Clear English Coach Blog - ClearEnglishCoach.com with Donna Durbin

Live Coaching Series: English for Interview

9/1/2020

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.

NEW LIVE Coaching Call on Eventbrite: Monday, September 7, 7-8:00 p.m. CST on Zoom

Do you have to repeat yourself when you speak English?
Are you embarrassed to speak up during meetings?
Do you feel stuck in your job because of your foreign accent?

Join my free Accent Reduction coaching session to get live feedback on your speaking and learn simple techniques to modify your accent to sound more American. Have you discovered Eventbrite? I've started a new monthly coaching call on the 1st Monday of each Month from 7-8:00 pm CST on Zoom. You MUST Register HERE in advance for the Zoom link.

English for Interviews is a Live Monthly Webinar Coaching Series that meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday, from 6-7:00 p.m. CST. If you are looking for a job and need pronunciation practice, interview and job search skills, this group provides the support you need.
We meet this Thursday, September 3. Join us.

MORE INFORMATION Click HERE

Speak English with a "new normal"

8/25/2020

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

English for Interviews - Thursday, August 20

8/17/2020

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

Building a Better Vocabulary

6/11/2020

Houston Public Library - Free online classes, films and resources

I want to share with you a fabulous FREE resource for free classes, films, books, ebooks and more.... I started watching, "Building a Better Vocabulary" by Kevin Flanigan, in the library's, The Great Courses, section on Kanopy.com.

I'm learning new vocabulary (yes, words, I did not know) and how English words are structured. Kevin teaches you new vocabulary, morphology, related words, how to remember them, and how to use it. Fascinating and Fun!

All you need is a library "MY LINK" card. Which is free and available online. Join me and let's learn together. Let me know what you think in the comment section below.

Speaking Tips

6/6/2020

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

Enrollment open for ABC's of an American Accent

5/26/2020

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

The America I want to live in

5/16/2020

[You can see Mr. Obama’s remarks, beginning 1 hour, 47 minutes into the video below.]

OBama is an example for the American Culture I want to live in. Mr. Obama gives an inspirational commencement speech for the new high school graduates of HBCU during the two-hour event for historically black schools, “Show Me Your Walk H.B.C.U.

He is an ideal role model speaking with clarity, good pronunciation, pauses and meaningful, thoughtful and positive content. Take a few minutes to listen. I believe Mr. OBama delivers the words for hope, moral values and positive direction for the best that American culture and humans can be in the world. Cheers, Donna

#hope #AmericanCulture #Obama #speech #English

American English Conversation Hour with Donna Durbin

5/10/2020

New Meetup Group: American English Conversation Hour

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.

Sending you wishes of peace and health

3/20/2020

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

ONLINE Lessons begin MARCH 30 - May 24, 2020

Accent Reduction
REGISTER HERE
MARCH 30-MAY 24, 2020

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8 NOTE SCALE for Intonation Practice

1/31/2020

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

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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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,