Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Basic Telecommunication Tips

Telecommunication means the communication done over the phone.
In general, communication includes a proper transference, meaning, understanding and voice modulation.

In order to maintain a proper transference, we need to maintain a parallel conversation. Sometimes if we have to interrupt, we interrupt politely if needed. For the transference, active listening is also required between the two people.

In a communication, whatever we say to communicate should have meaning or should make sense to the receiver.

Understanding is really very important in a communication. Even if we know what understanding is we need to show understanding in a conversation. Basically, we use Uh-huh, OK, All right, Great, Perfect, Wow, Excellent, Amazing, Good to know, I can understand, I am sorry etc.. to show understanding in a communication.

And last but not the least is Voice Modulation. We modulate our voice by maintaining fluency, clarity, pace, pause, pitch, power, volume, emphasis and inflection. Please Click Here to read about Voice Modulation.

Apart from these four factors Voice and Accent also makes the communication more effective. Please Click Here to read about Voice and Accent.

These all are included in telecommunication and comes under Verbal Communication.
But yet a telecommunication can be made more effective by knowing and implementing the Non-Verbal Communication Skills.

In a telecommunication non-verbal communication includes your mood according to the situation, body posture, expressions, emotions according to the situation, focus, visualizing the next person etc which reflects on your voice and the next person can feel it.


Good Luck!

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Introducing in English Language


Introduction in English Speaking:

An introduction is needed each and every time when you face a new person or stranger in your circle. There are many ways to introduce yourself and to introduce your family, friends or others. Introducing yourself to someone does not mean that you are just telling your name. The introduction can include other details such as: where you are from, where you work, your hobbies, age etc. Please check the examples below:

  • Introduce yourself:

Hi, my name is Sam Wilson.

Hey, this is David Wolfe, the manager. You can call me Dave (Nick Name).

Hello! I am Raj.

  • Introducing Others:

I would like to introduce you to John, my brother.

Let me introduce you to Nancy, my secretary.

He is my friend, Peter.

Meet my childhood friend, Vicky.

  • Sharing Other Information:

I live in Dallas, Texas.

I am from LA, California.

I love Rugby.

I am good at playing chess.

I work as an Engineer.

A conversation:

Sam: Hello! My name is Sam Wilson, the Supervisor at ABC Inc. How are you doing today?

David: I am doing well. This is David Wolfe, the manager of XYZ Company. Nice to meet you.

Sam: Same here. David, Let me introduce you to Nancy, my secretary.

Nancy: How do you do? (Hello!)

David: How do you do? (Hello!)

Sam:  Where are you from David?

David: I live in Dallas, Texas. How about you?

Sam: I am from LA, California.

David: Hey, I have been there to watch National Rugby tournament last month.

Sam: Really, I love Rugby too.  

Practice your own sentences and Have Fun!

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Usage of Helping Verbs in Speaking English


Usage of Helping Verbs in Speaking:

We know helping verbs in grammar as Modals or Auxiliary verbs. You don’t have to go deep into grammar to understand these verbs but at least you must be familiar with the basic Grammar Tenses. ‘Helping Verbs’ the term itself says that these verbs help the main verb while speaking. There are many helping verbs available and it can be difficult for you to implement those while speaking eg. Can, could, might, may, must, should, would, will and shall.

These verbs can have more than one meaning and usage while speaking. I am trying to make it simple for you to remember, understand and implement. 

Basically, the helping verbs express Ability, Probability, Possibility, Obligation, Advice, Permission and Habits. And these conditions have their specific helping verbs. Helping verbs are never followed by ‘to’. Here’s how to use the right helping verb for the right condition:

#Ability:
I can speak many languages. (‘can’- helping verb, ‘speak’ - main verb)
You could ride Horse. You just need balance for that.
He can’t drive four-wheelers.

#Probability:
I must take rest. I am tired. (‘must’- helping verb, ‘take’ - main verb)
He could have missed the Bus if he was a second late.
We can’t be working the whole night.
Your brother may help you.
It might have some defect in it.

#Possibility:
I will go there tomorrow.
We shall play football this afternoon.

#Obligation:
You must go this way.
(‘have to’ is also  used in case of Obligation but it is not a helping verb as it is followed by ‘to’.)
I must quit smoking.

