Triangle Speech Services Logo 600 dpi

Communication Matters

October 2015    Issue 86                         
 
The Power of Practice         
In This Issue
TELL US YOUR STORYFeatured Article
Business  Woman Lecturing

If you are a foreign born professional, we would like to hear from you. We are very interested in the story of how you are overcoming self-doubt and learning new skills.

We would be happy to feature your story in a future issue.
trOur Mission is to help our clients transform their accents from a communication barrier to a charming cultural flavor using "listener friendly" speech that is as close to Standard English as possible for them. 
 

  

Order Mastering Meaning from Amazon.com or Lulu.com today online. The price is  reduced from $19.99 to $10.00 + S & H and applicable sales taxes.   

  

r
We show you what and how to practice but YOU reduce your accent through your daily practice with our daily feedback!
Go to our Archive Home Page to read more fascinating newsletters.



  Triangle Speech Services is the private, professional practice of Judith L. Bergman, a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP) who specializes in foreign accent and regional dialect modification and related communication skills. I offer customized, individual tutorials to corporate-sponsored and self-enrolled individuals who speak English fluently but with moderate to severe accents that create challenges and frustrations in the workplace.

  Recently, I was discussing the importance of daily practice with a client who is using the "Speak Standard, Too" dialect "code switching" program.  He said, "Yes, I do understand the power of practice."  I pulled out a sticky note and exclaimed, "What a great title for my next newsletter!"

  Later I decided to "Google" that exact phrase, "The Power of Practice" and was astounded at the amount of material I found. So whether we are discussing learning a new programming language, learning to play soccer, learning to play the piano or learning to reduce a foreign accent or regional dialect, and, for me, relearning conversational  "traveler's" French, hand bell music or Tai Chi, every one of these quotes apply.  

_

What Do Business Coaches and Performing Artists Say About the Power of Practice?  

 

violin-playing.jpg
  Mark Sanborn writes in his blog, "Learn to practice and practice to learn. Because there are no perfect violinists--or salesmen, executives, teachers, or parents for that matter --we again find evidence...that practice doesn't make one perfect, but deliberate practice does make one better."

  
Malcolm Gladwell: "Success has to do with deliberate practice. Practice must be focused, determined and in an environment where there's feedback."

     Ron Monsma: "To do anything well you have to 'allow' (not to force, not to make) yourself do it, and the way to do that is to do it over and over again, so that you teach your body how to do it and it becomes second nature- you don't have to think about it anymore."  
 
Rethinking the Process of Accent Modification
 
How and when is a person's foreign accent actually modified?  Your accent will go through a gradual process of modification or reduction only during your daily practice outside of the training sessions.

What happens during a training session? 
You will learn WHAT to practice and HOW to practice. We will demonstrate. You will copy. We will go through the foundation drills and the steps of the online program.

What happens if you don't practice using the online practice program if this is part of your material and if you don't practice a minimum of one hour five days out of seven?  The answer is:  NOTHING (or very little).

Why is practice so important?
  • You are retraining movement patterns and replacing internalized accented sound images with correct sound images.
  • We will assign step by step practice with similar targets and you will have two weeks of foundation drills before each new assignment.
  • We will listen to your recorded practice daily and send you brief recorded feedback daily!
  • Remember the sound patterns of words carry the meanings. 
  • When you learn to hear that you said "deh" or "duh" or "iss" or "wass" and catch and correct yourself by saying "the" or "is" or "was" (with the last two words ending in a /z/ sound ) you will be on the way to replacing your old accent habits with correct habits. (Reread the Monsma quote above.)
     
_
   We invite you to click on Triangle Speech Services  to visit our informative website. Our goal is always to provide information, inspiration and encouragement since these are essential components of any successful learning experience.
 
  If you are seriously considering enrolling yourself or an employee in an individual tutorial with us or simply want to talk to us about our programs, please contact us through the contact page of our web site
  
Sincerely,

 

Judith L. Bergman M.A. CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist and Corporate Speech Trainer
Founder & Director of Triangle Speech Services