Presenting Across Cultures: A Workshop for Non-Native English Speakers

Increase the Effectiveness of Your Presentations
Interactive Workshop Customized for Non-Native English Speakers

This is a practical, interactive workshop designed for non-native speakers of English who want to increase the effectiveness of their presentation content and delivery. You’ll work on polishing your stand up presentation skills and connecting with your audience. You’ll have numerous opportunities to practice all of the key elements of a professional presentation, and receive immediate feedback from an experienced presenter.

Two-day Workshop >> May 13 & 14, 2008
Register by April 29

CLICK HERE to find our more! [.pdf]

Register online!
or call (513) 745-2019 for more information
Course Fee:
$1,150 per individual (includes all materials)

Accent Essentials for Native Chinese Speakers

When you communicate in English, do you ever feel:

• uncertain about your pronunciation
• lacking in confidence
• uncomfortable with your speech
• that others don’t understand you?

We offer a workshop specifically for speakers whose native language is Chinese. The program teaches you:

• To avoid the most common pronunciation mistakes in English made by speakers of Chinese
• To use complete word production
• To correctly produce key sounds
• Important differences between Chinese and English in terms of intonation and stress
• The rules of American English
• The patterns in your own speech that may be the source of communication gaps and misunderstandings.

With improved pronunciation and diction, your daily interactions with English speakers will become easier and more comfortable. You’ll spend less time repeating yourself, leading to greater productivity for yourself and others. Many of our past clients have reported that the confidence they gained from attending the program led to a promotion.

If you are a native Chinese speaker who is fluent in English, but wish to speak in a way that is clear and easy for others to understand, and your career depends on having excellent communication skills in English, this is the class for you!

Where: Xavier University
When: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays, April 30-June 4
Fee: $750.00
Registration: Please contact Anne Golden, 513-745-2019

Beyond Accent: The Importance of Intonation

By Shelly Wallace, Director,
XU Intercultural Communication Group

If you are a non-native speaker of English, there’s no question that you’ll be better understood if you use the correct speech sounds. But did you know that up to 60 percent of the meaning of your message comes through the intonation pattern you use? Intonation patterns are comprised of vocal pitch, stress, speech rate and loudness. Pitch and stress have the greatest impact on the meaning of your communication.

Consider the confusion that can occur if the wrong syllable is stressed in these words, which are spelled exactly the same way, but have different meanings depending on pronunciation:

PROject (noun) as in, “When will the PROject be complete?”
proJECT (verb) as in, “I proJECT a completion date of May 1.”
PREsent (noun) as in “I bought a birthday PREsent.”
preSENT (verb) as in “I will preSENT the proposal on Monday.”

The examples above demonstrate the importance of word stress. But what about intonation patterns and stress points in conversational speech? In English there are some basic guidelines:

1. The overall pitch pattern must rise and fall appropriately to match the meaning of the sentence. In general, declarative statements and “who-what-where” questions use a pitch pattern that rises and then falls at the end of the sentence. Other types of questions use a rising inflection at the end of the sentence.
   
   
2. Pitch rises and peaks at the primary stress point, and then it falls or rises significantly, depending on the type of statement that is being made. Words that are not significant, such as prepositions and articles, are said quickly, without precise pronunciation. This lack of precision on insignificant words allows the words to “link together,” and gives speech a fluid sound. In order for a speaker to sound confident and credible, their voice should stay level or up during the middle part of the sentence, and drop more significantly at the end. Notice the way that television newscasters speak – they are trained to speak in a confident, believable way, making full use of intonation patterns.
   
   
3. In order to keep the attention of your audience, you should vary your intonation. Speaking in a “monotone” way will certainly bore your audience, and may leave them feeling that you are bored as well! On the other hand, if a person uses excessive pitch changes or too many stress points, their speech may sound unnatural or awkward; they may also be perceived as lacking experience or maturity.

