Be Understood: The E4S Newsletter (May 2023)

Welcome!

I hope this eleventh installment will bring 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?

E4S Learning Lab Kicks Off in June: Speaking Fluently?

Wouldn't it be nice to take a very short course to boost your skills around speaking effectively??

Well, you have spoken and I have listened!?

Starting in June, English for Sustainability will offer Learning Labs on a variety of topics designed to help you improve your confidence and skills around speaking.?

These short labs will be only 3-5 days, for no more than an hour each day so that you can find a way to fit them into your busy schedule.?

The material will be highly focused, memorable, and easy to implement, making it easier for you to use the information to your benefit.?

Best of all, Learning Labs will be free! This means that everyone who has a good internet connection and who can make themselves available can join.?

June's Learning Lab kicks off on June 20th. The topic? SPEAKING FLUENTLY. Read on for more info.?

Are you fluent??

Speaking Fluently: E4S Learning Lab

June 20th through June 23rd

Live, online Learning Lab with Dr. Lara Wallace.?

Here's what you'll learn in Speaking Fluently:

DAY 1: What is fluency? Speaking fluently is something that people misunderstand, which leads to negative consequences and poor communication. I'll walk you through what fluency is so that you know what to aim for for effective speaking.

DAY 2: Are you fluent? When people don't know the answer to this question, they are limited in how they can speak effectively--this is crucial when giving presentations. I'll help you to assess your own fluency so that you know exactly what's worth your time when you practice presentations and other speaking situations.

DAY 3: How to Practice Effectively. You have limited time for practicing, so I'll steer you away from the 3 common mistakes people make when practicing and offer you better ways to use your time so that you speak more fluently.

DAY 4: Practice Makes Fluent [By invitation only]. This exclusive bonus day is only for action takers! You'll practice implementing what you learned in a call exclusively for those who have participated in the previous three days.

Sign up now to secure your spot! Just click here to "Register Now."

Here's why some people make it difficult...

Fluency is helpful for holding people's attention. So is speaking with vocal variety or affect. Yet, many people default to a monotone, making their audience struggle to pay attention.

Let's face it. When someone speaks like a robot, it's easy to let our minds wander elsewhere. People who speak with a narrow intonation range can be hard to listen to despite the amazing points they are sharing.

Even the most dedicated of us struggle to focus, forcing ourselves totake notes just so that we have something to remember afterward.

If you are a sustainability professional working to make changes in the world, you will be more successful if you communicate clearly. That's why we should speak with variety and try understanding reasons behind monotone speaking. (Download your copy of 4 Ways to Sound Interesting here).?

In an informal poll on LinkedIn, I recently asked for reasons why people might speak in a monotone.?

• Shy, lacking confidence (12 votes)
• Bored or tired (4 votes)
• Being respectful, formal (4 votes)
• Too cool, aloof (2 votes)

While we can't generalize the responses, they can give us a way to empathize, and to keep listening. What do you think are some reasons?

E4S Sustainability Word Search

Find the words?and read them aloud?to discover the pattern.?

(Answers at the end.)

No-Mow May

Did you spot the fox?

This is one of the perks of no-mow May. It ensures a great habitat for foxes, rabbits, raccoons, deer, and all of the pollinators.?

Could someone please ask whoever has been eating my potted flowers to leave me a few, though??

Celebrating Clients' Success

Repeating Himself Less Often?

Guy-Georges Adou Bogolo realized that he spoke too quickly and didn't articulate his words. I also noticed that he spoke quietly. As if he just wanted to get everything over with as quickly as possible.

Here's how he's improved in only 3.5 hours per week:

??He watches the video lessons and completes exercises in the E4S Effective English course.

??He attends twice weekly coaching sessions with me, personalized to his specific needs.?

Here's what he shared with the person who recommended my services to him:

"Dr. Wallace is fantastic! She really knows what she’s talking about and can relate to and pinpoint my problems.

I learned so much about myself and even solved problems outside of the realm of speaking thanks to the mindset calls. I also learned that my accent is not a limiting factor for being understood and sounding intelligible.

