I have several friends and colleagues who are non-native to the US, and thus don't have English as their first language. Each is interested in improving their diction. What resources could I recommend to them to help improve their diction?
Some of the friends and colleagues are job seekers, thus less expensive solutions would be a plus.
Answers (7)
Richard D.
HMIS System Administrator at ECHO (Ending Community Homelessness Coalition)
Best Answers in: Career Management (1)
The key to changing diction is being able to hear the difference between how you say it and how the native speakers say it. The least expensive way I know of to do this is by listening to dialog on TV or other media and repeating what they say, trying to match it as closely as possible. One step better is to have some kind of recording of native speakers and then recording yourself repeating what they say so that you can listen to them both and compare.
This can be a difficult goal no matter what you spend. There is a very good chance that any two languages will have sounds in one that don't even exist in the other and vice-versa. When a sound doesn't exist in your language, research suggests that it's likely you won't even be able to hear that sound, instead hearing whatever is the closest equivalent in your own language. Clearly, this makes learning new diction very difficult.
In my opinion, the rhythm and cadence of a language are just as important as diction and that comes most easily, I think, from emulating native speakers from TV or other media, if there aren't native speakers around. Some languages tend to be more stacatto with each syllable lasting about the same amount of time with little pause between words. English on the other hand is much more malleable. Some variations are more slow, others faster. But whatever the normal pace it is quite common in English to add emphasis by dra-a-a-wing a syllable out.
Brian C.
Independent Writing and Editing Professional
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What Richard said. Just listening to TV or radio speech can help if you listen to the differences. Even native speakers can notice regional differences. Cost - only your time.
For (humorous) example - "Us Texans don't talk slow, you Yankees listen too fast".
For faster and more dramatic - and more costly - results, consider a speech coach, preferably one whose mother tongue is similar to your own.
You can learn to pronounce "foreign" sounds - my Anthropology professor taught us American students to pronounce African "click" words.
Charlene N.
Senior Finance & Operations Leader -- Passionate about Profitability
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Toastmasters is an excellent, non-expensive way. Plus it has the added advantages of meeting new people, a bit of networking and provides a very safe, non-threatening environment to practise in.
David P.
Pro-Bono Paralegal (Russian Language) at Massachusetts Civil Rights Coalition
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Watch "Sesame Street" and other children's programs. I know one Ukrainian native whose English language skills improved faster than his contemporaries using this method. You can move on to classic American films.
Ranee Kaur B.
Faculty and Coordinator: JD Birla Institute (Dept of Management); Corporate Communication consultant and trainer
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Look, I think the best way for your friends to improve their diction is to lose that shyness, the restraint and yes, the ego and ask their American friends and colleagues to correct them and get them familiar with the local idiom and slang.
The more they mix with the locals the easier it will be for them to be accepted and to accept.
And since communication is a two-way street, the Americans may learn some global, non-American stuff too, which wouldn't be half bad!
Reno L.
Marketing Communications Services; Author, Trainer, Multimedia Web Video Producer specializing in book video trailers.
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Join a toastmasters group.
James G.
Strategic Product Manager at Ericsson AB Sweden
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I have many friends, and colleagues who have faced this issue.
Listening to dialog on TV is a classic method, but if their focus is on diction and not vocabulary, then I recommend watching documentaries like biographies or pieces on English or American history.
There are a couple of reasons for this suggestion. First, documentaries use very clear and professional language that does not have a regional or generational accent in its dialogue. Second, there is an opportunity to learn a bit about the culture while learning to improve their diction.
I also recommend some type of public speaking activity, such as toastmasters. An extremely low cost idea is to have them ask someone something where they have to repeat what they just heard. For example, asking for directions, asking for instructions, asking for a recipe, etc. (depending upon the learning style of the individual, it may help to write down the steps and read them back). They can even take this learning approach up a level by teaching what they learned to another person.