Because other languages use different intonation patterns, when the pattern from a person’s native language is applied to another language, it can affect the meaning of the message in a way that the speaker did not intend. Consider the difference between how Chinese and English speakers use emphasis to make a point. Chinese speakers will most likely use a lower tone when expressing key words, and in sharp contrast, American English speakers will raise their pitch and volume.

With a wide variety of subtle (and not so subtle) speech pattern differences between languages, it’s easy to see how misunderstandings can occur, even if all other elements of speech, such as word choices and pronunciation, are correct. Language is like music – it has natural rhythm and flow, rising and falling as it communicates its meaning. Learning to apply the intonation patterns native to the region in which you live will give your speech a pleasing quality that will be music to your listener’s ears.

For information on upcoming opportunities to improve your intonation and other communication skills, please email Shelly Wallace.

Business Communication in the Year of the Rat

By Anne Golden, Director,
XU Intercultural Communication Group

Let’s face it – in Western culture, the rat doesn’t get much respect. But in Chinese culture, among its many admirable qualities, the rat is considered shrewd, meticulous, and charismatic – traits that certainly contribute to success in the business world. What inspiration can we gain from this highly successful creature?

Make 2008 your year to do the following:

• Be shrewd in your use of electronic communication. Start by making your voicemail communication concise and listener-centered. According to Xavier professor Tom Clark, a Leadership Center communication skills workshop facilitator and executive coach, “Every time you leave a voice mail message you are contributing to the listener's impression of your competence. To create a positive image, start a voice mail with your name and return phone number, indicate what you want the listener to do in response, why the response is of importance to the organization, and when you need the response. Then, if needed, add details that may help the listener comply with your request. Conclude with a thank you and a repetition of your call back number. With this direct approach, you’re much more likely to get the response you want, and in a timely manner.”
  
  
• Be meticulous with your writing. In his book “The Four Agreements,” Don Miguel Ruiz offers four essential rules for living based on Native American wisdom. Among them is “Be impeccable with your word.” When applying this rule to business e-mail, remember that your message might be read by others who don’t share your native language, cultural, educational, or even generational background. This is especially true if your e-mail is being received by business partners in another country. Being impeccable (or simply being considerate) starts with choosing words and phrases that are likely to have a shared meaning, understood by most people, across backgrounds. Avoid using slang, abbreviations, or regionalisms that might not be clear to everyone. If you take time to consider how your words might come across to others, you’ll be a lot closer to heeding Ruiz’s advice, and “saying only what you mean.”
  
  
• Be charismatic when you share your ideas with others. You don’t need to adopt a “TV personality” to do this. Just try speaking with the appropriate energy and feeling consistent with the outcome you are seeking. Do you want others to listen to you? Then think about making your speaking style, facial expressions and body language more appealing. Make sure to emphasize key words and phrases so that others will remember the main points of your message. Avoid being monotone (speaking with a lack of vocal pitch variety); you risk losing your audience, even if you’re meeting with just one person. The larger the audience, the more important the character of your voice and your style of speaking become. More often than not, in the business world, it’s not enough simply to express your ideas – you need to be able to sell them to your coworkers, manager, and customers.

If you would like to be more charismatic and persuasive when you speak, consider taking advantage of the individual coaching package that we offer, featuring professional voice actor and coach Rocco Dal Vera. Rocco has trained hundreds of professionals to speak more effectively in meetings, presentations, and everyday business communications.

After all, it’s not just what you say that matters, but how you say it.

For more information on vocal coaching, please click here.

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Speaking of being impeccable with one’s word, we offer the following definitions to ensure clear communication of their essential meanings as applied in this article:

Shrewd (adj.): Showing good practical judgment; well reasoned and likely to be right.

Meticulous (adj.): Extremely careful, with great attention to detail.

Charismatic (adj.): Having the strong personal charm or power to attract that makes a person able to have great influence over people or win their admiration; magnetism.

