Employees
If English is your second language (ESL), do you need to improve your speaking and presentation skills?
Do you need to speak better English in order to
- Give presentations?
- Speak at meetings?
- Understand and be understood on the phone?
- Speak in social conversations with Americans?
- Be understood more easily?
- Speak in emergencies?
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you establish my speech needs?
The first hour is spent for evaluation in the following areas:
- Pronunciation. Which of the sounds of English do you need to modify?
- Other technical aspects of English, such as stress
- Your professional goals
- Your specialized needs such as making presentations or speaking at meetings
- Your needs in terms of professional and social situations
How many hours will it take for me to correct my speech?
It depends. Some non-standard speech is easy to change and may require only one or two hours, with a follow-up hour once a month for two months. Other aspects require more extensive work and more practice in order to change them. The length of time also is determined by your needs. For example, giving conference presentations will require more time than perfecting social English.
How far ahead can I schedule sessions?
You can schedule sessions up to one month in advance. (You can keep a regular schedule, for example every Saturday morning at 10:00, or vary it according to your needs.) Incidentally, you can have sessions during your lunch break or at any other times of the day, evening, and on weekends.
Will I have homework?
Yes, but the point of the homework is that you will concentrate only on one aspect (or sound) of English at a time. For example, if your speech is incomprehensible because you speak too rapidly, you will concentrate only on speaking slower for the week. You will also send me one audio file, via the computer, between your lessons to report and illustrate your progress.
What are some things that I can expect in my lesson?
It depends on your needs, but all lessons begin by reviewing the skills you've acquired. Then there's conversation to reassess your goals to see if it's necessary to modify the course of your sessions. (For example, while working on English for business meetings, you might be given an assignment to make a conference presentation, in which case the emphasis of your lessons will shift.)
All lessons contain pronunciation practice, beginning with the most crucial sounds you need to modify. First, your ability to hear sounds is assessed before continuing on to producing the sounds. Ample and continuous practice is essential.
What equipment do I need?
You need a computer with an internet connection, a microphone, and a webcam. There is no charge for the web conferencing connection.
Contact Andrea Sholl to get started