Elocution Lessons App

Elocution Lessons App – Accent Reduction Made Easy. Perfect for children, beginners, and anyone starting their English pronunciation mastery.

Content

This app contains all 48 lessons from the bestselling book Get Rid of Your Accent for Beginners, the latest in the acclaimed Get Rid of Your Accent series. It provides a complete solution for accent reduction and speech study, designed especially for children and beginner-level English learners.

  • Practice English sounds in words, phrases, sentences, and passages

  • Fun verses, rhythmic drills & articulation exercises

  • Carefully selected vocabulary for beginners and young learners

Functionality

  1. Listen & Repeat – Hear model pronunciation for every sound.

  2. Record & Compare – Match your voice against native RP speakers.

  3. CD Function

What You’ll Learn

  • Master all English sounds of RP (Received Pronunciation), also known as Oxford English, Queen’s English, or BBC English

  • Clear articulation through consonant clusters and word endings

  • Natural intonation and sentence stress

  • Fluency through linking and speaking in phrases

Customers reviews:

“This is a great tool for correcting my pronunciation of common phrases. The app makes practice much easier than CDs.” – Alan Perez, Amazon customer

“As a teacher, this helped me reduce my accent and deliver clearer lessons. Highly recommended.” – Amazon customer

Meet the Authors

Linda James (RAM, Dip. Ed., IPD, LRAM), Speech and Drama coach, trained at the Royal Academy of Music, with 20+ years of experience teaching RP and accent reduction in London drama schools, films, and TV.

Olga Smith (BA Linguistics, MBA), Linguist, public speaker, and co-author of the best-selling *Get Rid of Your Accent book series. Having overcome her own strong Russian accent, Olga brings practical expertise to learners worldwide.

Visit www.batcsglobal.com to book a professional speech analysis.

American Accent App

American Accent App uses a proven drama school speech training method to help you speak clear, confident English. Trusted by actors, lawyers, diplomats, and professionals worldwide, it will help you neutralise your accent and master General American English pronunciation.

Content

  • Start with clear diagrams and explanations of how each sound is formed

  • Practise with words, sentences, verses, and articulation drills


    Functionality

  • Listen & Repeat – Hear model pronunciation for every sound.

  • Record & Compare – Match your voice against native RP speakers.

  • CD Function

With this app, you will:

✅ Neutralise your accent within 1–3 months

✅ Make your English clear, confident, and easy to understand

✅ Improve communication and public speaking skills

✅ Boost confidence and professional image

✅ Enhance career opportunities worldwide

Fluent American Speech App

Based on the international bestseller Get Rid of Your Accent Part One and Two, General American Accent Training Manual, ISBN 9780955330087, this app helps you reduce your accent, perfect your American English pronunciation, and speak fluently with confidence.

With practical elocution lessons and vocal techniques, Fluent American Speech explains the rules of difficult American speech patterns, intonation, and sentence stress. Step by step, you’ll learn how to neutralise your accent and achieve a clear, natural speaking style.

App Content

  • Contractions for natural fluency

  • Liaisons for smooth connections between words

  • Strong and weak forms for authentic speech

  • Intonation and sentence stress for clarity and impact

  • Difficult word endings & silent letters with guided practice

Functionality
1. Native model audio tracks
2. Listen & repeat training
3. Record your voice
4. Compare pronunciation instantly

What You’ll Gain:

1. A fluent American accent in just 1–3 months of practice

2. Confidence in social and professional English speech as well as in public speaking

3. Improved job prospects, education, and social interactions

4. A professional voice that sounds natural, clear, and persuasive

Whether you want to get rid of your accent, prepare for public speaking, or simply improve your fluency in English, this accent app works like a personal coach in your pocket.

Start your journey to perfect American English pronunciation and fluency today and watch your career and social life blossom!

Business English Speech App

Whether you want to neutralise your accent, speak with authority, or master business English fluency, this is your shortcut to success in the global workplace. Based on the bestselling book Get Rid of Your Accent for Business by Linda James and Olga Smith, this app includes 43 lessons built on real business language from interviews with CEOs, CFOs, and managing directors of global companies.

 Why This App?

