Below is a 10-session training plan, I put together, that separates the focus on consonants and vowels and integrates the pronunciation apps for segmental (sound) and prosody (intonation, stress, pacing) training. This structured approach ensures that both segments (individual sounds) and prosodic elements (rhythm, stress, pitch) are covered in parallel with specific business contexts (situations like presenting new ideas, reporting progress, demonstrating product features, and visualizing roadmaps with clients) for my English training class. In addition, I am using this book Business Result – Upper-intermediate Second Edition published by Oxford and this app called Pronunciation published by BBC.
Other materials needed: 1) Audio/Video recording device for self-assessment; 2) Pronunciations apps like 流利说 (I found this works for me very well however it may not be for non-mandarin speaking learners); 3) Mirror for articulation practice; 4) Tongue twisters and minimal pairs lists; 5) Presentation materials e.g. Miro board or PowerPoint slides.
Session 1: Introduction to Clear Speech Protocol
- Goal: Establish baseline skills and introduce key concepts of clear speech for business scenarios.
Consonant Training:
- Focus on general consonant articulation (e.g., clear pronunciation of “b,” “p,” “t,” “d” sounds).
- Practice business-related consonants like “scalable,” “budget,” “strategy.”
Vowel Training:
- Introduction to basic vowel sounds (e.g., “a,” “e,” “i”).
- Focus on vowel clarity in business terms like “value”, “client”, “product”.
Business Focused Actions:
- Discuss the importance of clear speech in professional settings, set goals for improving pronunciation in business scenarios.
- Minimal Pairs: Practice business-related words ie “client” vs. “climates”, “meeting” vs. “meaning”
- Sentence Practice: Use key phrases for introducing ideas in meetings (e.g. “I’d like to present the following idea …” or “The next step in the project is…” or reference the book content).
Home Practice:
- Record and review pronunciation of business-related vocabulary (e.g., “presentation”, “strategy”, “collaboration”).
- Minimal pairs related to business contexts: 10 minutes daily.
Session 2: Consonant Mastery: Precision and Articulation
- Goal: Improve articulation of challenging consonants in business-related language.
Consonant Training:
- Focus on challenging consonants (e.g., “s” vs. “sh” “b” vs. “v”).
- Practice common business terms such as “service,” “values,” “vision”.
Vowel Training:
- Reinforce basic vowel sounds and vowel clarity.
- Practice complex vowel patterns, such as “e” in “performance” and “a” in “analysis”.
- Practice new vowl /i/ v.s. /i:/, /u/ v.s. /u:/, /^/ v.s. /a:/
Business Focused Actions:
- Practice business-introduction sentences and words: Practice phrases for presenting updates and project timelines, e.g., “The goal for the next quarter is to achieve measurable growth “We will complete the design phase by the end of the month.” Key words to target: “innovation,” “synergy,” “deadline,” “growth,” “quarter,” “collaboration.”
- Articulation Practice: Use a mirror to ensure precise tongue placement for sound. /r/ and /1/.
Home Practice:
- Practice articulating full sentences with challenging business vocabulary and yourself to evaluate clarity.
Session 3: Vowel Clarity for Precise Communication
- Goal: Master vowel sounds to improve clarity in speech.
Consonant Training:
- Refinement of previous consonant sounds.
- Continue practicing challenging consonants with real-world business vocabulary.
Vowel Training:
- Focus on distinguishing between similar vowels (e.g., “bit” vs. “beat”).
- Use business terms like “client,” “value,” “service,” “analysis”.
Business Focused Actions:
- Practice introducing products or services, ensuring vowel clarity for easy comprehension.
Session 4: Intonation for Persuasive Presentations
- Goal: Learn to use intonation to engage and persuade during business presentations.
Consonant Training:
- Focus on ensuring clear consonant pronunciation while using more complex sentences and technical terms.
Vowel Training:
- Practice vowel sounds in more complex phrases to ensure natural flow.
