Be Understood: The E4S Newsletter (July), Anniversary Edition!

Welcome!

Join me in celebrating the one year anniversary of this newsletter! I hope this installment brings you up to date on the accomplishments and opportunities that E4S affords its network and clients. Read on for tips you can use to communicate effectively, upcoming events, and opportunities for support. Let's work together to to help the planet thrive in the face of climate change.?

--Lara?

Looking Back to Move Ahead...Your Thoughts??

On this first anniversary of Be Understood, the monthly newsletter by English for Sustainability, I hope you will join me as I look back at the experience as I consider what's next.

This publication has definitely been a labor of love for me--a chance to write short-form, informative and fun content that gives you, the readers, some hope for the environment and some direction to take with your spoken English communication skills. It has been a new and welcome challenge--very different from writing academic papers read by the select few people in the field.

Be Understood is read by thousands of people on multiple continents from many backgrounds. Wow!?

Each month, I've shared the best tips with you, a word game with answers, information on upcoming events you can join, courses you can take, celebrations of client success, snapshots of the environment and ecologically-sound initiatives happening in the town where I live. I've also spotlighted a few people who inspire me with their work in the world.?

You have cheered me on throughout! From the colleagues I haven't seen in months who have showered this newsletter with praise to some of you reading this who left comments or have sent me a kind message, please know that you are appreciated and you have kept me going for a FULL YEAR. Wow, all 2,665 subscribers on LinkedIn and nearly 500 of you on my email list.

While I know that I could probably reach more people, I'm content that this newsletter goes to this many people, especially considering that I am a one-woman show.?

Would you like to celebrate with me? I'd love to hear from you what you would like to see in this next year of Be Understood.?Please comment below.

Is your fear of freedom stopping you from being an effective public speaker??

There’s one thing stopping you from being an effective public speaker, whether you are in the renewable energy, green tech, or nature-based solutions space. I'm talking about your fear of freedom. Specifically, being free of a script.?

Scripts are comfortable. You can take the time to craft your message with care. You can check your wording, grammar, and tone. You can even run voice-to-text software as you read your script to check for places to practice a little more.?

They're great tools when you are preparing your presentation, but giving a presentation? Well, it can be hard to read them without looking and sounding like a robot.?

While there is definitely a time and a place to read a script, you shouldn't rely on them--especially in situations where you need to ???????????? connect with your audience and gain their trust... When you need to make eye contact, move your body, and let some emotion into your voice, having the freedom to go off-script is essential. But it can be scary since there is so much uncertainty.?

I know this as a speaker and as a classically-trained musician who only began improvising about 8 years ago. Whether speaking to an audience or playing in a small ensemble, there's always that chance that you will make a mistake. But guess what--you can repair those mistakes, and chances are, the audience will forget and forgive--if you have connected with them, making them feel seen or special.?

And this connection--this listening/observation and response--can feel transcendent. You know when you've hit it--there's that kick of energy and joy. Excitement. Connection.?

Here's what to do instead:?

Use an outline, not a script. That way, you’ll be ready to improvise and flow with the audience. Key to this is observing them- -reading their feelings, anticipating their thoughts.?

Do they look bored? Put some variety into your voice--tone, rhythm, speed. Do they look confused? Ask and answer their questions. Do they seem uncomfortable, distracted, or distant? Show them you're right there with them in that hot room right before lunch, still thinking about the holiday weekend.?

When you improvise, you are relatable to the audience. You are REAL. Vulnerable. Caring. After all, improvisation is self-confidence. Confidence builds trust.?

Speaking Fluently?

If you want to speak fluently but don't know how to get to that point, how about a workbook? Click here to get your copy.

E4S Sustainability Word Search

Find the words?and read them aloud?to discover the pattern (answers at the end).?

Garden Harvest!

Wow, the pear tree is bursting, attracting local squirrels and deer. The elderberries are ripening, and this was a good year for garlic, too, thankfully.?

The cherry tomatoes are going strong, the heirloom tomatoes will hopefully ripen any day now, and it's been wonderful to have fresh cucumbers, basil and sugar snap peas fresh and ready for family meals and snacks this month. What's in your garden??

The Sustainable Presenter is on!?

We're already three weeks into the Sustainable Presenter and its participants are beginning to feel the power of shifting their focus away from themselves and towards the audience.?

We've been uncovering the hidden blind spots that were holding back their presentation potential, and learning new ways to be engaging and confident.?

Everyone passed the trial-by-fire impromptu presentations last week, making noticeable improvements by the end of the class.?

In the coming weeks, we'll be building on the insights from these impromptu presentations to strengthen our skills, learning from our experiences and each other as we do so.?

By the end of August, their ability to deliver presentations confidently and effectively will be sure to increase.?

If you would like to read more about the course or sign up to take it in the future, get on the waitlist here. Once three people have registered, I'll contact you about the schedule. Go on, tell your friends and colleagues and you can create your own private cohort.?

Here's how to remember what to say during presentations:?

We've all been there--we spend hours preparing and practicing our presentation only to forget what we wanted to say once on stage... That's why I'm sharing these 5 ways to remember with you, so that your hard work pays off!?

1. Choose the best method of delivery: Memorizing? Reading? Going with your gut? Speaking extemporaneously??
2. Know the landmarks. If your presentation is a tour, what do you want to stop to show your audience along the way??
3. Create visuals for the audience, not for yourself.?
4. Use memory tools.?
5. Breathe intentionally.?

Get the full guide here for free (click!).?

E4S Conversation Club?

This month's topic was Nature-Based Solutions for Extreme Heat. We had paired conversations, and shared what it's like where we live, and what we do to combat the heat. Of course, conversations turned to other topics as well in this fun and friendly group.?

E4S Conversation Club meets monthly on the final Monday. Don't miss out! Meet new people, have your say about the topic, and learn. Join the club by clicking here (it's free). The next meeting is August 28th.?Join us.

Answers!?

Did you find the pattern? All of the words have the same vowel sound. Specifically, the stressed (longest) syllable is the same in each word.?

In the Color Vowel system (ELTS), this is the "Red Pepper" sound. This sound is pronounced slightly differently across English dialects. For most, you will?

find your mouth opening more wide than the Green Tea /i/ and less wide than Black Cat /ae/. It's in between the two sounds. Try it!?

Now try the list, pronouncing the syllables in ALL CAPS with the Red Pepper /?/ sound, and making these vowels longer than the others.?

csS?

eLECtric?

environMENtal?

proTECT?

reGEnerative?

seQUESter?

SPEcialist?

TEMperature?

terREStrial?

THREAten

Learn More about what E4S Can do for You

Website: https://english4sustainability.com/

LinkedIn: Lara Wallace, PhD

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