  • The most complete resource for Business English speech training

  • Written in the style of the Financial Times and The Economist

  • Covers finance, IT, law, HR, and marketing vocabulary

  • Used by professionals worldwide to advance their careers

  • Many of our clients have been promoted after improving their speech clarity and business communication with this app and lessons

 With this app, you will:
1. Neutralise your accent in as little as 1–3 months
2. Make your Business English clear and easy to understand
3. Improve presentation, negotiation, and public speaking skills
4. Speak with confidence and authority in professional settings
5. Expand your business vocabulary with up-to-date lingo
6. Master Received Pronunciation (RP) – the clear, neutral accent of educated English speakers

 App Content  

  • 43 structured lessons with audio guidance

  • Clear explanations of tongue, lip, and jaw placement for each English sound

  • Practice with words, phrases, sentences, idioms, tongue twisters, and business passages and interviews

  • Lessons on contractions, silent letters, and French expressions used in business

App Functionality

✔ Listen to professional model recordings

✔ Record your own voice and play it back

✔ Compare your speech with the model for instant feedback

✔ Train anytime, anywhere at your own pace

Meet the Authors

Linda James (RAM, Dip. Ed., IPD, LRAM), Speech and Drama coach, trained at the Royal Academy of Music, with 20+ years of experience teaching RP and accent reduction in London drama schools, films, and TV.

Olga Smith (BA Linguistics, MBA), Linguist, public speaker, and co-author of the best-selling *Get Rid of Your Accent book series. Having overcome her own strong Russian accent, Olga brings practical expertise to learners worldwide.

Visit www.batcsglobal.com to book a professional speech analysis.

4Ps: Power, Pitch, Pace, Pause App

Do you struggle with a monotonous voice? Do you want to sound dynamic, engaging, and professional when you speak?

The 4Ps: Power, Pitch, Pace, Pause app is the ultimate voice training and public speaking tool, designed to help you transform your communication skills, sound more persuasive, and captivate your audience.

Whether you are giving a presentation, reading reports in meetings, debating, storytelling, or broadcasting, the way you deliver your words is as important as the words themselves. This app will teach you how to add energy, clarity, and variety to your speech so you never sound dull or flat again.

App Content

Part 1 (Lessons 1–6): Master the 4Ps of Public Speaking

  1. Power – Train your voice for strength, projection, and clarity

  2. Pitch – Learn to vary your intonation to add emotion and hold attention

  3. Pace– Control your speed for maximum clarity and persuasion

  4. Pause – Use silence correctly and effectively to add drama and emphasis.

  5. These skills are essential for **formal presentations, board meetings, speeches, debates, and storytelling**.

Part 2 (Lessons 7–17): Classic Elocution Training

  1. Muscular and rhythmic exercises to strengthen your voice.

  2. Practice English sounds, onomatopoeia, and tricky place names.

  3. Extracts from famous English poems and prose to develop rhythm and expression.

  4. Techniques to make your speech crisp, clear, and engaging.

App Functionality

✔ Listen to professional model recordings

✔ Record your own voice and play it back

✔ Compare your speech with the model for instant feedback

✔ Train anytime, anywhere at your own pace

This App Will Help You:

1. Make your voice loud, clear, and confident.

2. Use pauses for dramatic effect and impact.

3. Modulate your voice by changing pitch, pace, and power.

4. Neutralise your accent and improve clarity.

5. Sound more professional, persuasive, and engaging.

With 4Ps: Power, Pitch, Pace, Pause, you’ll stop sounding monotonous and start sounding like a confident, dynamic speaker who commands attention.

Meet the Authors

Linda James (RAM, Dip. Ed., IPD, LRAM), Speech and Drama coach, trained at the Royal Academy of Music, with 20+ years of experience teaching RP and accent reduction in London drama schools, films, and TV.

Olga Smith (BA Linguistics, MBA), Linguist, public speaker, and co-author of the best-selling *Get Rid of Your Accent book series. Having overcome her own strong Russian accent, Olga brings practical expertise to learners worldwide.

Visit www.batcsglobal.com to book a professional speech analysis.

Fluent English Speech App

The follow-up to the bestselling Get Rid of Your Accent UK1 app. Designed for learners who want to speak English fluently, clearly, and confidently—just like a native speaker.

App Contents
Part 1: Master difficult speech patterns — word endings, consonant clusters, schwa, strong & weak forms.
Part 2: Connected speech — learn to speak in natural phrases instead of separate words.
Part 3: Improve intonation, sentence stress & rhythm — make your speech smooth, clear, and engaging.

