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Communication Matters

July 2014    Issue 73            


Your Attention Will Determine Your Direction       
In This Issue
Where You Direct Your Attention Determines the Direction You Will Take
How Long Do You Want To Live Like This?
TELL US YOUR STORYFeatured Article
Business  Woman Lecturing

If you are a foreign born professional, we would like to hear from you. We are very interested in the story of how you are overcoming self-doubt and learning new skills.

We would be happy to feature your story in a future issue.
trOur Mission is to help our clients transform their accents from a communication barrier to a charming cultural flavor using "listener friendly" speech. 
 

  

Order Mastering Meaning from Lulu.com today online.   For an autographed copy contact Judith Bergman through our web site. (Pay for autographed copies with check by mail or credit card phone order only). $19.99 + S & H and applicable sales taxes.   

  

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We can help you take your life in a new direction by improving your spoken communication!
Go to our Archive Home Page to read more fascinating newsletters.



  Triangle Speech Services is the private, professional practice of Judith L. Bergman, a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP) who specializes in foreign accent and regional dialect modification and related communication skills. I offer customized, individual tutorials to corporate-sponsored and self-enrolled individuals who speak English fluently but with moderate to severe accents that create challenges and frustrations in the workplace.

  This newsletter is barely "making the deadline" for July. I returned on July 20 from another wonderful (and annual) two week stay in the cool, green hills of the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. As usual, I had to sort through piles of mail which always includes magazines that tempt me to stop and browse, instead of unpacking and catching up with tasks like writing this newsletter.

  Always on the alert for a relevant theme, I read an article on surviving dangerous situations, including suddenly seeing a deer leap out in front of your car. The advice:  Always look where you want to go; you will automatically steer your car in that direction! If you look at the deer instead of a way to drive around it, you will hit the deer! 

   

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  While his daughters in the back seat enjoy the view from the side window, the driver and his wife have their eyes on the road. Teachers know how to handle "attention-getting" disruptive behaviors in young students. The teacher praises the students who are  working productively while her assistant silently "controls" the child who is "acting-up." Positive attention reinforces positive behaviors!
   Michael Losier's best selling book, The Law of Attraction and his excellent training programs and additional texts explain the same phenomenon described by the instructions to "look where you want to go and you will steer your car in that direction" and attract to yourself the positive outcomes you desire. 
 
How Long Do You Want to Live Like This?
home-working-man.jpg   Marc Gellman asked this question in his column in the July 3, 2014 Raleigh News & Observer and wrote, "Waiting is not choosing. Hand wringing (complaining) is not choosing. Choosing is turning around and walking in a different direction."
   V.J. a current client from India who is an I.T. professional and diligently practicing his assignment for session #4 of the 13 session course, offers this advice to individuals who are ready to direct their attention to improving their spoken communication:

   "When your nonnative English accent and pronunciation makes it harder for your customers, clients and colleagues to understand you, it can hinder your professional success.  The good news is you can improve your pronunciation and reduce your accent.

   "However this is not as easy as you would think. Changing the speaking habits that you have been accustomed to since childhood is very hard. It requires lot of commitment, dedication, patience and practice from you and more importantly a good instructor with the course work that is tailored to your needs.

    "I am finding Ms. Bergman's instruction extremely helpful in working on my own accent reduction and pronunciation. Based on your evaluation she will prepare the course work that will be focused on your needs. Your daily practice using the online program will help you to make progress every day and most importantly, she will receive your practice recordings. Her emails provide daily feedback on your practice and give you an opportunity to correct yourself immediately. It's worth every penny you spend on this course."

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   We invite you to click on Triangle Speech Services  to visit our informative website. Our goal is always to provide information, inspiration and encouragement since these are essential components of any successful learning experience.
 
  If you are seriously considering enrolling yourself or an employee in an individual tutorial with us or simply want to talk to us about our programs, please contact us through the contact page of our web site
  
Sincerely,

 

Judith L. Bergman M.A. CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist and Corporate Speech Trainer
Founder & Director of Triangle Speech Services