You're vs your: does it matter?

Homophone: Your vs You're Today I received a business e-mail from a well-educated, native English speaker. The writer is a professional with an important organization. The e-mail had the word "your" when the writer meant "you're". This has happened with e-mails from other people, as well. The impression these e-mails give is of a writer who either doesn't have a good education or is careless. Those impressions reflect on the employer, as well. Your is a plural possessive, as in "It's your coat." You're means "you are", as in "you're going there". There are many homophones which need to be learned. Homo means "same", while "phone" means "sound". Both words in a pair of homophones sound the same, but the spellings and meanings are different. To see one such list of homophones, click here or paste in http://www.englishclub.com/pronunciation/homophones-list.htm. Details, such as homophones, matter. So does your reputation. Learn the common homophones!

What's YOUR accent?

The USA is a land of many accents. Accents are usually fine, in my opinion, as long as people can communicate easily. When an accent is so strong that it impedes communication, people pay more attention to HOW you talk, not what you say. That's when you need help. So, what kind of American accent do YOU have? Check this fun (and surprisingly accurate)quiz! If you have a strong accent, research is showing that it can impact your career even if you are working in the same community in which you were raised. One reason is that you communicate today with people from all over the country, and often the world. Whether they moved to your community, you give a presentation in another part of the country or online, you talk on YouTube, or you speak with others on the telephone, a strong accent can be an impediment to careers in many cases. An easy way to hear how standard English is spoken is to listen to an anchor on a national television station when he gives the news. Pay special attention to how he or she says word endings and vowels. If you want to work on your diction yourself, the concise e-book Diction Makes A Difference has many exercises to try. It is designed primarily for those with strong American regional accents. If you have a strong accent from another language, try the mp3 series, Pronounce American English More Clearly! Great speech makes business sense! Listen to how you speak - others are!

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) : ready for something different?

Recently speech-language pathologists in medical and educational settings spoke about situations that provoke burn-out. As one put it, "I'm swamped with paperwork!" With fewer providers, more paperwork and more productivity expected, they feel overwhelmed. Does this describe you as well? There are other professional roles for speech-language pathologists than as direct service providers. Some SLPs become supervisors, while others serve as trainers for equipment that SLPs and their clients may use. Some SLPs train other SLPs in a variety of fields, or work with communicatively-impaired clients in non-traditional ways. Alternative Career Options for Speech-Language Pathologists by Katie Schwartz is a book which describes the choices 18 SLPs made to combine speech with some other field. (The book is also appropriate for OTs, PTs, and special educators.) Each chapter covers the choice made by one SLP or team of SLPs that chose to work together. Readers will learn the process of that change, what the person decided to do, and the positives and negatives of that choice, as well as how to get started in that field. Even if the reader is not interested in those choices, learning what others have done can help to spark new ideas in the reader's mind. There is also a chapter on a self-assessment questionnaire that the reader can use, to help him or her consider appropriate choices. Additional career options are mentioned here briefly as well. To get this book, click here (and scroll to the bottom of the page).

It's getting close to Valentine's Day, and in the US, many people go to parties then. The big question comes up: what do you say to a stranger at one of these parties, if you want to know the person better? Before you go to the party, think of 5 questions you could ask someone there. You already have something in common with each of them - you are at the same event. Maybe you work for the same company or industry, or know the same host. One example might be " Hi! I'm (your name). I work as a (job title). What do you do in the X industry?" Let's say you have just bravely walked in the door to a room full of strangers. You know no-one there. As soon as you put your coat somewhere, look around and search for someone who is standing along. (If it helps, you can pretend to be the host at the party; some people do better if they imagine themselves in a role.) Often this person will be next to one of the walls, but not always. Look at him or her, and smile. If the person smiles (even slightly) back, go over and say hello. Tell the person your name and ask for his or hers. Then make a comment about the event and ask one of your questions. For example, "This is a terrific party! How do you know (the host)?" Be sure to respond to the other person's comments, and occasionally tell something about yourself as well. For more information on how to start, continue and graciously end your conversation, click here for the e-book, "Small Talk:Connecting with Others"! Learn the secrets of body language and conversational strategies to start that conversation and keep it flowing!