Meet Nareman, a master’s student in Bioinformatics from the Tel-Aviv University who talks about why she decided to improve her English at Say What English Training.

As a public speaker of [important] subject matters, why do you think it is important for you to have clear spoken English for lectures, seminars and networking?

As a master’s student, I have a lot of lectures and seminars in English, but I don’t have enough courage and self-confidence to speak out loud, ask questions or express my opinion. This situation makes me feel stupid and embarrassed. On the other hand, feeling this way has pushed me into making the right decision, and I decided to improve my English to overcome these barriers.

Do you think it is a necessity to speak proper [correct] English to convey your message and be taken seriously as a public speaker?

I think it’s very important to speak proper English, because speaking an international language correctly can give us a lot of new opportunities and make others take us seriously.

With cross-border business communication mostly conducted in English, is having good and clear English a useful tool to reach more people around the world?

As I mentioned, I think having fluent and clear English can create a lot of opportunities, give us a lot of self-confidence and enable us to connect with anyone.

As a public speaker with ESL (English as Second/Third Language), what are some of the challenges you have faced when writing a lecture/speech?

Arabic is my first language. As an Israeli citizen, Hebrew is my second language and English is my third language. I face many challenges when I try to speak English. Sometimes I try to translate from Arabic to English, while other times I try to translate from Hebrew to English. As you might expect every language has different grammar rules and this makes the task of writing [in English] difficult.

Do you think that some important messages are not conveyed because they are not communicated correctly in English? The “lost in translation” effect?

Absolutely. When people don’t understand us and we don’t speak clearly, they even stop listening to us.

Do you think that speaking English well will help you communicate with people from countries all over the world, not just English-speaking ones? If so, in what ways?

Sure. Speaking English properly will help me communicate with people from all over the world. First, English is the third most spoken language in the world. Furthermore, it is the official language of science, and all the articles are published in English.  Many companies around the world interview people in English to make sure their employees can communicate with everyone.

הפוסט Lost in Translation? Communicating Better in English הופיע לראשונה ב-SayWhat English Training.

As the language spoken by most people worldwide, and the language of international business, English has become increasingly important in facilitating communication between different cultures. Improving your English before moving abroad is a must because the ability to communicate clearly and correctly can help in the new environment, in finding a job, and in understanding the local cultures. Correct pronunciation in English can improve your communication and make living in a new place a whole lot easier! Expressions and phrases used by locals can be a challenge, so correct pronunciation as well as a good understanding of the language can give a better and less confusing experience.

Meet Yael, a master’s student about to relocate to the U.S from Israel who talks about why she felt it was important for her to improve her accent, pronunciation and conversation skills in English in preparation for the move abroad.

As someone who is about to relocate to the US, why do you feel it is important to improve your conversation and pronunciation in English?

I think it is very important to improve conversational skills in English, especially when you are relocating because you want to be able to narrow the gap between your thoughts and ideas how you communicate them to other people.  In terms of pronunciation, I feel (especially after my Accent & Pronunciation training at Say What) that it is easier to connect words and sentences clearly and with the correct pronunciation, because I don’t feel as ‘stuck’ as I used to. 

How important is it, in your opinion, to have clear spoken English for living in a country with English as the native language?

I think that anyone who relocates [to a country like the U.S. for example, where English is the primary natively spoken language] and wants to feel ‘at home’, having clear spoken English helps you a lot so that you don’t feel like a foreigner. It’s equally important to be able to converse daily and know the local phrases at the local supermarket or pharmacy for example, so that you can understand what you hear and how to communicate what you need/ want.

Do you think it is a necessity to improve your English and pronunciation to convey your message and be taken seriously?

Absolutely. If I know how to speak it [English] correctly so that I am fully understood and can get my point across, I will feel more confident to take part, not just in daily ‘casual’ conversations, but also in ones where I want to convey a message which is work-related, or in my case in an educational learning environment (university).

With cross-border business communication mostly conducted in English, is having good (grammar) and clear (pronunciation) English a useful tool to reach more people around the world?