Business Focused Actions:
- Practice delivering a 2-minute presentation on a business idea, focusing on persuasive techniques and engaging intonation.
Session 5: Stressing Key Information in Reporting Progress
- Goal: Learn how to stress key information when reporting progress in business settings.
Consonant Training:
- Continue working on clear articulation in reports and presentations.
Vowel Training:
- Reinforce vowel clarity while reporting metrics or technical data.
Business Focused Actions:
- Prepare and practice reporting progress in a project, emphasizing key results and metrics.
Session 6: Mastering Pacing and Flow for Client Meetings
- Goal: Improve pacing and flow of speech for effective communication in client meetings.
Consonant Training:
- Practice smooth transitions between ideas, focusing on clear consonant sounds in linking words (e.g., “and,” “but,” “so”).
Vowel Training:
- Focus on ensuring vowel clarity when moving between words in complex sentences.
Business Focused Actions:
- Practice client meetings, focusing on controlling speech tempo and providing smooth transitions.
Session 7: Emphasizing Key Metrics and Data
- Goal: Learn to emphasize data and metrics in business communications.
Consonant Training:
- Focus on the clear pronunciation of technical terms related to data (e.g., “increase,” “growth,” “percentage”).
Vowel Training:
- Focus on clarity in pronunciation for numbers and percentages, which are often crucial in business discussions.
Business Focused Actions:
- Practice presenting key statistics and data in a business context, emphasizing clarity and emphasis.
Session 8: Clarity in Product Demos and Features
- Goal: Master product demonstrations with clear and engaging speech.
Consonant Training:
- Practice clear articulation while explaining product features.
Vowel Training:
- Focus on vowel clarity in product-related terminology, ensuring words like “service,” “feature,” “benefit” are understood.
Business Focused Actions:
- Practice delivering product demos, emphasizing the benefits of the product with clear and confident speech.
Session 9: Effective Visualization of Roadmaps
- Goal: Learn to present roadmaps clearly and effectively in business settings.
Consonant Training:
- Practice pronunciation of complex business phrases when discussing milestones and deliverables.
Vowel Training:
- Work on clarity in explaining timelines and future projections.
Business Focused Actions:
- Practice explaining roadmaps to clients or stakeholders, ensuring timelines and milestones are clear and engaging.
Session 10: Final Integration: Full Business Presentation
- Goal: Deliver a comprehensive business presentation using all learned skills.
Consonant Training:
- Focus on perfect articulation for key business concepts and terminology in a full presentation.
Vowel Training:
- Reinforce vowel clarity throughout the presentation, especially when discussing complex ideas or data.
Business Focused Actions:
- Deliver a full business presentation on a business idea, incorporating product demos, progress reports, and roadmaps.
- Receive feedback on pronunciation, intonation, and overall clarity.
Final Outcome and Feedback:
By the end of the program, I am on the lookout for:
- Have improved consonant and vowel articulation for clear business communication.
- Be able to use intonation, stress, pacing, and fluency to enhance engagement in client meetings, presentations, and product demos.
- Use the pronunciation apps to receive real-time feedback and continue practicing beyond the sessions.
This structured approach combines both segmental training (focusing on consonants and vowels) and prosody training (intonation, stress, and pacing), ensuring clear and confident communication in business settings.
Other Pronunciation App Recommendations for Segmental and Prosody Training:
- ELSA Speak: Provides feedback on pronunciation accuracy.
- Sounds: The Pronunciation App: Focuses on phonemic awareness, consonants, and vowels.
- Pronuncian: Aids in vowel clarity and differentiation.
- Speechling: Helps refine intonation and stress patterns.
- Rosetta Stone: Supports pacing and fluency.
- Beelinguapp: Practice pronunciation of numbers and business terms.
- Forvo: Provides native speaker examples for technical terms.
- Pimsleur: Improves rhythm and natural speech flow.
- SpeechAce: Gives comprehensive feedback on intonation and articulation.
This is HWu 