11 methods to Improve Speech Part 2

 

2.     MODIFY AN ACCENT, IMPROVE POOR DICTION

If you speak with an accent that you wish to modify or just have poor diction that you wish to improve, the quickest way to purifying the sound of your voice is to speak on a whisper.

Start by choosing a passage from a book, magazine or newspaper and read it out loud on a stage whisper, gradually increasing the volume of your voice.

Once you have practised this for about ten minutes, try taping your voice and then playing it back to yourself to see your progress.

Keep repeating this exercise until your sound is purified. It DOES work but some people will need to practise more than others if their accent is well established or their diction is particularly poor.

The same principal can be applied to singing words. Take a passage and sing the words getting louder and softer.

 

3.     PROJECT YOUR VOICE (Good for modifying Northern accents or quiet voice)

If you have difficulty being heard, have a quiet voice or a nasal quality to the tone of your voice ( particularly present in Northern accents such as Liverpudlian, Mancunian), you can bring your voice forward by speaking with a pencil in your mouth.

Place a pencil or straw between your lips and then read out loud holding the pencil between your lips. Keep practising this and then remove the pencil and attempt to read the same passage again without it. Keep repeating the exercise until your voice moves forward.

 

4.     CURE A STAMMER OR SPEECH DIFFICULTY

Stammers and speech impediments are often caused by lack of confidence. Therefore it is important to work on your self-esteem and remember that stammers and other speech impediments have often become habits. Just like giving up smoking or any other bad habit, stammers are some speech problems (not physical like cleft palate) are often just habits that we have established to cover shyness or lack of confidence.

First work on self-esteem techniques.

Give yourself permission now to lose the stammer or difficulty – Sounds ridiculous, but does work.

Say to yourself, ‘ I don’t need this habit any more, I can speak without it and BELIEVE you can do it.

It is much harder to speak badly when focusing your attention on keeping the pencil there.

A speech impediment can become so ingrained into our persona and sense of identity that we are almost afraid sub-consciously to lose it. It has become part of who we are and how we see ourselves. Positive affirmations that you speak with a strong, clear voice, can help for some people – visualizing that you no longer need the problem or speech defect and seeing yourself without it can also help. You need to make the picture in your mind clear and vibrant and see yourself speaking beautifully in different contexts and how that would feel.

 

11 methods to Improve Speech

 

Many of you have heard the old expression, “It’s not what you say it!”. In today’s  world of International Communication, we have to add on that saying “It’s not what you say but how you  are heard!”

–        How do you sound when you speak?

–        Is there rhythm to your speech and depth to your voice?

–        Do you hear music when you speak in one tone only?

–        Do you know that English has three notes, three tones?

–        Have you ever trapped yourself just to listen to the qualities and tones of your voice?

Elocution

–        Elocution is the art of effective public speaking, with particular attention to the clear, distinct, and socially acceptable pronunciation of words. Adjective: elocutionary.

–        "The word elocution means something quite different to us from what it meant to the classical rhetorician. We associate the word with the act of speaking ... But for the classical rhetorician, elocutio meant 'style.' ...

"Another subject of consideration was the composition or arrangement of words in phrases or clauses. Involved here were discussions of correct syntax or collocation of words; patterns of sentences (e.g. parallelism, antithesis); proper use of conjunctions and other correlating devices both within the sentence and between sentences...

The Principal Parts of Elocution

–        Elocution . . . is the proper exposition of the appropriate words and thoughts  suitable to the things invented and arranged .
"Its principal parts are elegance, dignity, and composition . . .. Elegance is sensed most frequently in words and thoughts; dignity in the brilliance of the figures of words and thoughts . . .; and composition in the joining of words, in the period, and in the rhythm." 

–        The clear enunciation of separate words and their elements.

–        The just expression of the sense of words in connected discourse.

–        Appropriate gesture, comprehending under this head the attitude, motions, and aspect of countenance most suitable to lend animation and force to speech."

11 ways of Improving Speech

1.   Why improve speech?

Poor diction, otherwise known as lazy speech can hold us back in life in many different ways. First impressions are based not just on the way we look but the way we speak. Rightly or wrongly people judge us and our intelligence on how we present ourselves. We may look a million dollars but if, when we open our mouths we speak ungrammatically or have poor diction our credibility may immediately take a dive.