Yes, of course.  For example, I am currently working in a company where I have to speak to colleagues from countries like Spain and Paris, so having a ‘good’ accent is not as problematic because for many of my colleagues English is also not their mother tongue. But if I don’t speak clearly and mispronounce words, that’s a whole different story. Clear English is essential to getting my point across and I will feel less ‘lost’ and make less mistakes because I am more confident to sound professional.   

What accent barriers and mispronunciations have you faced in your line of work (perhaps when conversing, lecturing, or networking)?

There have been a lot of meetings with the CEO for example, where my colleagues have been mostly American, and I didn’t feel confident enough to speak because of my mispronunciations. I felt the need to ‘apologize’ for my English before I even started to speak.

Do you think that some important messages are not conveyed because of poor pronunciation and conversation, and a heavy accent?

Yes. I feel a lot of times I know what I want to say in my Native language [Hebrew] and if I feel that it is hard or won’t be clear in English, I avoid saying it altogether. Or if for example, I have a specific idea I want to talk about, I elaborate less in English.

הפוסט Relocation? English is a Must הופיע לראשונה ב-SayWhat English Training.

As a professional singer with ESL (English as Second Language), what are some of the challenges (e.g. accent barriers) you have faced when singing in English?

First, in terms of writing, there was always that doubt about forming [grammatically] correct phrases and sentences. Aside from that, I wasn’t sure whether I was pronouncing individual [English] words properly and my accent, and connecting the words in such a way that it would sound more ‘fluid’. I feel that there is a lot of criticism made about [Israeli] music artists’ singing in English with a heavy accent, because it is not their native language, and the notion that if their accent is not 100% British or American, their music won’t go down well with an international audience. I also felt that this that also affected my confidence to sing in English, because it isn’t my mother tongue. When I released a single in English before I started the training, it felt OK, but it wasn’t exactly “right” in terms of my accent, and I felt that in the end it was a compromise and that it could be better.

Had you ever had any diction training prior to studying at Say What?

I hadn’t taken accent or pronunciation lessons in the past and generally I didn’t address the topic. I feel that it’s also a part of a process that an artist has to open up to, in the same way that you go to voice lessons in the beginning.  When I started working on the EP, I wanted to improve my accent and pronunciation for the recordings, I started looking for an accent coach where the training focused on songs and music, and I found your website.

Why did you feel it was important to get speech and accent training (for singing)?

I think it’s very important to convey the text clearly to your listeners, because sometimes you don’t always read the text when you hear the song. When you’re trying to captivate listeners with a song, with the help of good arrangements and vocals among other things, clear and correct pronunciation is unequivocally just as important.

How has learning the sounds of English helped/ improved your confidence on stage and recording sessions? Are you able to express yourself more when singing?

Absolutely. I feel that since I started the training, I know that I went through all the steps properly to get to where I want to go. I feel more confident with my accent and pronunciation in English even in the songs we didn’t work on, because the same tools can be applied to other material (for example with similar words). My diction and delivery are better, my confidence has improved and there is much more flow and ease in my singing [in English] now.

Do you think it is important to have correct English pronunciation in singing to reach a bigger audience, especially an international one?

Yes, absolutely. I recently returned from London and noticed how native [speakers] singers deliver lyrics differently. I think that even if an Israeli singer lives in the country and speaks good English, the delivery is very important when it comes to accent and pronunciation because it is an essential part of the process for a singer (whose English is not their mother tongue) to connect with an international audience more.

Do you think that diction training should be taught separately or together with vocal training[in the lesson]? Why?

I think that if my vocal coach had also worked on accent and pronunciation with me during the lesson, it would have been a bit too much. Ultimately, it’s two different things, and working on pitch or legato while trying to simultaneously improve your accent can be problematic. I do remember that when I was working on accent and pronunciation in a certain song, which was then followed by a voice lesson, there were certain similarities, but overall, it was hard.

Finally, would you recommend speech and accent training to other professional singers? If so, why? And how important is it, do you think, to work with a accent coach is a native [English] speaker?

