Be a success by speaking your best!
September 2007
This month you will get a chance to practice the "v" sound as in the word "very", learn a new idiom of the month and continue to build your vocabulary. Also, try our speech tip to help you improve your spoken English.
We all handle things differently, depending on our personalities. Some people complete tasks they are given right away and others seem to wait forever. If you wait until the last minute to do something, we say that you wait until the "eleventh hour." This is a very common saying in American English. People who wait until the last minute to do things are also called "procrastinators."
So, are you a procrasinator and put off tasks until the eleventh hour, or do you complete tasks when you get them?
Pronouncing the "v" Sound
The "v" sound is a member of what we call the "continuant" sounds because we can prolong it for as long as we can breathe out.
If your native language is Spanish or Filipino you may be pronouncing the "v" like "b". If your native language is Chinese, Russian, or if you are from the Middle East, you may be pronouncing the the "v" like "w".
To form the American English "v" sound, place your upper front teeth on your bottom lip. With your teeth and lip touching, push the air and your voice so that you can feel your lip vibrate. The vibration occurs because you are using your voice.
Now that you know how to make the "v" sound, let's practice saying it. Click here to practice.
Expanding Your Vocabulary
Try using these new words this month when you speak to others. Always use the chance to expand your vocabulary!
1. supertitious: pronounced "super-STIH-shuss" This word comes from the word "superstition" and is an adjective to describe someone who believes in magic, the supernatural, or stories relating to them. For example, if you break a mirror, some people believe in the superstition that they will have seven years bad luck; they are superstitious.
2. catastrophe: pronounced "kuh-TASS-truh-fee" This word means a tragic event. For example: The bridge that collapsed killed 50 people and was the latest catastrope on our highways.
3. amicable: pronounced "AM-ick-uh-bul": This word means friendly. For example: Our relationship with our next door neighbors is very amicable.
We welcome your thoughts regarding our newsletter and future topics to discuss. Let us know what you think!
Sincerely,
Cheryl Posey Speaking Your Best, Inc.
Record Your Speech
Do you ever wonder how you sound to other people? Try recording your speech! It is the best way to find out how your spoken English really sounds.
If you don't have a tape recorder, don't worry. If you have a computer, it should have a bult-in tape recorder that you can access and use to record your speech. To access your "sound recorder", so to "start", then click on "all programs." Find "accessories" in the menu and click on "entertainment". In the entertainment section, you will find your computer's sound recorder.
Using your sound recorder, you can record your speech for up to three minutes at at time.
Try these activities:
1. Read aloud for one minute. Reading aloud is a great activity because you can see the words. This visual makes it easier to focus on the sounds you are saying.
2. Talk for one minute about work. Because you want your speech to be the best at work, this is great practice to hear how you sound.
3. Listen to your recordings! Try to hear when you are mispronouncing sounds in words. Write these words down so that you can practice them.
