| The way you speak i.e. your voice modulation and accent affect the way people respond to you, what they think of you and also your job prospects. Here are ten tips to help you reduce a regional accent:
1) Study the mouth movements of native speakers and try to mimic them.
While watching television, observe the mouth movements of the speakers. Repeat what they are saying, imitating the intonation and rhythm of their speech.
2) Slow down your speech, until you learn the correct intonation and rhythm of English.
Native speakers will have a hard time understanding you if you speak too fast with the wrong modulation and rhythm. Don’t worry about your listener getting impatient with your slow dialogue – it is more important that everything you say is understood.
3) Listen to the “music” of English.
Don’t use the music of your native tongue when you are speaking English. Each language has its own way of “singing”.
4) Use your dictionary.
Familiarize yourself with the phonetic symbols used for different words in the dictionary and look up the correct pronunciation of words that are hard for you to say. This method helps in neutralizing an accent tremendously.
5) Make a list of commonly used words that are difficult to pronounce.
Ask a native speaker to pronounce them for you, record these words, listen to them and practice saying them.
6) Buy books on tape.
Listen and read at the same time. Record clips of your own voice reading some sections of the book. Compare the sound of your English with that of the speaker from the book on tape.
7) Pronounce the ending of each word.
Pay special attention to “s” and “ed” endings.
8) Read aloud in English for fifteen to twenty minutes everyday.
This will help you strengthen the mouth muscles that you use when you speak English. Research has shown that it takes about three months of daily practice to develop strong mouth muscles for speaking a new language.
9) Record your own voice and listen for pronunciation mistakes.
Many people hate to hear the sound of their voice and avoid having to listen to themselves speaking. However, this is a very important exercise because doing it will help you become conscious of the mistakes that you are making.
10) Be patient.
You can change the way you speak but it won’t happen overnight. People often expect instant results and give up too soon. You can change the way you sound if you are willing to put some effort into it.
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| Some people find toasting intimidating, especially in front of a crowd, but there are some secrets that can make it easier whether it be at a New Year's Eve party, wedding, or birthday celebration.
Toasting Techniques: To get the group's attention, never bang on a glass; simply stand, holding your glass in the air. (Toasts should be offered standing, unless at a private, small affair or in a public restaurant.) The person being toasted remains seated. Don't hold your glass in the air during your toast. Set it down after you get their attention, make your toast, then raise your glass and ask the others to raise theirs for your formal, final words. You can also ask the group to stand for the final words. Guests respond by taking a sip of their drink, not draining the glass. For those not drinking alcohol, toasting with water or a soft drink is acceptable. The person being toasted does not drink. The guest of honor often returns the toast, thanking the host for their kind words and then proposing a toast of their own to the host.
Remember:
It's all in the delivery
First and foremost, don't start off the toast by apologizing for any problems you think you may have in delivering it. Making your listeners aware that you are nervous will make them uncomfortable too. In order to feel more comfortable get familiar with the place and the people you will speak to. Of course you want to be eloquent, so speak slowly, clearly and loud enough if a microphone is not available.
Finally, if the toast is to honor a certain person, a fun story about him or her is appropriate, but refrain from referring to an "inside joke" which only a few people would understand.
Humor is good, humiliation is not
It is ok to open up the history books and tell some fun anecdotes during a toast but avoid anything that will potentially embarrass you or others.
Keep the toast clean especially if there are children in the room. Make sure to end on a bright note.
For the toasted
If you are the one receiving the toast stay seated. If you stand it seems as if you are congratulating yourself. The person being toasted never drinks to him/herself nor even touches their glass during the toast. However, the person being toasted should always stand up and respond to the toast when it is finished.
The rules change a bit if the toast is not directed at a particular person but is meant for everyone in the room. In that case, everyone can join in.
Champagne or wine are traditional for making toasts, but non-alcoholic beverages such as water, juice and soda are acceptable substitutes. So go on and raise a toast to good toasting times! |
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It is not for nothing that the eyes are called the windows to a person’s soul. Eye contact creates a strong connection between two people and also creates an impression of sincerity and trustworthiness.
• Look at a person when being introduced to him/her, maintain the eye contact even while speaking. Eye contact with another person shows your interest in him/her. It also forces you to pay attention to what s/he is saying.
• Make soft eye contact, i.e. look into the other person’s eyes, and then shift your gaze to other parts of the person’s face occasionally.
• While speaking with a group of people, look at one person for a few seconds and then shift your gaze to another.
• Making eye contact does not mean that you try and stare a person down with an intense pupil-to-pupil gaze. Staring at a person is the quickest way of making him uncomfortable and so, putting him on the defensive.
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A handshake is a universally accepted way of greeting people, as also a universal source of worry! While everybody has their own theory about the correct way to shake hands, the general rule is to keep the handshake firm, brief and as far as possible, dry.
• On being introduced, offer your right hand. Smile and make eye contact. Offer a greeting.
• Keep the handshake firm and brief. This is not a show of strength, so don’t try and cripple the other person. At the same time don’t let the handshake be a half-handed, limp, wet fish sort of grip.
• Do not attempt to hold hands till introduction is over. A good handshake lasts for about 3 to 4 seconds.
If you offer a handshake and it is refused, just withdraw your hand. Under most circumstances you have followed protocol while the other person has been ungracious in refusing to respond.
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How often have you found yourself talking to somebody who was not interested in listening to you or was more interested in getting his point across? How do you avoid falling into the same trap?
• First of all, listen actively. Maintain eye contact with the speaker. Remind yourself that you have something to gain from this.
• Participate enthusiastically! Ask questions, and pay attention to the answers. Clarify doubts, but don't overwhelm the speaker with the force of your voice and opinion.
• Wait for the other person to finish speaking. Avoid interrupting unnecessarily, and don't consider every conversation as a forum for airing your views!
If the speaker is rambling, and cutting into time you cannot possibly spare, make your excuses politely. After all, you just might be in his shoes tomorrow
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