I feel like that I’m making progress; people ask me to repeat myself less often. I’m more confident and show up for myself every day!"

Way to go, Guy! Keep up the good work!

And this is only part-way through the 8-week EffectiveEnglish course with personalized coaching.

Confident English Speaking

You can have great grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, but still speak ineffectively if you lack confidence. That's why I offer a special course devoted exclusively to building your self-confidence, called "Confident English Speaking" (formerly called "Own Your Accent").

This one-month mindset-focused course kicked off at the end of April, and we have had an active WhatsApp group, sharing our reflections and experiences.

As part of shifting mindset towards speaking more confidently, I asked participants to release unhelpful ideas they've held. Here are a few that they have replaced with healthier thought patterns!

What I am releasing is that I am not a good speaker. Resetting by telling myself I love my voice and I want people to learn what I know because it's an act of service!

I am releasing the thought that what I have to say may not be as interesting or valuable as other people's opinions.

The next run of Confident English Speaking will be in October.?

More Support

Effective English Course + Coaching: In this in-depth speaking course, you'll learn to speak more confidently and effectively through lessons and twice-weekly personalized coaching. If you have the time and commitment, click here to schedule your application interview.?

E4S Conversation Club

This month's topic was The Environment Around Us. We had two and three-person groups, and shared what it's like where we live, how we can build our appreciation of nature and foster this appreciation in others. There was also some discussion of invasive species.?

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).?

Join us for CONVERSATION CLUB on June 26!

Confetti That Cares

Attending presentations and hearing about what people are researching fills me with hope. That's why I volunteer as a judge for the annual Student Research and Creative Activity Expo at Ohio University each year.?

This year, one presentation stood out, and it is a timely one since graduation season is upon us:?

Confetti That Cares: A Practicum on Removing Pollution from Ohio University. I remember it well because the presenter, Era Bakia , told a story.?

Era had been working a part-time job for the university picking up litter in the campus green spaces. She noticed that after graduation, there was JUST. SO. MUCH. PLASTIC. LITTER.?

Specifically, single-use poppers filled with shiny plastic confetti. The confetti was everywhere.?

Not only was there so much waste, but despite her efforts and to her frustration, she kept finding it weeks and weeks later.?

Sending confetti into the air to celebrate graduates and take photos--it looks great and is fun, but this momentary celebration has long lasting and negative consequences to the environment.?

With that in mind, she wondered-- how can we celebrate like this, but better??

She described her multi-pronged approach, made possible by well-deserved grant funding:?

1. Create an alternative to confetti, using natural materials. Gathering leaves, flowers, and bark from the outdoors and the local florist, she dried them out, then used a hole puncher to create fun shapes.?

2. Research and choose a reusable, refillable popper/confetti cannon, which is a step up from the typical single-use cannons.?

3. Work with university shops that sold the plastic confetti to remove the product.?

4. Educate influential Greek life (sororities) about the plastic confetti and this biodegradable alternative.?

5. Set up a way to continue these efforts beyond her own graduation.?

Congrats, Era! And thanks for sharing the photo of your confetti put to good use--celebrating graduation!?

Excellent project and memorable presentation. Her enthusiasm for the project was apparent.?

The Secret to Effective Presentations?

Simple: stop and think about your audience.?

??Why are they there??

??What do they already know??

??How are they feeling in the moment??

??What's the purpose of your presentation??

Understanding creates understanding. So take the time to? understand more about your audience when preparing to present.

Guide them to understand. Use your tone of voice,? rhythm, and gestures to help tell the story.?And instead of just reading off your slides, interpret them!?

Want help preparing for your next presentation??

Click here to sign up for Presentation Ready.?

Would you like to build your skills more generally? Ask me about the presentation class coming in June!?

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 "Black Cat" sound. This sound is pronounced slightly differently across English dialects. For most, you will?find your mouth opening and your lips moving back as if to smile. Try it!?

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

AGroforestry?

AMplitude?

AZimuth?

NATural?

BATtery?

PANel?

caTAStrophe?

BLACKout?

HABitat?

deMAND?

orGANic?

exTRACtion?

caPAcity?

BALance?

MANgrove?

PLANTS

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