Why Fluent Non-Native English Speakers Still Struggle to Communicate Clearly… and What Actually Helps

Many accomplished professionals speak English fluently yet still find communication in the workplace unexpectedly challenging. They contribute valuable insights, manage teams and lead projects — yet sometimes their ideas don’t land as intended. This is rarely about...

Sing Your Way to Better Language Skills

I got into pronunciation training because of my love for singing — and because, believe it or not, I learned to speak Spanish with a pretty decent accent by belting out songs. Over the past two years, I’ve had the joy of reconnecting with a group of Chilean and Greek...

What Is a Phrasal Verb?

If you've ever been puzzled by phrases like "turn up," "give in," or "run out," you're not alone. These aren't just random combinations of words – they're phrasal verbs, and they carry meanings you can't always guess from the individual parts. Take the verb turn. On...

Why Idioms Matter in Business English

Whether you’re a senior leader, a multilingual professional, or someone navigating the complexity of cross-cultural teams, the language you choose carries more weight than you might think. And often, it’s not the big, impressive words that matter most – it’s the small...

Why Fluent Isn’t Always Clear: The Missing Piece in Executive Communication

You speak English every day. You lead meetings, deliver updates, contribute to your team, and handle complex responsibilities. You’re fluent. And yet you may have received feedback that your communication is sometimes unclear, hard to follow, or lacking impact. This...

Helping Women Assert Themselves in Business

In today's global business landscape, refining how we assert our voice is crucial. For high-level non-native English speakers, the challenge isn't just about mastering vocabulary or grammar—it's about being heard, understood, and respected. Women, in particular, often...

Can You Really Eliminate a Foreign Accent?

How realistic is it to completely eliminate a foreign accent? The honest answer: it’s very unlikely. While it's possible to soften an accent and improve clarity, eliminating it entirely is an enormous challenge—even for highly trained actors. Why? Because accent...

How Emotion Shapes Learning

Whether you're refining your English skills as a professional or learning a new language from scratch, engaging your emotions can significantly enhance your progress. Why Emotion Matters in Language Learning Emotion affects attention, memory, motivation, and cognitive...

The Silent Struggle: How Language Gaps Impact Non-Native Speakers’ Confidence at Work

When a non-native English speaker lives and works in an English-speaking environment, even apparent fluency can mask significant challenges. Recognizing these nuances is crucial for HR professionals and workplace leaders to foster an inclusive and supportive...

T Between Vowels – Practice with the audio

Recently I made a post on how to pronounce T, entitled Pronouncing T – Practice the poem with the audio. The poem I posted helped you to practice the T which is at the beginning of a word or any stressed syllable. But in Toronto, and many other areas in North America,...

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Video Post on Weather Idioms

Video Post on Weather Idioms

Next in my series on common idioms, I focus on weather idioms. Here are the three I will discuss in the video: Up in the air Under the weather When it rains, it pours Please share other weather idioms you use and find useful to get a clear message across in few words....

Video Post on Movement Idioms

Video Post on Movement Idioms

Is it okay to use idioms at work? If you are a native speaker and work with non-native speakers, I suggest developing awareness of when you are using an idiom. I’m not saying don’t use them but make sure they are understood. And if you are a non-native speaker,...

Video Post on Food Idioms

Video Post on Food Idioms

Using idioms at work? Continuing with my series of idioms, they are so important, maybe not to use but at least to understand. You can say a lot with a few words when using an idiom. Just make sure you are using acceptable work idioms. Today I look at 4 food idioms:...

Video Post on Animal Idioms

Video Post on Animal Idioms

Do you use idioms at work? If you are a native speaker and work with non-native speakers, I suggest developing awareness of when you are using an idiom. I’m not saying don’t use them but make sure they are understood. And if you are a non-native speaker, remember that...

Why Work With Voice to Word?

Why Work With Voice to Word?

There are few options available for foreign trained professionals in Canada, especially for those who are interested in refining their communications. That's why I started Voice to Word. Watch my video for more! [video width="1920" height="1080"...

Fun With Wuzzles

Fun With Wuzzles

Due to holidays and vacation time, I did not get around to writing or recording a blog post in either December 2023 or January 2024. But I did share the following Wuzzle puzzles in my social media posts and newsletter. What are Wuzzles? They are puzzles in the form of...

Video Post on Pronunciation: T & D

Video Post on Pronunciation: T & D

This is the last video in my series on English consonants. This time I am looking at the sharp T and its counterpart, D. There are many ways to pronounce T in English but the sharp T is the way we pronounce T when it starts a word or a stressed syllable. It is...

Video Post on Pronunciation: V & W

Video Post on Pronunciation: V & W

Previously, I discussed the difference between V & B, as well as the difference between P & F. In this video, I am looking at another contrast with V which is the blending of W & V, common in many non-native accents. This one is very common and rarely...

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