It universally accepted that being a powerful communicator is a good quality to cultivate if you want to get on in life and climb the ladder to success. If we do not put the same effort into our vocal presentation as we do into our physical presentation, then we are only enhancing part of our identity.

When we go to interviews for most fields of work, we tend to dress the part by donning a suit and looking business like and formal in our dress, according, of course, to what job we are aiming to get, but if we then open our mouth and say “I really want a noo job – instead of “New” for example or “I done a course in English.” We immediately lose credibility. If we add to poor grammar, poor diction, then our potential and value may plummet in the eyes of others. We may have all the qualifications on paper, but if we don’t speak powerfully or with authority, then we are limiting our means of expressing and imparting the knowledge we have.

Sadly poor speech is very common in society today. Less time is spent in schools in the promotion of good diction and unless people have private elocution, known now as voice training, they may end up with a good many certificates or degrees but very poor vocal skills and that may be the difference between excelling in your chosen career or being overlooked in preference to someone who has the ability to express themselves powerfully, clearly and authority.

I realise this is not true in all walks of life. You may cite many TV stars who have actually traded on their accents as their unique identity and in the field of show business and the world of television having a pronounced accent can be an advantage but the majority of us are not going to work in TV – we are not the next Ant and Dec or Cheryl Cole, we are people doing ordinary jobs or following more routine paths and if we are senior management, running our own businesses or have following professions where intelligence and good presentation are key, then good diction goes hand in hand with good skills. We don’t tend to consider Ant and Dec or Cheryl Cole to be the imparters of great wisdom or knowledge, we rate them for their entertainment skills and their understanding of a particular brand of communication within the world of Television but if we are looking for a anything from a receptionist or office manager to a barrister, accountant or consultant, we do tend to want them to have powerful clear diction, certainly in the field of law, it is imperative in making points in court.

Strong accents can be very attractive and unique. They are what one may call a speech problem, but they can make diction hard to understand. Whether it be a foreign accent or a regional accent, it may be very appealing, but for those on the receiving end who are not used to that particular accent or dialect it may make what you are saying difficult to interpret for the listener. Therefore having good clear received pronunciation, (RP) or BBC English as it used to be termed, can give you a definite advantage.

But I like my accent, I hear you protest. Of course, and I stress there is nothing wrong with having it, but I suspect that if you have purchased this course, you have an interest in reducing your accent or improving your diction. I will attempt to set out here some of the ways that you can do this.

11 ways to Perfect Time Management 3

 

1.   Declutter- List your main distractions and time wasters, and eliminate them

 

Mute your group chats on your phone

Before you start a study session, put your tablet and phone in another room

Turn off notifications on your tablet and phone

Remove all distractions from your study table

If there are magazines, books, souvenirs, toys, etc. on or near your study table, which distract you while you’re studying, then remove them.

Put them at the other end of the room, or move them to another room.

Clear your study table at least once every two days

Scientists have found that physical clutter makes it harder for you to concentrate.

My own experiences tell me that this is true too, which is why I do my best to keep my desk free of clutter.

I recommend that you clear your study table at least once every two days – once a day is even more ideal.

This will help you to be more focused and productive!

Students often aren’t even aware what their main distractions and time wasters are.

So take a few minutes and think about what your biggest distractions are. Write them down on a sheet of paper, and come up with an action plan to eliminate – or at least reduce – them.

2.   Determine when you’re most productive, and work on your hardest assignments during that time

Do you work best in the afternoon? Or are you most productive at night?

Work on your hardest assignments and projects during your most productive hours of the day. This is a powerful way to make the most of your time.

3.   Review new information you’ve learned within 24 hours

Points for effective revision, I would like to share are as follows -

Revision means going through again , revision doesn't mean you are to study the whole course again. You must have marked/highlighted /underlined the topics/paragraphs which are very important. Go through them nicely. It doesn't mean you have to look into the concepts now , rather you should read them quickly twice/thrice. You already have studied them, so lines are not alien to you, it shouldn't take much time to read them twice.

Have a notebook by side, to note down the lessons you think very difficult to remember or the mistakes you make very often. On 1–2 days before exam, go through this notebook. This will give you confidence, because on the penultimate day you cannot read everything.

