by Heather Chetwynd | Oct 14, 2022 | Human Resources
What is uptalk? When we ask a question which requires a yes or no answer – Do you live near here?⮵- our intonation rises. Sometimes we use this intonation throughout our speech. Because it is similar to the question intonation, it implies we are waiting for a response...
by Heather Chetwynd | Aug 26, 2022 | Human Resources
This article covers a variety of considerations which can influence the success of language coaching. If you are a manager or HR professional recommending such training to an employee, the following information can help shed light on the factors involved in successful...
by Heather Chetwynd | May 27, 2022 | Accent Modification
Accent training is about adjusting an accent. We all have accents, so terms such as “accent elimination” and “accent reduction” are based on the incorrect assumption that “we” don’t have accents. I prefer to use the terms “accent modification,” “accent adjustment,”...
by Heather Chetwynd | Feb 11, 2022 | Culture and Values
In Canada, many people are not used to hearing a variety of accents, especially in less urban environments. Even in Toronto, one of the most multicultural cities in the world, many native speakers mix almost entirely with other native speakers and, therefore, do not...
by Heather Chetwynd | Feb 4, 2022 | Culture and Values
AUDIO-Why Computers Sometimes Crash This poem sounds like it has been written by the children’s author, Dr. Seuss. Apparently it is anonymous but it sure sounds like him. His poems are great for pronunciation practice. Try reading it aloud along with the...