#Advice:
You should stop smoking.
We should eat first then complete the work.

#Permission:
Could I leave the office now, Sir?
Can we visit this Park?

#Habits:
He would often drink whiskey?
You will always be shy.

Try out your own sentences and practice. If you have a problem making your own sentences let me know in the comment below, I will post all the basic grammar tenses and structures with exercise in my next post. Thank You!

Friday, September 27, 2013

Greeting and Responding People in English

Greeting and Responding People:

Greeting refers to welcoming someone with certain words/phrases or a specific action. When we meet someone for the first time we greet by shaking hands and saying "How do you do?" or "Pleased to meet you." or "Nice to meet you" or "Nice to see you" or "Nice to have you on  the phone" (through phone) 

Generally, with people we know well, We greet by just saying 'hi' or 'hello'

Here are some expressions you can use to greet and respond people in English Speaking:

1.

Greeting [Hi, hello.] Responding [Hi, hello.]

2.

Greeting [Good morning, good afternoon, good evening.] 

Responding [Good morning, good afternoon, good evening.]

3.

Greeting:

How are you doing?

How are you doing today?

How are you going?

Responding:

I'm fine thank you (thanks)!/ I'm doing good (thanx)!/ Thank you (thanks)/Not bad.

Additional: How about you?/And you?

4.

Greeting: [How do you do?]  Responding: [How do you do?] 

"How do you do?" isn't actually a question, it simply means "Hello".

Conversation:
David: Hi! My name is David Wilson, the Supervisor.
Mark: Hi! This is Mark Brown. Nice to meet you, David.
David: Mark, I'd like to introduce you to Jason, the Engineer.
Mark: How do you do?
Jason: How do you do?

Next Time:
David: Hi! Mark, How are you today?
Mark: I am fine Thanx. How about you David?
David: I'm good.


Saturday, January 26, 2013

Voice & Accent



Voice and Accent Overview 


In layman manner- accent is what you and i speak. It is often outlined as the divisional and social background of speakers. Know basic grammar and have the neutral accent and concentrate on Pace, Pauses, Clarity, Intonation, and escalation of sounds.


Example: Intonation
Pace, we need to be medium paced not to fast, ought to be under your control. Pauses, Maintain pauses at required intervals at punctuation and for emphasis and dramatic effects. Clarity, be loud when you speak, also speech and your thought should match. Intonation, it is rise and fall of pitch or, rise and fall of the voice in speech with jump up, step up pattern example:     
                                                                                                                                                                                         Articulation: Articulation of voice is admittedly important while producing sounds. Sounds produced from our mouth are called estimators eg.  jaw, lips, teeth, upper palate, lower palate, tongue and your nose.
There are two kinds of sounds - Consonant sounds and Vowel sounds. Consonant sounds: Voiced sounds - sounds that we produce from our vocal track eg. th, w, l, r j...) and Unvoiced - sounds that come from our vocal chord th, kh, sh, ch.... ). Vowel Sounds: Monophthong (classified into long and short vowel sounds) and Diphthong (combination of long and short vowel sounds) eg. Monophthong & Diphthong æ: man & æɪ main; ɪ bit & ɑɪ bite; ɔ lot & əʉ low; o: tall oɪ toy etc.

There are 3 levels of English pronunciation:

Level A: People often don't understand what you want to say. You use the wrong sounds in English words.
Level B: People understand what you want to say, but it is unpleasant to listen to you.
Level C: People understand you, and your English is pleasant to listen to

Can I reduce my Accent?
Anybody with the desire to reduce their accent can reduce their accent.
Change begins with the desire to change. When we combine our desire with proper instruction and practice, we achieve success!

The key to learning to speak English clearly and correctly is training and practice. The clear and accurate speech comes from "doing."

Reducing your accent is different than other skills such as grammar and vocabulary. Studying accent reduction is more like studying dance, music, sports or martial arts. It involves the training of muscle groups. Everybody is born with these muscle groups located in our tongue, lips, and jaw.
All that you need is the desire to change, proper instruction and most of all practice and training! Accent reduction is about "doing."
Simply observing or knowing how to, is not enough. Awareness and knowledge are important but you have to try it in order to be able to actually do it.