Functionality
1. Native model audio tracks
2. Listen & repeat training
3. Record your voice
4. Compare pronunciation instantly

With this app, you will:

  • Develop English fluency and natural flow

  • Improve pronunciation, intonation & rhythm

  • Learn idioms & colloquial expressions to sound authentic

  • Reduce your foreign accent and speak with confidence

  • Boost career opportunities and personal impact through clear communication

    Meet the Authors

    Linda James (RAM, Dip. Ed., IPD, LRAM), Speech and Drama coach, trained at the Royal Academy of Music, with 20+ years of experience teaching RP and accent reduction in London drama schools, films, and TV.

    Olga Smith (BA Linguistics, MBA), Linguist, public speaker, and co-author of the best-selling *Get Rid of Your Accent book series. Having overcome her own strong Russian accent, Olga brings practical expertise to learners worldwide.

    Visit www.batcsglobal.com to book a professional speech analysis.

The Best Accent Reduction App

Get Rid of Your Accent UK1 is the trusted tool for anyone who wants to speak clear, confident English. Originally launched in 2006 as the UK’s best-selling pronunciation book, it quickly became a phenomenon. In 2009, we transformed it into this powerful app so you can carry expert elocution lessons with you anywhere.

Renowned speech coach Joe Windley, Head of Speech at the Central School of Speech and Drama, London, praised it as: “A practical and effective tool for speech study, clearly built on years of expertise.”*

What You’ll Learn

The app covers all English sounds to help you master Received Pronunciation (RP), the neutral British English accent widely used in education, business, and public life.

Content

  1. Start with clear diagrams and explanations of how each sound is formed.

  2. Practise with words, sentences, verses, and articulation drills.


    Functionality

  3. Listen & Repeat – Hear model pronunciation for every sound.

  • Record & Compare – Match your voice against native RP speakers.

  • CD Function

This App Will Help You:

✅ Neutralise your accent within 1–3 months

✅ Speak English that is clear and easy to understand

✅ Improve communication and public speaking skills

✅ Boost confidence and professional image

✅ Enhance career opportunities worldwide

Meet the Authors

Linda James (RAM, Dip. Ed., IPD, LRAM), Speech and Drama coach, trained at the Royal Academy of Music, with 20+ years of experience teaching RP and accent reduction in London drama schools, films, and TV.

Olga Smith (BA Linguistics, MBA), Linguist, public speaker, and co-author of the best-selling *Get Rid of Your Accent book series. Having overcome her own strong Russian accent, Olga brings practical expertise to learners worldwide.

Visit www.batcsglobal.com to book a professional speech analysis.

Energy Management

Would you agree that, regardless of how much time we have, if we do not have energy, we can’t achieve much? How can we manage energy to live up to our potential?

I have identified what drains me of my energy and developed a routine to recharge my batteries. There are five types of energy:

  1. Physical

  2. Mental

  3. Emotional

  4. Spiritual

  5. Sexual

We all know how to maintain good physical energy: eat and sleep well, exercise, avoid alcohol, drugs and chemicals in our bodies. However, I have noticed that modern society puts too much pressure on looking perfect. Many of my girlfriends waste too much energy in the gym, shopping and doing makeup to look perfect. As a result, they look drained of energy, and they mask it with heavy makeup. I also noticed that many men in the gym look exhausted and unhappy; they look at their phones and pretend they are exercising. I found the physical activities that keep me fit and give me lots of additional energy: belly dancing lessons, Sundo and running.

Mental energy is the power of focus and attention, and the ability to concentrate. Constant texts, social media, YouTube videos and people who talk nonsense are the main leakages of my mental energy, which I try my best to avoid. People say that we should give a gift to listen to others. I strongly disagree because if they talk nonsense, it’s a waste of my energy. To recharge my mental energy, I love looking at the fire and walking on the beach. Having the house in good shape for me is the number one condition to be able to concentrate on intellectual work.

When we have negative feelings, we drain ourselves of energy, and when we experience positive emotions, we recharge emotionally. After each communication, I make a note in my journal of how I feel afterwards. If the person took my emotional energy and made me feel negatively, I would avoid them in future.

Another leakage of my energy is the worry that is steered by fears. Most of my fears are just my illusions, and whenever I feel I am worried, I ask myself: What am I afraid of? What is the worst that can happen to me? Then I realise that my fear is not worth my energy because I will survive, and in the big scale of things, my little fear is so small.

