Blog Archives

Accent Reduction Groups start September 8

8/29/2018

If you don't change...things stay the same.
Learn how to "crisp up" your spoken English, so you correctly articulate the sounds of English, put stress on the correct syllable and word in a sentence. These simple accent corrections make a huge difference in being understood by Americans and improving your communication success.
Join an Accent Reduction Group Class and gain the key techniques to improve your speaking for:

Introductions and small talk
Phone and conference calls
Participating in Company meetings and with co-workers
Giving Presentations

Choose One:
6 Saturday mornings 10:30-12:00 a.m. September 8 – October 13, 2018
or
6 Tuesday evenings 6:30-8:00 p.m. September 11 – October 16, 2018
$600 for 9 Hours of instruction, includes book. Total payment due in advance. Each group needs 4 people to begin.

Advance Registration and Phone Interview Required.
Call 713-893-736
email:[email protected] with your name and phone number
or use SignUpGenius button below to register

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Drumming the Sky and Earth, Free performance: Friday at Miller Outdoor

8/29/2018

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The Legend of Drums- Drumming the Sky and Earth
Friday, Aug 31, 2018
8 p.m.
Miller Outdoor Theatre
6000 Hermann Park Drive
Houston, Texas 77030

Taiwan Ten-Drum Art Percussion Group makes its U.S. debut and only 2018 U.S. appearance at Miller with a powerful and unforgettable performance of Taiwanese drumming and culture.

“The Legend of Drums” will present a series of compositions which depicts the development of drum art. From the invention of the first drums at the War of Chu-Lu to the adaption of drum music in modern society, this program will bring the audience on a virtual journey to discover the wisdom of our ancestors through powerful beats. “The Legend of Drums” will tell everyone a story. A story of birth and nature; a story that looks into the origin of a long-lived civilization that we know today but never fully understood.

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LISTENING....Part 2

8/24/2018

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Listening Skills Part 2... by Donna Durbin

Yesterday, we started a blog on the importance of listening. Did you try changing the way you listen? Do you ask for clarification from the speaker to check your understanding of the main idea they were trying to convey? If you don’t understand the meaning of a word, idiom or acronym, ask. Don’t be shy or reluctant to admit you don’t understand. It’s wise to ask questions.

More Tips to Improve your Listening....
3. Observe the speaker’s nonverbal communication: Fifty-five percent of the verbal message is from “body language,” including facial expressions. Watch for signals, crossed arms don’t always mean the speaker is defensive, disagrees or is insecure. Maybe they are cold. Take in the entire picture instead of focusing on one indicator.
Read more... 30 Body Languages and their Meanings.

4. Monitor your Nonverbal Communication: You have to be careful of the messages you are sending, while you are listening. Body language can speak loudly without saying a word. If the conversation is positive, show it.

However, if the discussion is more negative, you need to practice your “poker face.” Keep your facial expressions neutral. Negative signals may shut down the conversation before you understand the other person’s point of view. That ends any chance for resolution or cooperative interaction.

5. Listen to the Speaker with Empathy: Try not to prejudge, try to see the situation from your speaker’s point of view. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received was to listen to a person’s entire point before interjecting my thoughts. Instead of mentally composing your comments, try to focus on the speaker. What are they trying to say? Doing this will immediately improve your listening ability.

Becoming a better listener takes time, practice and commitment.
Here’s a way to sharpen your listening skills. Choose a person that you want to have a stronger relationship with. Start the conversation with an open-ended question that encourages them to express their ideas, opinions and feelings, then listen while you apply the steps above.

Don’t interrupt, give advice or tell your side of the story. Keep the conversation going by showing the speaker you’re listening with verbal and nonverbal signals. Ask additional questions. Be curious, you might learn something new. People often need you to listen to them, before they are willing to listen to you. Give it a try and see how things develop.

Accent Reduction Groups begin September 8, 2018

TUESDAY EVENING GROUP: "Take accent reduction from Donna Durbin if you want to be more confident, sound more professional and be better understood." Anna Leonova

SATURDAY MORNING GROUP: "Donna is a great coach and provides wonderful lessons. I noticed a change in my speaking patterns during a short 6 week course. I highly recommend her to anyone." Yogendra Pandey

If you don't start...things stay the same.
Learn how to "crisp up" your spoken English, so you correctly articulate the sounds of English, put stress on the correct syllable and word in a sentence. These simple accent corrections make a huge difference in being understood by Americans and improving your communication success.

