Posted on Mar 12, 2008 under Inspired Actions |
Let me take you back to grade school. Imagine all the kids in your class laughing you just because you look different and speak differently. That was what happened to me after my family and I first immigrated to the U.S. The worst thing was that two of the few African-American kids in the school, Marcus and Jamel, joined them. Actually, they were the worst. I thought, of all people, they should have understood what I was going through! But no. Marcus and Jamel were two of the first African Americans whom I had contact with in my life. The verbal attacks were hurtful, and I found my younger self gradually formed not-so-good opinions about African Americans as a whole. Oh, how impressionable young minds can be!
Fast forward to my freshman year at UC-Berkeley. One time I was riding the bus to get to some destination in Oakland. I was panicking because I was afraid that I was going to get lost. I looked down at my map, looked out the window, looked down at my map, looked out the window … I was a nervous wreck! Sitting across from me on the seat was an African-American woman in her fifties. She saw this restless munchkin in front of her and started talking to me, asking where I was headed and if she could help me in any way. She calmed me down with her gentle and quiet disposition. She was so down-to-earth and helpful. She was probably the first African American who was genuinely kind to me. After that encounter I found that those old misconceptions that I had as a child about African Americans started to melt away.
Isn’t it amazing that a mere few minutes of genuine connection between two strangers can dissolve years of misunderstanding? A random act of kindness can profoundly change someone’s mind. She definitely changed my mind.
Posted on Mar 11, 2008 under Speech Improvement |
Here is a question for all you non-native (native) speakers out there:
Which is arguably one of the most important muscular parts in the human body for achieving good American English pronunciation?
The answer is: [drum rolls please] the tongue. The tongue is a key muscular component of proper American speech because it is used to formulate a number of consonant sounds in the English language. Many non-native speakers have trouble with enunciating certain consonant sounds because they are not in the habit of using their tongues when speaking in their native languages. As we go over a couple of consonant sounds below, vocalize the consonants and check to see which of them you especially have trouble with:
N & L – To pronounce these two consonants, put your tongue tip against your gum ridge. To find your gum ridge, first touch your tongue tip against the back of your upper front teeth. Next, move the tongue tip up until you feel the fleshy part right above your teeth. That’s your gum ridge. Vocalize each sound.
D & T: Find these two consonant sounds by bouncing your tongue tip off the gum ridge. Vocalize each consonant.
TH: Form this sound by sticking your tongue out between your upper and lower front teeth. Make sure that your teeth are touching the tongue as you make the ‘TH’ sound. Feel the vibration (your tongue should feel ticklish at this point) as you vocalize the sound.
R: Enunciating this consonant sound involves taking your tongue back towards your throat and arching it at the same time. In my opinion, this is one of the toughest consonants to pronounce in the English language. Many non-native speakers – especially those of Asian-Pacific descent – have the tendency to drop the ‘R’ sound in their speech. On the other hand, Indian speakers tend to put too much ‘R’ in their speech.
For non-native speakers enunciating consonants clearly is crucial to being understood by native speakers. Even for native speakers, having a “lazy” tongue can be detrimental to the professional image that they wish to project in the corporate world as well. To pronounce these consonant sounds (and all others) properly, you will need to re-train your tongue to go to the right positions in the mouth quickly and accurately. This re-training process will take some time and patience on your part, as well as the guidance of an experienced coach.
In my accent reduction coaching, I prescribe specific exercises to help my clients formulate new American speech habits. If you need help with reducing your foreign accent, please do not hesitate to contact me (http://www.JoanneChen.com/). I will soon be offering videoconferencing lessons as an option to accommodate motivated clients located outside of San Diego. If you live in San Diego or in North County, my in-person training would be your best option. Until next time.
Yours in speaking, Joanne Chen, Accent Reduction Coach
Posted on Feb 28, 2008 under Success Principles |
I am currently reading a book, titled The Sacred Journey - A Quest for Vision: Discovering the Soul’s Destiny by Carol Hannagan (www.sacred-journeys.com). A poem that she included in her book really moved me. The topic is taking risks. Whether you are trying to conquer your fear of public speaking, going through the frustration of reducing your foreign accent, or working on becoming successful in your career or relationship, I think that this poem will speak to you as well. Enjoy.
*****
RISKING
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas and your dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken.
Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
If you risk nothing and do nothing, you dull your spirit.
You may avoid suffering and sorrow,
But you cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, and live.
Chained by your attitude, you are a slave.
You have forfeited your freedom.
Only if you risk are you free.
~ Anonymous