First, I highly recommend it, and I think it is a very important process. As someone who wants to tell a story through the lyrics of a song, I feel that accent and pronunciation are an essential part of connecting with it [the song] on a deeper level and knowing how to convey the story as needed and in the right way. In addition to the fact that I now know how to pronounce each individual word in the lyrics, I also have an “accent” for full phrases or sentences in the song, which is cool. The words flow together better, and I know how to connect words. I also think that because the training is taught by an accent coach who is a native [English] speaker, everything was easy to understand and gives a full picture…not only in terms of examples used to explain similar words but also how the learning tools were taught overall. It is not the same as, for example, asking a friend who knows how to speak English, or looking up how to pronounce the words on Google Translate.

הפוסט Close-up with singer-songwriter Adar Alfandari הופיע לראשונה ב-SayWhat English Training.

As a professional singer with ESL (English as Second Language), what are some of the challenges (e.g. accent barriers) you have faced when singing in English?

The main challenge was my accent. I never knew if I was consistent and clear and what it sounded like, even though I didn’t have an accent that was distinctly Israeli. So as someone who wanted to perform internationally, I always questioned whether I was clear enough. Even when writing lyrics [in English], I was never sure if I was writing a word that I knew how to pronounce correctly.

Had you ever had any diction training prior to studying at Say What?

No. The truth is that I wasn’t even aware that such a thing existed. I mean I’ve been taking voice lessons for many years and my [voice] teachers worked with me on my English a little, but it wasn’t from someone who is a native speaker.

Why did you feel it was important to get speech and accent training (for singing)?

The truth is that at first, I only thought about it for recording an album in English, which I wanted to sound clear and consistent, just as I would if I sang in my mother tongue (Hebrew). I wanted to use the language at the same level, in terms of grammar and pronunciation, so that it would sound very professional. After we finished working on the songs I was about to record, I realized that diction and accent training is equally important for me for live performances as well, and for everything else.

How has learning the sounds of English helped/ improved your confidence on stage and recording sessions? Are you able to express yourself more, when singing?

Definitely. I think that especially when you’ve already got the lyrics, and you have to work on the performance – for example on a cover or a song I want to record for another artist or another producer, or on something’s that’s not my own material – I can do it in the best possible way now, when it comes to accent and pronunciation (which I wasn’t even aware of before). It makes me feel more confident when I approach any song and not just vocally. 

The ability to express myself has improved because until now I only relied on the rules of my vocal training in my singing, not considering the language I sing in and there are many rules which apply which are valid when singing in Hebrew but not when singing in English, and that awareness makes me sound much better when I sing in English now. I feel that writing lyrics [in English] now has also became much easier and correct.

As a vocal coach as well, do you think that diction training should be taught separately or simultaneously in the lesson? Why?

If a non-Native student sings and writes in English, then the focus should be on improving their accent [and pronunciation]. It can be integrated into the singing lessons in my opinion, only if the vocal coach is a native speaker who can teach it correctly. If not, then it’s better to separate it like I’m doing now. In any case, I think that it’s better if it’s taught at a later stage, when the student is at a more advanced level vocally.

Finally, would you recommend speech and accent training to other professional singers? If so, why?

Absolutely. If you sing in a foreign language like English which is not your mother tongue and you want to do it professionally, and not just as a hobby then the training ultimately pays off if you do it thoroughly. I think that now, after all the lessons I’ve taken to improve my accent and pronunciation in English, I feel that it sounds much better, and you can definitely hear the difference between singers who have good pronunciation and a better accent, and singers who are probably not even aware of how they sound at all.

הפוסט Close-up with singer-songwriter Kalla (Lost Lights) הופיע לראשונה ב-SayWhat English Training.

I recently sat down with businessman Daniel Z. (Co-founder of Powtoon) and asked him about the importance of strong English skills and good business.

As a public speaker of [important] subject matters, why do you think it is important for you to have clear spoken English for seminars and networking?

As a public speaker, it is very important for me to pronounce words correctly and speak clearly so that the audience can understand what I am saying and the message I want to convey.

Do you think it is a necessity to speak proper [correct] English to convey your message and be taken seriously?

Yes. I think it is a necessity to speak correct English to any audience to be taken seriously. If the listener doesn’t understand the speaker because of poor pronunciation, it will make it difficult for them to understand the content.  I think the more I invest, the better I will speak, the more I will be taken seriously. An audience can have “prejudiced ears” when listening to poor English and this directly affects whether I am taken seriously or not.

