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Niqab ban at Citizenship Ceremony – Who Makes these Decisions Anyway?
So why is there a niqab ban at citizenship ceremonies in Canada? Most of us would have thought that such decisions are debated and standardized. But that is not necessarily the case. Read on to learn how this niqab ban got made. Ex-immigration minister Jason Kenney...
Muscle Buttons – The Key Physical Elements for Accent Modification
What are muscle buttons? In the following video, pronunciation instructor, Adrian Underhill, talks of the key physical elements which we all need to be able to isolate in order to move from habitual mouth movements to adjusting these movements at will....
Music and Language, Communication and Survival
I often write about the connection between music and language skills. I believe that music plays a huge role in how we develop our communication skills. I have noticed that very few of my accent students have ever studied music which seems to indicate the...
Which Words Matter the Most When We Talk?
Words matter a lot! You may have heard that communication is 55% body language, 38% tone of voice and 7% actual words. Well, this myth has been debunked! While body language and tone of voice continue to be important elements of effective communication, we know that...
The Power of Music – The Landfill Harmonic Orchestra
I have written a number of posts in my blog about the power of music. Music and song can help us learn to speak a language more clearly, use native-like rhythm and learn how a culture expresses itself. While this video is not about learning a second spoken language,...
Does Your Company Have a Language Strategy?
What is the language strategy at your company? Does it even have one? If not, they are missing the boat since it is essential when hiring internationally-trained employees who have the skills you want and just need coaching in the specifics of particular aspects of...
Before Applying For a Job, Do These Three Things
Before applying for a job, you need to prepare, prepare, prepare. The work you do upfront will improve your results significantly. Read about three things you can do to get yourself ready. 3 Things You Should Do Before Applying to Any Job Posting By Lou Adler I...
How to Be Assertive
In my classes, we often discuss how to be assertive rather than aggressive. According to the following article, "assertiveness trumps anxiety". However, assertiveness is far more than an anti-anxiety technique. Dr. Bob Alberti tells us how to connect with others...
How to Understand a Thick Accent
Every industry in Canada has to deal with multiple accents. So we all need to learn how to understand a thick accent and how to clarify when we don't. And remember, if you are having difficulty understanding someone's accent, they very likely are having difficulty...
Neil Young’s HELPLESS, sung by KD Lang
Neil Young has written so many classic songs. Here the song HELPLESS, sung by Canada's KD Lang, takes us back to his youth growing up in Ontario, Canada. According to Wikepedia, the song was "most famously recorded by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young on their 1970...
