Top 10 Successful Speaking Strategies to Use in Cross-Cultural Conversations for the Accented Speaker–Part 2
Last week we discussed five tips for speaking in cross-cultural conversations. Today, we explore the last five tips and tricks:
6. Pause periodically to give your listener time to process what you have said.
If you are making a few errors in your speech, the listener needs time to figure it out or “translate” what was said. Give your listener this time by pausing briefly.
7. Ask the listener if he/she understood. Watch for puzzled facial expressions, glazed over eyes, repeated head-nodding and perhaps other non-verbal clues that tell you that the listener isn’t completely understanding you.
8. Use these specific strategies to clarify your message. If it is clear that your listener doesn’t understand, use these strategies:
• Repeat your message, as needed, changing the words that you use. In other words, try saying the same thing using different words. If you have the vocabulary, you know already that there are many words in English that mean the same thing. Sometimes, a different word has the sounds that you pronounce more accurately or the syllable stress comes more naturally to you.
• Spell or write the words that your listener doesn’t understand.
• Use gestures and facial expressions to convey meaning in conversation.
9. Over-exaggerate your mouth movements when you speak. By over-exaggerating your mouth movements, you accomplish multiple things that will aid your speech considerably! You will most likely slow down, sound more relaxed, have improved resonance, make clearer consonants and project your voice! How is that for “killing multiple birds with one stone!”
10. Smile while you speak. Smiling puts everyone at ease. A warm smile says that you are approachable.
Would you like to attend a free Webinar:
How to Avoid Getting Asked to Repeat Yourself with a Few Simple Tweaks
(You must register. There will not be a recording, so only register if you can attend.)
You will learn more about the skills you need to be better understood! This hour long webinar will give you all the information you need to get started.
Tags: accent modification, acquire American english accent, communication skills, executive leaders speaking, foreign accent modification, foreign accent reduction, polished speaking, presentations