Spiritual energy is the most powerful energy we have. The proof of that is the lives of people like Viktor Frankl and many others. We are being robbed of our spiritual energy when we experience betrayal, vulgarity, and being lied to. What helps me to stay in a strong spirit is my optimism and feeling of love in my heart.

Managing sexual energy is very easy: only have sex with people you truly want and avoid sex with people you do not want.

More on www.batcsglobal.com

Energy Management 3: Negative People and Information Overload

This article continues my Energy Management series, which many of you have found valuable. Today, I want to explore two hidden energy drains: negativity and information overload.

 1. People Addicted to Negativity

Have you noticed how most news stories are negative — disasters, crimes, conflicts? Some people seem addicted to replaying these stories. Talking about them gives the illusion of control or knowledge, but the result is the opposite: they remain stuck in a low-energy state.

For some, negativity feels familiar — perhaps rooted in childhood — and it becomes their “comfort zone.” The hidden benefit? It provides an excuse not to take action.

Personally, I’ve noticed how draining this can be. I might start the day energised, but after just a few minutes with a negative person, I feel depleted.

 2. Information Overload

In today’s world, we are bombarded with information. Our curiosity pushes us to consume more — scrolling, reading, listening. But too much unfiltered information leads to what I call information obesity.

Just like overeating the wrong foods, overconsuming useless information makes us sluggish. We spend time and energy but gain nothing of real value.

 My Takeaways

 Through trial and error, I’ve learned two rules that help me protect my energy:

  • Avoid negativity – limit time spent with people or media that pull you down.

  • Consume wisely – focus only on information that leads to action, results, or growth. For example, you can gather information about marketing that can lead to improved sales of your products/services, etc.

When you guard your attention, you guard your energy — and that’s the foundation for a productive, fulfilling life.

Click the link below to read more on this topic

www.batcsglobal.com

Energy Management 2: How to Deal with Toxic People

Let me first list the qualities and the 3 main types of toxic people:

  1. Arrogant

  1. Passive-Aggressive

  2. Victims

Even if we try our best to avoid people who use belittling language or tone and subtly put us down with their sarcasm or condescending phrasing, we might find ourselves in situations where we have to deal with them. What can we do?

  1. Don’t feed the ego of arrogant people. One of the biggest mistakes you can make when dealing with arrogant individuals is showering them with compliments or kindness. Why? Because they often interpret it as weakness — and may try to take advantage of it.

Instead:

  • Stay polite but neutral

  • Keep the conversation focused on facts, not feelings

  • Maintain firm boundaries

2. Passive-aggressive behaviour can be tricky — it hides behind smiles, sarcasm, and subtle digs. But you can handle it without letting it derail your communication or mood.

What are the Signs?

  • Backhanded compliments that make you feel criticised

  • Silent treatment or withholding information

  • Sarcasm that makes you feel bad

  • Deliberate procrastination

The best approach would be to stay neutral. Reacting emotionally can give them the upper hand. Address the behaviour directly but gently. Set clear boundaries

3. Some people constantly cast themselves as the victim, blaming circumstances, other people, or “bad luck” for their problems. While empathy is important, enabling this mindset can stall progress and drain your energy.

Recognise the Pattern:

  • Frequent blaming of others

  • Refusal to take responsibility

  • Overemphasis on past hardships

  • Seeking sympathy without seeking solutions

Even if you try to shift their focus to solutions, they will not appreciate it and find plenty of reasons why the solution won't work. We need to avoid becoming the rescuer. "God help those who help themselves." If you constantly “save” them, you reinforce the helpless narrative. It would be more productive to encourage ownership instead. You can say things like:

I believe in you; you will find the way forward; you are stronger than you give yourself credit.

How to Reduce Your Accent in 3 Months or Less

Why Accent Reduction Can Be a Game-Changer

If you speak English as a second language, you might have noticed that sometimes people ask you to repeat yourself — not because your ideas aren’t good, but because your words aren’t clear. In professional settings, this can be frustrating and even limit your opportunities.

The good news? You don’t need years of training to make a noticeable difference. With the right tools and consistent practice, you can reduce your accent and speak English clearly in as little as three months.

