In this conversation, Andrea Vaugan interviews Ben Latour, an accent and fluency coach, about the importance of accent and fluency in English for professionals and executives. They discuss the impact of accent on credibility, competence, and self-confidence, as well as the need for professionals to improve their accent and pronunciation to effectively communicate in an international business context. Ben provides tips and strategies for self-evaluation, improvement, and practice, including recording oneself, imitating native speakers, and engaging in low-stakes conversations to exercise English skills. The conversation emphasizes that accent and fluency are skills that can be learned and improved with practice and guidance.

Takeaways

• Accent and fluency in English are important for professionals and executives in international business contexts.

• The way you deliver your message, including accent and pronunciation, is just as important as the content itself.

• Improving accent and fluency is a skill that can be learned and developed with practice and guidance.

• Self-evaluation, recording oneself, imitating native speakers, and engaging in low-stakes conversations are effective strategies for improving accent and fluency.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:00 The Importance of Accent and Fluency

07:18 Improving Accent and Pronunciation

09:38 Strategies for Self-Evaluation and Improvement

13:06 Exercising English Skills in Conversations

17:19 Accent and Fluency: Enhancing Credibility and Competence

23:23 Identifying and Addressing Language Blockages

28:00 Accent and Fluency: A Matter of Skill and Control

31:15 Conclusion and Next Steps

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