difficult for you?  
You CAN speak CLEAR English with confidence.
Learn the most important ways to modify your accent. Such as, correctly speaking the American alphabet with pitch and intonation change for clear pronunciation.
START TODAY and discover how to advance your communication skills. For intermediate to advanced speakers. Each session limited to 6 people. Starts this week.

6 Saturday Mornings  10:30-12:00 p.m.
January 6 - Feb. 17, 2018
or
6 Monday evenings  6:30-8:00 p.m.
January 8 - Feb. 12, 2018

Sign-up by Thursday, January 4 at 10:00 p.m.
$550 for 9 hours of instruction.
​Advance registration required.
Register NOW!
Questions? Call Donna at 832-366-6918
or email NOW!​
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    About Me:

    I coach non-native speakers to speak with clarity and confidence. My speciality is accent reduction and American Pronunciation.

    As a world traveler, l enjoy people from other cultures and want them to succeed in life.
    The purpose of this blog is to provide tips to sound more "American," be understood, effectively communicate and build your self confidence.

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