What is an "Accent?"

We often hear people say, " I want to reduce my accent," or "He has an accent, ". But what exactly is an accent?
Essentially, an accent is the process by which a speaker substitutes a sound from their native language for a sound from English. This “transference” occurs mainly for two reasons.

The first reason is that the speaker is not aware that a specific sound exists in English. Hence, they use the closest sound from their native language instead.
For example, many students are unaware of the sound /I/ as in the word chip or big. As a result, when saying the word chip, they substitute a similar sound which exists in their native language. Usually, they choose /i/ as in the word he or meet.
So a word like chip ends up sounding like cheap and there it is, an accent -not to mention some confusion in mid-conversation.

The second reason a speaker substitutes the wrong sound is that he or she may simply find it too difficult to pronounce the correct sound.

For example, many students are aware of the sound /th/ as in think or that. However the articulation of the sound is just too difficult or feels unnatural The result is that /th/ is pronounced like /s/, /z,/ /d/ or /t/.
The word that may sound like “zat” or “ dat” The student chooses /z/ or /d/ because it's easier and “close enough.”

Another element of an accent is incorrect intonation. English has a melody. You have to become aware of the melody of English. Don't worry. It's a very simple melody and you don't have to have musical training or a musical ear to learn it. It doesn't involve specific pitches – just knowing when to raise your pitch and when to lower it.

Finally, some people have accents because they put the stress in the wrong places of words and sentences.

For example instead of saying convince
They might say: convince
This can be confusing for a listener. But there are simple rules to guide you when you're not sure. Once you learn the rules, it gets easier and the stress patterns start to become second nature. 

In order to lose your accent, you must first become aware of all the sounds of English. For example, there are five vowels in the Latin alphabet-A, E, I, O and U.

However, there are fifteen vowels sounds in English! You are probably already aware of most of them.
Losing your accent involves learning how to properly articulate the vowels and consonant sounds and finally, using them habitually in your everyday speech.


MORE COMING SOON................. :)

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

English Communication Tips


Here are few tips to communicate effectively and properly, I hope this will help you:

  • Asking for information

Excuse me. Could you tell me where ... is?
Excuse me. Can you tell me...?
Do you know...?
You wouldn't know..., would you?
Do you happen to know...?
I'd like to know..., please.
And there's another thing I'd like to know...
I would be interested to know...
Please could you tell me...
Could you please tell me...
Could you please let me know....

  • Asking for directions 

Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to ... (place), please?
Which way is the ... (place), please?
Could you tell me where ... is, please?
Do you know where ... is?

  • Asking someone to repeat 

Could you say that again, please?
Would you mind repeating that, please?
Could you repeat that, please?
I'm sorry I didn't catch that.
I'm sorry, what was ... again?
I'm sorry?
I beg your pardon?
I'm sorry, what was that?                                        Click Here for more English Communication Tips
...

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Improving English Speaking

English speaking is not so tough as you think, just you need to work on it constantly and this language is individually very important in today's globalizing world.  So as to assist you speak more easily and effectively here i mention few points below, please have a look:                            Voice Modulation

  • Naturalilty: While speaking we need to sound natural, which means you know what you are trying to speak. Essentially you speak by knowing it. 
  • Fluency/Flow: In order to be fluent first thing first you have take care of the unnecessary PAUSES. Pauses should be given only at punctuation like comma, colon, parentheses, ellipses, full stop etc.
  • Emphasis: This is to provide contrast to your words to bring out their desired meaning and making it natural.
  • Pace: You need to maintain your speaking speed and keep it at that level where the next person can understand you properly and feel comfortable.  
  • Clarity: Clarity comes with fluency, emphasis, pace and the volume of your voice or loudness of your voice. And of-course the proper pronunciation of the words which you can keep on practicing by getting help from online dictionaries where you can listen to the pronunciation or any of your teachers, friends, relatives having good pronunciation.
  • Confidence: Confidence is needed not only in English speaking, any language you speak. Feel comfortable while talking. Try to use normal and simple sentences, use fillers if you get stuck but not forever slowly you have to avoid fillers. And after all being loud while speaking that generates confidence inside you. Get your words across, speak English the way you speak your native language, Enjoy Talking!