Every night before going to bed, try to spend 1 hour to recall what are the topics you read for the whole day. You can write down the key words, some values, formulas - just randomly. This boosts your confidence - “yes ! I can remember..”

Try to read related topics from different subjects together, it helps to memorize.

Start your day with the subject you like most. Read the subjects/topics you are weak in when there's more time left to exam day rather than postponing them. It creates a very bad backlog which weakens your confidence as the exam comes closer. Moreover you can't read the things you dislike with a ticking bomb in front.

Don't try new things at this time. If there is very less time left, and you have 1/2 topics you have never touched, its better to leave them and devote that time to go through the topics you have studied already (this is just a damage control measurement, not the ideal way to prepare).

It'll be a good idea to have a look at the questions came in previous sessions of the exam. Read the questions carefully, papersetters often put traps in the language of a relatively easy question.

Have faith in your yourself. Study as much as you can. Have good amount of sleep for 6–8 hours everyday. Eat healthy diet. Brain needs good nutrition and good rest to work properly. Keep telling yourself that you will give your best on the day of exam and will have no regret.

4.   If a task takes less than three minutes to complete, do it right away

Many tasks fall in this category: sending a file to your classmate via email, asking your parents to sign a consent form, clearing the clothes off of your room floor.

Once you get a chance to perform the task, do it immediately. This will ensure that these small tasks don’t pile up and become overwhelming.

5.   Put a clock on your study table

Students often lose track of time while they’re studying or doing their homework.

I recommend that you put a clock on your study table so that you’re always aware of the time.

Being aware of the time is vital if you want to become a student who’s an expert at time management

11 ways to Perfect Time Management 2

 

■       Communication. Developing strong communication skills can allow you to make your plans and goals clear to people you work with. It also allows you to delegate, which lets you focus on completing the most important, relevant tasks that align with your goals.

■       Planning. A fundamental part of time management is planning. Being efficient in planning out your day, meetings and how you will accomplish things will help you stick to your schedule.

Why are time management skills important?

■       Time management skills are important because they help you structure your work in a way that allows you to accomplish goals. For example, if your goal is to get a job, you need time to update your resume, search for openings, apply, research companies and prepare for interviews. Setting aside specific amounts of time per day will help you complete the necessary steps to getting a job.

■       Alternatively, if already have a job, you likely have a variety of responsibilities to help the company achieve certain goals. Maintaining your calendar, meetings and tasks is necessary to be successful in your role.

■       Being fully present and focused results from strong time management skills. For example, if you are running late to a meeting and must work on a project you forgot was due while people are speaking, you might miss important information that could help you be better at your job.

■       Managing your time well also allows you to have space to be creative and proactive with your goals. When you have a specific time set aside to complete your tasks, you can also allow for time to think about the big picture for yourself and your company.

11 ways to Time Management for Students

1.   Keep a time log for a few days

Do you feel as if you’ve been unproductive, but you’re not sure where all your time has been going?

If so, I recommend that you keep a time log for three to four days.

Keep track of everything you do during those few days. You’ll then have a much better idea as to how you can manage your time more effectively.

At the beginning of each study session, write down the task you’re going to work on.

This will help you prepare your schedule.

 

2.   Create a schedule for each day of the week

Every successful person I know follows a daily routine. So do these famous people.

To be a master of time management, create a schedule for each day of the week, e.g. when you’ll exercise, relax, study, spend time with family.

It’s impossible to follow the schedule to the minute. But you’ll be far more productive if you use the schedule as a rough framework, rather than not using a schedule at all.

Be realistic about what you can accomplish each day

Many students overestimate what they can accomplish each day. When they don’t manage to complete everything they intended to, they get discouraged and lose motivation.

So be realistic when you plan your day, and assume that there will be a few unforeseen interruptions.

For every homework assignment you receive, decide when you’re going to start working on it

Be as specific as possible, e.g. “I’m going to start working on the English essay this coming Wednesday at 4 p.m.”

This is far better than saying to yourself, “I’m going to start working on the English essay as soon as possible.”

In your calendar, block out time for homework and studying

As the saying goes, “If it doesn’t get scheduled, it doesn’t get done.”

If you’re serious about effective time management, then block out time in your schedule for homework and studying.

In your calendar, block out time for homework and studying

As the saying goes, “If it doesn’t get scheduled, it doesn’t get done.”

