Tuesday, May 23, 2006
When you speak in another country, or if you now live in the US and were born in another country. What should you do with feedback from listeners?
If people have asked you to slow down, they have told you,
“You are talking but we are not receiving what you are saying.”
Is that acceptable to you? That you talk and people only receive part of what you are saying? No! Then s l o w d o w n, p l e a s e.
But what should you do when you do when you do not understand them?!? Ask, ask, ask for clarification without embarrassment. This shows that you genuinely want to receive the information. Repeat what you did understand (paraphrase). Then, they can agree or explain in another way.
You can say,
“Pardon, I didn’t catch that last part”
and tell them what you did get.
When you hear a new word or jargon, make it a game to use it three times in the next 24 hours to remember it and feel comfortable using it. When friends and your kids suggest a pronunciation improvement, play the same game with yourself.
Also, choose one word a day to say with an American accent.
Next, be more satisfied with your speaking performance by using notes, rehearsing, anticipating questions and having a friend coach you.
If people have asked you to slow down, they have told you,
“You are talking but we are not receiving what you are saying.”
Is that acceptable to you? That you talk and people only receive part of what you are saying? No! Then s l o w d o w n, p l e a s e.
But what should you do when you do when you do not understand them?!? Ask, ask, ask for clarification without embarrassment. This shows that you genuinely want to receive the information. Repeat what you did understand (paraphrase). Then, they can agree or explain in another way.
You can say,
“Pardon, I didn’t catch that last part”
and tell them what you did get.
When you hear a new word or jargon, make it a game to use it three times in the next 24 hours to remember it and feel comfortable using it. When friends and your kids suggest a pronunciation improvement, play the same game with yourself.
Also, choose one word a day to say with an American accent.
Next, be more satisfied with your speaking performance by using notes, rehearsing, anticipating questions and having a friend coach you.