Step 1: Understand How Accent Reduction Works

Accent reduction isn’t about erasing your identity — it’s about making your speech easier to understand. This means:

·        Correct pronunciation of English sounds

·        Clear word stress and intonation

·        Proper pace, pauses, and projection

Step 2: Use a Structured Accent Training Program

Random YouTube videos can help, but a structured accent reduction app like Get Rid of Your Accent gives you:

·        Step-by-step lessons for all English sounds

·        Audio models from native speakers

·        Record & compare tools to track progress

Step 3: Practice Daily for 15–20 Minutes

Just like going to the gym, you’ll see results if you train regularly. Focus on:

1. Repeating words, sentences and verses after the model

2. Recording yourself and spotting mistakes

3. Practising fluency in social phrases

Step 4: Apply Your New Skills in Real Conversations

Start using your improved pronunciation in meetings, networking events, or even casual chats with friends. The more you speak, the faster you’ll internalise your new habits.

 The Bottom Line

A heavy accent doesn’t have to hold you back. With consistent practice and the right guidance, you can sound clearer, more confident, and more professional — in just three months.

Start your transformation today with the Get Rid of Your Accent app — your personal accent reduction coach, right in your pocket.

The Role of Voice and Accent in Job Interviews

When it comes to landing your dream job, most people focus on polishing their résumé, practising common interview questions, and researching the company. But there’s another factor that plays a huge role in how you’re perceived — your voice and accent.

In a job interview, your words matter — but how you say them can matter even more.

 Why Your Voice Matters

Your voice is more than just a tool for communication — it’s part of your personal brand. The tone, pace, and clarity of your speech can instantly influence whether you come across as confident, competent, and trustworthy.

Here’s what interviewers often pick up on: 

1. Clarity – Clear speech signals professionalism and attention to detail.

2. Confidence – A steady, well-projected voice makes you sound self-assured.

3. Energy – A lively tone helps you sound engaged and interested in the role.

A nervous, rushed, or monotone delivery can unintentionally send the wrong message — even if your answers are perfect.

 Accent and First Impressions

In today’s global job market, accents are normal — but they can still affect comprehension. If an interviewer struggles to understand you, they might (consciously or unconsciously) question your ability to communicate effectively with clients, colleagues, or stakeholders.

This doesn’t mean you need to erase your accent entirely. But reducing a heavy accent and improving pronunciation can make your speech easier to follow, helping you connect with your interviewer and keep their focus on your skills and ideas — not on deciphering your words.

Key Skills to Improve Before Your Interview

If you want to make a strong vocal impression, focus on these areas: 

1. Pronunciation – Aim for crisp, accurate sounds, especially for common industry terms.

2. Pace – Slow enough to be clear, but not so slow that you lose momentum.

3. Pausing – Use pauses to emphasize key points and give the interviewer time to process.

4. Intonation – Add variety to your pitch to sound natural and engaging.

5. Volume & Projection – Speak loudly enough to be heard without sounding aggressive.

How to Train Your Voice for Interview Success 

Improving your voice and accent doesn’t have to take years — with targeted practice, you can make noticeable changes in just weeks.

Get Rid of Your Accent for Business app provides: 

Audio models of clear, neutral English speech.

Step-by-step lessons to improve pronunciation and intonation.

Record & compare tools to track your progress.

Practice materials based on real-world speaking situations, including interviews.

By training your ear, practising key sounds, and mastering vocal techniques, you can walk into your interview sounding confident, professional, and easy to understand.

Your qualifications get you in the door, but your communication skills can seal the deal. A clear, confident voice helps interviewers focus on you — your ideas, your expertise, and your potential. 

Ready to sound your best in your next interview?

Start training today with the Get Rid of Your Accent for Business app — your personal voice coach, right in your pocket.

The Ingredients of Boring Speech

Have you ever sat through a talk where you just couldn’t keep your eyes open? I have — and usually, it’s not because the topic was boring. It’s how the speaker delivered it.

 As a member of a public speaking club, I’ve noticed that many people don’t realize how dull their speech sounds to others. They’re not trying to be boring — it just happens.

Here are 6 reasons why a speech might put people to sleep:

 1. Monotonous tone

Speaking in a flat, unchanging voice that makes listeners zone out.

 2. Speaking too fast

Rushing through your points so quickly that no one can keep up.

 3. Long, complicated sentences

By the time you finish, the audience has already forgotten what you said at the start.

 4. Lack of emphasis

Failing to stress the important words that give meaning and energy to your message.