Think about how confident you would feel for:

Introductions and small talk
Phone and conference calls
Participating in Company meetings and with co-workers
Giving Presentations
Providing Customer satisfaction
Sales, negotiations and business deals
Management positions and salary increases

Choose One. Each group needs 4 people to begin. Limited to 5.
6 Saturday mornings 10:30-12:00 a.m. September 8 – October 13, 2018
or
6 Tuesday evenings 6:30-8:00 p.m. September 11 – October 16, 2018
$600 for 9 Hours of instruction, includes book. Total payment due in advance.

Advance Registration and Phone Interview Required.
Call 713-893-7363 with your name and phone number, email:[email protected] or use SignUpGenius button below.

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Learn how to Listen...

8/20/2018

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LISTENING by Donna Durbin, Clear English Coach
Want to be a Better Communicator? Learn how to Listen.
It’s often said that we have two ears but only one mouth. So, we should listen twice as much as we speak.

Miscommunication, conflict, assumptions, errors, mistakes, ineffective decisions and a loss of team cohesion: What do all of these organizational issues have in common? All are the result, at least in part, of poor listening.

Listening is a highly valued skill in the workplace, so is it possible that it’s not your foreign accent, but the listener’s ability to listen that causes the miscommunication? Very possibly! According to a study at the University of Minnesota, the average person remembers only 50% of what they heard just a few minutes after listening to a short talk. In fact, we tend to forget one-half to one-third of what we learned within 8 hours. Surprised?

Formal education focuses on reading instruction, little emphasis is placed on speaking and almost no time is spent on the skill of listening. Listening is critical when you're learning on the job, which is another skill that employers desire. Listening also comes into play in collaboration, problem-solving and teamwork -- more skills and qualities that rank near the top with employers.

The average adult spends about 70% of the day in some form of communication; 9% writing, 16% reading, 30% speaking and 45% listening. If you want to improve your interpersonal communication skills, focus on being a better listener.

Here are a few tips to try today.
1. Listen for Content: Focus on the main idea being presented. Listen for facts and ideas, as well as specific words people choose.
Related video: The Psychological Effect that Stops Smart People from Listening to Good Advice.

2. Listen to the Intent: Thirty-eight percent (38%) of the meaning of a message comes from tone of voice, inflection, pauses and other vocalizations. Practice using your intuition to hear the underlying messages. If you know the speaker, this will be easier, but you can become more aware by actively listening for the clues of how a message is presented.

Start today. Try to listen for 5 minutes without interrupting. Remember communication is a two-way street.
To be continued...

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Tibetan Monks - Mandala Sand Painting this weekend

8/17/2018

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This weekend come and see the beautiful creation of Sand Painting appear before your eyes.
Free at the Asia Society Texas. If you've never seen this, it's an incredible art form, not to be missed. In the Museum District: 1370 Southmore Blvd. Houston, TX 77004

Saturday Viewing Hours: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.,
Community Mandala: 12-4 p.m. (while supplies last)
The whole community is invited to take part in the art by helping create a sand mandala. Guests will learn how to use the chakpur to fill in the design with sand.

Sunday Viewing Hours: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Closing Ceremony: 2 p.m.
The monks will dismantle the mandala, sweeping up the sands to symbolize the impermanence of life. The sand will be distributed to the audience at the conclusion of the ceremony, while supplies last.

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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.

Categories: Spoken English, Global English, Accent Reduction, Online pronunciation courses, ABC's of an American Accent, Foreign professionals, Language courses, English for Interviews, Small Talk, Foreign accents, How to learn, Business English, Successful habits, accent reduction, American Idioms, Group Classes, phrasal verbs, American English pronunciation, podcasts, Facebook Live events, Houston events, art exhibitions, Meet and Speak English, code switching, English class, online English class, Free Accent Reduction Class, language, Houston, Private coaching, speech training,

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