(Source: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English)

Huiping Li

Profile by Liz Wu

“If you don't know the pronunciation of a word, you usually stop there,” says Huiping Li.

Similarly, he discovered that if your communication skills are limited, your potential for career advancement also comes to a halt.

Li, 40, is an Application Specialist at Children's Hospital. His responsibilities consist of database and website design and development, including weekly reports to fellow technicians and clinicians. Even with a masterful understanding of technology, five years on the job and ten years' experience speaking English in the United States, Li realized that until he developed greater proficiency in his communications, he wouldn't be able to take on the leadership roles required for his professional development.

“I'm the type of person that, when I find I have some problem, I want to improve and solve that problem,” he says.

Li's English comprehension was advanced – so he didn’t need a typical ESL course. Instead, a diagnostic assessment revealed that he had four main areas in which to improve: in becoming a proactive listener, developing persuasive speech, improving inflections and conveying confidence. He would also benefit from certain pronunciation exercises specifically designed for Chinese speakers of English – drilling “l” and “th” sounds, for instance.

Li completed a three-month coaching program with Xavier University’s Intercultural Communication Group, which involved customized individual sessions with a communication specialist twice a week as well as the accompanying training materials (books, cds, videos). “This program is not an ESL program,” Li says. “It's much, much above that. If you are in an ESL program, the focus is on vocabulary, how to read – but this one is primarily to teach you communication skills ... (such as) how to conduct a meeting ... how to raise a question, how to reply to a question ... that requires some skills – it's more than just language.”

Li gives an example of something he learned during his training. “You need to understand the purpose ... always focus on the topic. I am from a technical background and when I speak to clinical people, I need to talk in their language.”

This particular idea is key to his progress at work, which will involve moving into managerial responsibilities. “The primary goal,” says Li, “is to move to the next level ... to be a leader.”

Li says that he has received a lot of positive feedback from colleagues at work regarding his marked improvements in communications. “They say, 'Your language has really improved ... and (your) comments and suggestions are really insightful'.”

All this gives Li a sense of accomplishment – and also makes things easier outside of the workplace. It's easier to understand people on the phone. He can get more enjoyment out of watching movies, one of his favorite pastimes. Also, he adds jokingly, it might be easier to understand his kids now.

Serious again, Li continues, “The primary goal is to improve job performance for career advancement.”

What's his position on that? He grins, and demonstrates his control of the English language (and ironic sense of humor) with a common idiom.

“No pain, no gain,” he says.

Playing the Game of Communication

By Shelly Wallace, Associate Director,
XU Intercultural Communication Group

Just as various sports have their own respective rules and strategies, so do the communication styles of different cultures. Drawing from this metaphor, Susan Steinbach of the University of California breaks communication styles into three basic categories: basketball, bowling and rugby. The characteristics of these three games represent common speaking styles you are most likely to come across (and practice) internationally. As our world becomes ever more global, developing understanding and familiarity with these three speaking styles is invaluable to your cross-cultural communications.

"Basketball" is the style most frequently used in Britain, Canada, Australia and the United States, in which the speaker gives cues by "dribbling," or setting up key phrases that invite an immediate response from the listener. Speaking turns are short with each party "taking the ball" to make their point, and then expecting the listener to then take the ball back to make theirs. Hesitations and pauses indicate an opportunity for the listener to take the speaking role - in which case, interruption is not seen as rude, but rather a way to keep the "game" moving forward.

In Japan, Northern China, Korea and Thailand, however, most favor what linguist Deborah Tannen refers to as a "high considerate" speaking style - in this case, described as the "bowling style."

In the bowling style, speaking turns are much longer and based on the hierarchical position of individuals involved; the person with more authority speaks first, and the younger person (or one with less seniority) does not speak until spoken to and waits for an appropriate pause to speak. In this style, interrupting or speaking out of turn is seen as considerably rude and likely to negatively impact the communications.

