Idiomatic expressions related to eggs

Many people who are learning English as a second language, as well as those who have moved to a different part of the USA, struggle with learning the meaning of certain idiomatic expressions.
 In honor of the upcoming Easter and Passover holidays this weekend, here are idioms related to
eggs, a common theme in both holidays.

"A good egg" means someone you like. "Put all your eggs in one basket" means that you are assuming a higher level of risk by putting all your money in one place, or depending on only one option.

There are many more such "egg"related idioms. For a great list of them, go to http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/egg. Have a wonderful holiday!

Learning idioms is only one piece of learning English (or another language).  Another piece of this is improving pronunciation skills. Business Speech Improvement offers intensive seminars and also hourly sessions on this. To learn more about this, click here..

Four Ways to Help Your New International Colleague at Work

If you have an international colleague at work, you have an interesting learning opportunity, going both ways.

Americans are more individualistic, in general, while many international employees are taught to think first of their work group, not themselves. Therefore, while Americans might ask for what they need, in some countries, other employees could expect their work group to offer this help first.

For example, if you have a new international employee, slowly and clearly explain the American concept of various types of insurance. Insurance is done differently in various countries.

If the employee is new, offer to talk about the corporate culture, or the culture of your particular unit.
What is important to your boss or mission? What changes are being planned for the near future? Does the unit do any group activities, such as a day for volunteering, or cross-departmental project teams?

Some communities have an online calendar of community events. Show that to the newcomer, as well as telling about special events you like in the community that may take place yearly. Offer to take him or her to one of these. Also offer to answer questions about general life in the community, such as schools,  recycling or recreation.

If the person's pronunciation is hard to understand, this can affect his willingness to talk in some cases.  Business speech training is available in various formats for employees; talk to Training and Development or Human Resources about this to see if the company will sponsor this training.

Business Speech Improvement offers intensive training in American English pronunciation improvement for non-native professionals, as well as related e-books and mp3 files. Speech training in general diction, learning to speak slower, presentation skills, and executive communication skills are also available.

American English Pronunciation: LIttle-Known Rules that Matter

It's 11:15 AM on the first day of a small group seminar on American English Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals. The instructor is explaining about the 3 words in American English which have "th" in their spelling, but in which the "th" is silent: months, clothes and asthma. The learners comment, "I didn't know about this rule!"

Later, the students learn about other letters which are not pronounced, such as the "L" when written after an "a" and before another consonant, as in  walk, talk,  palms and psalms. The "a" is pronounced like "aw" in walk and talk, and like "ah" in palms and psalms.

The American English Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals seminar is a three-day intensive seminar. It includes individual speech assessments, targeted training, materials - and instruction on these essential rules.

Only 6 people are accepted in this exciting seminar. Get the details and enroll online by clicking here!

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive, customized training in many verbal skills, including American English pronunciation improvement. Economical e-books on verbal skills are also available.

Supervising international employees? Assumptions and your bottom line

Your employees' cultural assumptions may affect your bottom line - if you forget to discuss some of them. In an seminar on American English Pronunciation for Non-native Professionals, an attendee walked in one day shaking his head. "I know the answer to the problem my boss is struggling with - but of course I can't tell him," the new employee said. The entire class chorused, "Why not?" The employee replied, "I'll get fired for insubordination." Thankfully, the group included a manager of another department in the same organization, who assured the man that in this American company, he wouldn't get fired for saving his company a lot of time and money solving the problem. In another case, a new employee had an extraordinary background in her field, but was the newest hired in her department. When a supervisory position opened up, she told the group she wished she could apply. When asked why she wasn't doing so, she said, "I'm the last hired. It must go to the person there the longest," which was the case in her native country. Convinced to apply, she was quickly promoted. Here are three steps to take, with all your employees, to overcome such cultural assumptions. Remember that an employee can be American-born but be bi-cultural. 1. Let all employees know, verbally and in writing, how promotions are determined. If experience, education, motivation, certifications or other factors are involved, make that clear. Factors may be different in other countries. 2. Have supervisors explain repeatedly to new employees that questions are welcomed about procedures. This is not true everywhere. 3. If a person is exhibiting a communication behavior that is unusual to you, such as hesitating before shaking hands or being reluctant to show emotions or use the telephone, ask sincerely if things are done differently in his or her culture. Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training in verbal skills, including American English Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals. It offers e-books such as Coming to the USA:American Cultural Differences as well as others on diction, and more!

Foreign accent modification training: the challenge in the southern USA

Many non-native professionals in the USA who speak English are frustrated by their difficulty pronouncing American English clearly. In their native countries, they report, work groups are expected to do whatever is needed to help workers do better, which may include helping them speak more clearly if needed.

In the Southern USA, many employers are hesitant to bring up the topic of unclear speech, fearing a possible discrimination lawsuit or that the worker will at the least be offended and possibly resign.

The result is the worker is left wondering why no-one cares to help him, and the company is hesitant to offer accent modification training services.

There are two ways to resolve this. Employees who want this help need to ask their Human Resource or Training and Development Department if the company will pay for this training. If the company chooses to offer the training, it should be done by explaining the impact unclear speech has on the department or company, and offering this training as an option if the employee wants it. (An unmotivated employee will learn very little, if anything.) The company can also offer this training to all employees who request it, so it is not limited to specific ones.

Business Speech Improvement offers many types of verbal skills training, from intensive seminars in American English Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals to regional accent modification, seminars on how to speak slower for those who talk too fast and need help to improve, and more!

What sounds in American English are the most difficult for you to pronounce?

If you speak American English as a second (or third) language, what sounds are the hardest for you to say? For example, is it our "th" sound, our "sh" sound, a particular vowel, or some other sound? Please indicate your native language or dialect and native country.

This is a serious inquiry, and your comments are appreciated!

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive, customized training in American English pronunciation, presentation skills, general diction, executive communication, lip-reading, idea generation strategies and more. Additional information can be found at www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com.

Are foreign-born professionals in the USA offended if their employer offers to send them to an accent modification course?

As a specialist in foreign accent modification, my clients tell me that they are very glad their companies send them to my accent modification seminars. "I want to learn to speak right," said one learner. Another client reported, "My patients understand me the first time I speak, after this course."

Many human resources, training and management professionals in the USA, though, are hesitant to mention the need for accent modification training. They tell me, "I don't want to offend my employee by saying he needs this course."

If you are a foreign-born professional in the USA or an HR/training/management professional, how do you feel about being offered such training? Do you think companies should or should not encourage those employees who are hard to understand, to take this training?

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive seminars on Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals. For more information, visit www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com and visit the Open Enrollment section.

New to the USA?

Whether you are coming to the USA as a visitor, an immigrant, a student, a professional or on a special visa, American customs may be different than you expect. Coming to the USA: American Cultural Differences, http://businessspeechimprovement.com/enabler/scripts/e_books. pl is a down-loadable e-book. It covers differences in time, writing dates, temperature, greetings, American workplace culture, and many more categories.

Visit http://businessspeechimprovement.com/enabler/scripts/e_books.pl to buy this invaluable
e-book today!