 5. No pauses

Skipping breaks between ideas, so listeners don’t get a chance to absorb what you’re saying.

 6. Using jargon or heavy accent

Speaking in a way that’s hard to understand because of technical terms or pronunciation.

 The good news? These are all fixable.

 With the right practice and tools, you can transform your speaking style and engage your audience — often in just a few weeks. There’s even an app designed to be your personal voice coach, helping you with everything from pacing to pronunciation:

Ready to make your next speech interesting and memorable? It’s easier than you think!

216. Disadvantages of poor voice projection

Have you ever felt invisible? You said something, and there was no reaction. You felt that what you said was not interesting enough to pay attention to. Most likely, people did not hear what you said.

The reason is poor voice projection. The power of our voice depends on breathing and lung capacity. Actors do regular exercises to master voice projection.

When your voice has power:

  • You appear and feel confident

  • You make it easier for people to follow you

  • People will be more likely to be persuaded that what you are saying is important

To master voice projection, I recommend 5 minutes of daily exercises from the app Power, Pitch, Pace, Pause. These exercises are easy yet very effective. You will see the results in a week.

More tips on www.batcsglobal.com

215. Get Rid of German Accent

Two things give away a German accent:

1. Germans do not distinguish between voiced and unvoiced consonants.
For example, the words “sad, mad, Dad” with voiced /d/ ending and “sat, mat, tet” with unvoiced /t/ ending have different meanings, but Germans pronounce them in the same way.
This can be easily fixed by practising voiced consonants and voiced endings with the apps ‎‎Get Rid of your Accent UK1and ‎Fluent English Speech (British English) or ‎ American Accent App and ‎Fluent American Speech (American English).

2. Intonation patterns
They often use simple falling inflection that sounds like they are giving orders. English use more rising, which sounds like a request. Often Germans speak English in a monotonous way which makes them sound dull. To sound more interesting, we recommend working on the sentence stress and inflection and voice modulation with the apps ‎Fluent English Speech or Fluent American Speech and Power, Pitch, Pace, Pause.

The same apps are also available on Google Play. The functionality is ideal: read, listen, record and compare your speech with the model. The apps have spelling variations for all English sounds and mouth diagrams to help you create the correct speech organ positions in words, phrases and poetry. When starting your practice with these apps, first go to “How to use this app” and click on the difficult sounds typical for your nationality, then click on your nationality to work effectively with a more focused approach.

The apps contain exercises for:
1. Difficult and connected speech patterns
2. Natural flow of speech
3. Intonation and sentence stress
4. Pronunciation and articulation

There are also two accompanying video courses: Get Rid of your Accent Part 1 and Get rid of your Accent Part 2.

More on www.batcsglobal.com

214. Get Rid of Brazilian Accent

Two main pronunciation mistakes give away a Brazilian accent:
1. The way they pronounce the /t/ sound followed by the /ʊ/ and /u/ as in “to” and “two”. Instead of the [t] sound, they produce the /tʃ/ sound as in “church”.

2. Incorrect nasalisation of the lateral consonant/l/ as in “link”.

3. Low tongue positions for plosive consonants /t/ and /d/ as in “tot” and “done” making the sounds “dental”

For all Brazilian/Portuguese speakers of English, I recommend a tailor-made accent reduction plan that will help you sound more like a native English speaker and develop clear speech:

  1. Master pure long English vowels and diphthongs. Try to lean on long vowels and diphthongs. Don’t shorten them even when speaking rapidly. Producing pure long vowels will also improve the tune or music of your speech and help to achieve English sentence rhythm.

  2. I recommend that you practise lessons from the apps: Get Rid of your Accent, Elocution Lessons, and Business English Speech if you want to speak with the British RP accent. If you prefer to speak with the General American accent, then download the app American Accent App and Fluent American Speech:

The first stage of the accent reduction is to work on English long vowels:
- /a:/ as in "car". lesson 1
- /ɔː/ as in “storm”, lesson 3
- /ɜ:/ as in "bird", lesson 5

The second stage of the accent reduction process for Brazilian/Portuguese speakers of English is to work on diphthongs:
-  /ɪə/ as in  “dear”, lesson 19
- /ʊə/ as in “poor”, lesson 21
- /eə/ as in “hair”, lesson 22
- /əʊ/ as in “boat”, lesson 16

The third stage is to work on the correct usage of the short vowels:
- / ʌ/ as in “bus”, lesson 9
- /ɪ/ as in “pit”, lesson 7
- /ə/ as in “the”, lesson 6
- /ɒ/ a in "box", lesson 10
- /æ/ as in "cat", lesson 15

A real game changer for Brazilian/Portuguese is strengthening the back tongue muscle and keeping the tip of the tongue on the alveolar ridge, thus achieving a higher tongue positioning for /t, d, l, n/ for these sounds. This will remove the incorrect nasalisation of these sounds, a mistake typical of Brazilian/Portuguese.