This is in sharp contrast to the "rugby" style of speaking, often practiced in Russia, Greece, southern Europe, and African and Latino cultures. The rugby communication style is spirited and spontaneous, with many voices being heard simultaneously. Rather than pause while listening to the speaker, others in the conversation respond immediately, finishing that person's sentences for them and even taking the topic into other areas. In this style, active involvement is key, and interruptions are just par for the course.

With such varying styles of speaking across cultures, it is easy to see how two people accustomed to different communication styles might misunderstand each other, even when all other elements of the conversation are favorable. Conversely, it is also clear how simply understanding the speaking style of another person can inform you of how to best approach the conversation, and how to better interpret cues and customs that may differ from your own, such as how to treat turn-taking and interruptions.

Being aware of these elements will give you a considerable advantage when communicating with people from other cultures, reduce misunderstandings, and help you to create a true rapport with your listeners. In the game of communication, knowing the rules and strategies is crucial to making your point. Start by knowing which game to play!

Japanese Business Card Etiquette

You can only ever make one first impression. And your business card solidifies it.

That's why it's imperative not only to have a strong, professional card to hand out, but also to know how to present your card to someone. The little rectangle you extend represents what you have to offer a client or a contact -- and your presentation is part of the package.

In Japan, the exchange of business cards is ceremonious. Cards are presented with both hands, like a gift, and then admired and thoroughly examined. The amount of time you spend looking at the card shows your respect for the person -- hence, simply stashing the card in a pocket or purse is seen as rude.

Keeping this custom in mind is very helpful when doing business with a Japanese person ... but can also be applied to all of your professional encounters. Business cards are valuable, and should be regarded as such -- you can never show too much respect. It would be wise to take a cue from the Japanese and show extra consideration when exchanging business cards -- people will remember the care with which you regard them.

Let the lasting impression you leave be not only your card, but your outstanding etiquette.

Inirida Rabinovich

When Inirida Molina Rabinovich proudly announces that she has passed her English proficiency test at work, it means a lot more than just a raise. She can testify that being able to speak the language in a foreign country can literally be a matter of life or death.

Several years ago, Inirida's doctor informed her that she had cancer. She didn't understand what kind - her English was not good enough to learn what treatments were available, or to express her questions. Throughout the months that followed, she had to ask her ex-husband to accompany her to the doctor's office and serve as translator - an arrangement that left her feeling humiliated and powerless.

Inirida's limited English was also holding her back financially. Back home in her native Colombia, she was a highly respected business accountant for a large company, making the equivalent of an $80,000 annual salary. Here in the US, she worked hard to finally land a job as a bi-lingual customer service representative, with only about a $25,000 per year salary. "If you are not able to communicate," she says, "you are not able to make money."

Inirida's performance was excellent and she had been offered promotions - if she qualified. Advancement was contingent on passing an English test ... something she ended up taking over and over again for five years ... but had never been able to master.

Now, she says with a grin, she has. She credits her private pronunciation coaching at Xavier University with her recent success. After four months of one-hour-a-week coaching sessions, she has accomplished something she has been waiting years for.

Like many international business people now living here, Inirida had strong English comprehension - she could read and write well. She was highly educated and accustomed to being able to express herself eloquently. However, she was extremely frustrated to find that, even when she used the correct words, people still couldn't understand her.

"I am a professional, I speak English - so why couldn't people understand me?" she says. "It wasn't bad English ... it was not the words, I just said the words in different ways. Now I am feeling more confident. People understand me because I pronounce things better and more slowly - now I am able to help more people on the phone.

"Inirida is pleased with the possibility of being promoted at her current job, but what she really wants to be doing is her profession - something she now feels is within reach. "This is helping me to get back in my profession as an accountant. I'm almost there."

Even more important than the promise of career advancement is the effect of fluency on quality of life - and survival. "My cancer came back last year," says Inirida. "Because I improved my English, I was able to understand what happened, and make my own decisions about treatment. Now I am cancer free again. Improving English saved my life."