If you’re serious about effective time management, then block out time in your schedule for homework and studying.

 Write down all your test dates and assignment due dates in your calendar

As mentioned in Point #6, don’t rely on your brain as a storage device.

Write down all important dates in your calendar, e.g. tests, exams, assignment and project due dates.

When you do this consistently, you won’t be caught off-guard a day before an assignment is due.

For projects and big assignments, always be clear about what the next step is

One of the main reasons that students procrastinate is that they aren’t clear what exactly they should do next for a project or assignment.

I recommend that you keep a list of “next actions” for each project or big assignment, so that you always know what you ought to do next.

 

3.   Take a study break every 40 to 50 minutes

For every 40-50 minutes you study, take a short 10-15 minute break to recharge. Short study sessions are more effective and help you make the most of your study time. Find out more about taking a study break that works. Block your time for activities.

Exercise to clear your head in between study sessions

4.   If you don’t understand a new concept, speak to your teacher right away

11 ways to Perfect Time Management

 

Everyone gets the same 24 hours each day.

Albert Einstein, Mother Teresa, Isaac Newton, Eleanor Roosevelt, Leonardo da Vinci – they all had 24 hours a day, just like you and me.

What enabled them to lead such significant lives?

They managed their time well.

What is Time Management?

By taking the time to arrange your priorities, you can give yourself the best chance of staying on track and organized during the exam period, which in turn can help reduce stress levels, something that can be the difference between success and failure at university.

Managing your time well can help you improve in your career. Organizing each day helps you to complete work on time, stay engaged during important meetings and give you space to be creative and proactive in your tasks. Having strong time-management skills can ultimately lead to accomplishing key goals and advancing in your position.

What are time management skills?

■       Time management skills include a variety of skills that will help you manage your time well. Some of the most important time management skills include:

■       Organization. Staying organized can help you maintain a clear picture of what you need to complete and when. Being well-organized might mean maintaining an up-to-date calendar, being able to locate certain documents easily, having a tidy environment and taking detailed, diligent notes.

■       Prioritization. Assessing each of your responsibilities for priority is key in being a good time manager. There are many ways to prioritize what you need to accomplish. You might decide to complete fast, simple items followed by longer, more involved ones. Alternatively, you might prioritize your tasks starting with the most time-sensitive, or a combination of both.

■       Goal-setting. Setting goals is the first step to becoming a good time manager. Goal-setting allows you to clearly understand your end goal and what exactly you need to prioritize to accomplish it. Setting both short and long-term goals can lead to success in your career.

Some more points on ways to study effectively...Continued

8.   Block your breaks

For every 40-50 minutes you study, take a short 10-15 minute break to recharge. Short study sessions are more effective and help you make the most of your study time. Find out more about taking a study break that works. Block your time for activities. Have a chat with a friend, or play a game, just look outside, take fresh air. I like to draw…

9.Get Creative while studying

Use colors, sticky pads, have theme days eg: Only science on Monday. Some people are not able to study too many subjects in a day, they can just study one.

1                         10.                Learn more about the topic

        Learn from books, video’s, other resources. This gives you a chance to increase             your knowledge and help boost confidence.

 

11.        Teach others what you have Learnt.

            Sometimes when you teach a topic, it become clearer to you. Try doing that.               It works for me. 

Some more points on ways to study effectively.

 

 

5.   REVIEW NOTES FROM CLASS EVERY EVENING

After school, review and expand on the notes from class. Reviewing notes helps move material learned from short-term memory into long-term memory, which will help next time you have a big test. Studies say that first revision should take place in 24hr, then after a 7 days, then at least 3 weeks after, to memorise.

6.   Plan of action for exams while you SIMPLIFY STUDY NOTES

What chapter to read when? When to do last years papers? All this should be in your schedule.

Make studying less overwhelming by condensing notes from class. Underline or highlight key words. Create visual aids like charts, story webs, mind maps, or outlines to organize and simplify information and help you remember better.

 

7.   DESIGNATE A STUDY AREA

The best study spot is one that is quiet, well-lit, and in a low-traffic area. Make sure there is a clear workspace to study and write on. Everyone’s needs are different, so it is important you find a spot that works for you . Make sure your pencil/pen eraser etc…whatever you need should be at one place so that you don’t have to get up now and then to get something.