To achieve that, work on consonants:
- /t, d/ as in “teach” and “did” lesson 27
- / ŋ/ as “king” lesson 31
- Lateral plosion, lesson 34
- Nasal  plosion, lesson 32
- /l/ as in “London” lesson 33, particularly at the end of the word                                

The most advanced stage of accent reduction is intonation.
I recommend the apps ‎Fluent English Speech and  4Ps, power, pitch, pace, pause to master sentence stress, intonation, the use of pauses and voice modulation.  It will make your speech easy and interesting to listen to. Practise the Silent Letters chapter with the Business English Speech app.

There are also two video courses to support you on this journey: Get Rid of your Accent Part One and Get Rid of your Accent Part Two.

Click the link below to get useful tips:

www.batcsglobal.com

213. Essential Leadership Qualities and Knowledge

The benefit of developing leadership qualities is to lead our lives and not be pawns in someone else’s game.
Essential Leadership Qualities are:
1. Good communication skills
2. Ability to prioritise
3. Strategic thinking and the ability to calculate the short and long-term consequences of our decisions
4. Flexibility of mind and interpersonal relations

Good leaders should know about:
1. Their own and people’s psychology and how to maximise our/their potential
2. How to make decisions
3. How to set up goals
4. How to create the vision and mission of their lives/business

I am a born leader, but I lack some knowledge and skills. My weaknesses have always been my authoritarian communication style and a lack of flexibility, which are connected to my background and limited knowledge of people's psychology.

I was born in the Soviet Union, and having an authoritarian communication style was the norm there. It was even perceived as a strength. Now, I live in the UK and this so-cold “strength” works against me.

Developing interpersonal flexibility has been on my list for skills development for a long time. It is very hard to change one’s nature. Some people who know me from my childhood keep telling me that I will never change.

BUT, as I am an optimist by nature, I want to believe that I can develop a different communication style and become more flexible in interpersonal relations. Below is the list that motivates me to continue the hard work on myself:
1. The more flexible I am, the wider my choices can be
2. Communication is a transactional process; it is about giving and taking
3. When I don’t want to be flexible, I ask myself: Why am I like this? What are my fears? What will I lose if I am flexible?

I am curious to know your thoughts about leadership skills.

Olga Smith
www.batcsglobal.com

212. Ice-breaker techniques in public speaking engagements

All good ice-breaker techniques have one thing in common: successful delivery that grabs people's attention and interest.

You can use numerous ice-breakers such as anecdotes, jokes, short stories, quotes and questions. However, if they are delivered in a monotonous way, with a quiet voice that people can hardly hear, it will not create the desired effect.

Make an ice-breaker engaging and powerful. To achieve this effect, use drama techniques, such as a dramatic pause or pause for effect, a loud voice or even a whisper, depending on the meaning you wish to convey. I have mastered drama techniques using the app 4Ps, Power, Pitch, Pace, Pause. I can recommend it.

You can also use hand gestures, visual aids, objects, music, etc.

Be creative!

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211. How to simplify technical explanations when speaking with non-technical people

This is a useful skill when pitching to investors and customers who are often non-technical individuals.
Below are my tips to master this skill:
1. Imagine you are talking to a ten-year-old child and trying to explain a difficult technical concept. Which words would you choose? Choose simple, short, non-technical words.
For example, instead of saying:
“Our software is available on iOS and Android”, you can say:
“You can get our app on your phone.”
2. Translate technical jargon into a non-technical language. For example:
software - computer game, app
data - information
hardware - computer
download - get
3. Use visual aids
4. Use rhetorical devices such as a metaphor.
5. Use pauses.
Click the links below to learn about the use of pauses and other essential presentation skills.
4Ps, Power, Pitch, Pace, Pause
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