With cross-border business communication mostly conducted in English, is having good and clear English a useful tool to reach more people around the world?

Yes, definitely. Speaking clearly with correct pronunciation is a great tool to reach more people because more people understand you. As a result, you feel more confident and you can concentrate on what you want to say and how you say it, using more expressions and phrases.

As a speaker with ESL (English as Second Language), what are some of the challenges you have faced when writing a lecture/speech/ networking?

When writing e-mails and articles [and networking], there are a few challenges. The first is finding the right words to express myself in English. Secondly, I have to think about pronunciation and speaking clearly. Thirdly, I find it challenging to come up with content and how I can present the topic in English to different target audiences.   

Do you think that some important messages are not conveyed because they are not communicated correctly in English? The “lost in translation” effect?

Yes, I do. This is mainly due to not knowing certain English expressions, both in British English and American English. Also, some expressions which are literally translated into English(for example from Hebrew), are not correct and the audience can misunderstand you.

Do you think that speaking it [English] helps you communicate with people from countries all over the world, not just English-speaking ones? If so, in what way?

I definitely think that knowing English helps you to communicate internationally, whether you are in a native English speaking country or not. Most business is conducted in English so rather than learning the country’s native language, it is important to have and use English to interact. 

הפוסט Let’s Get Down to Business הופיע לראשונה ב-SayWhat English Training.

In any given sentence, depending on the focus and type of information conveyed in that sentence, you need to determine which words to stress by raising and lowering your pitch. A single sentence can have totally different meanings depending on which word is stressed each time. So, the best way to describe intonation would be to say that it refers to the way we use the pitch of our voice to express particular meanings and attitudes.

One example which illustrates just how important intonation and proper communication really is, is the very funny comedy routine “Who’s on First” made famous by Abbott and Costello. The premise of the sketch is that Abbott is describing the players on a baseball team for Costello, but their names and nicknames can be interpreted as non-responsive answers to Costello’s questions, mainly because the names of the players on the baseball team have “peculiar” names like “Who”, “What” “I Don’t Know” “Why” “Because” “Tomorrow” “Today” and “I Don’t Give a Damn”. Needless to say, Abbott’s explanations leave Costello hopelessly confused, frustrated and upset because Costello is using “Wh”-questions”, which have the same falling intonation as statements. Would Costello pick up on the players’ names sooner if Costello would emphasize intonation, to remove the ambiguity? Probably, but chances are we wouldn’t have laughed so hard when hearing it then.

הפוסט Intonation: How important is it? הופיע לראשונה ב-SayWhat English Training.

This is nerve-wracking and causes them to lose confidence on stage, usually at the expense of a good performance. Learning the sounds of a language is a serious challenge but comes with a serious reward.

[Israeli] singers feel comfortable when singing in their Native language because they can fully express themselves and not have to worry about accent barriers. However, singing in English is a challenge because most Israeli students have almost no diction classes and very little speech and accent training by the time they are out of High School and University. Little emphasis is put on learning the sounds of English and how to say them accurately. As a result, most [Israeli] speakers are likely to mix the sounds of their native language and speak English with a heavy accent and a lot of mispronunciation. 

IPA – International Phonetic Alphabet

A helpful tool for singers is the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) because it enables them to see every sound in a word and to eventually hear how to pronounce it. By seeing the word in IPA, you can pronounce it correctly with a little bit of practice and avoid bad accent habits.

Take the word “The” for example: Many Israeli singers sing “De” instead of “The“ because Hebrew doesn’t have the phoneme “Th” which is therefore incorrectly replaced with “D”. “The” in IPA is written /ði/. By seeing how the phoneme “th” is spelled and understanding it, you can then learn how to pronounce it correctly.

Eventually you start to hear the word in your head after you see how it is spelled in IPA. (For more examples check out: https://saywhat-now.com/talkenglish/

Accent training consists of various steps but the reward is for a lifetime! Once you get a feel for the sounds, how they are spelled and what the differences are, many barriers start to slowly fade away and Israeli singers will start to feel comfortable on stage singing in English!

הפוסט Performing on stage in English: A serious challenge with a serious reward הופיע לראשונה ב-SayWhat English Training.