How to Develop Confident Business English Speech?

In order to develop confidence when speaking English in business, practise business vocabulary with Received Pronunciation, good vocal variety and English intonation patterns:

Start with the book Get Rid of your Accent for Business, Part Three

and an accompanying app Business English Speech (iOS/Android)

About the book:

Get Rid of Your Accent for Business, Part 3 is a groundbreaking first of its kind — the only book on the market that combines Received Pronunciation training with contemporary business vocabulary to communicate with authority in the workplace.

This book is based on the material we prepared for our elocution lessons and accent-reduction courses for diplomats and professionals. Below is what our clients told us before they mastered their speech:

"If I don't speak clearly, I will just remain a junior IT guy making peanuts who is staring at the computer all day and never even allowed to go to meetings." — Yago, IT Consultant

"My boss told me: If I don't lose my accent, I will lose my job." — Gulnara, Financial Advisor

"In our company, we have two bosses: a Japanese one who does everything, and an English one who does very little apart from talking, but makes more money as he has great speech and presentation skills!" — Judy, Marketing Firm

The book covers:

  • 🔤 Long vowels, short vowels, diphthongs and consonants — with clear speech organ positioning guides for every target sound

  • 💼 Contemporary business words and expressions used in today's professional world

  • ✍️ Quotes and proverbs that make learning both effective and enjoyable

  • 🔗 Contractions, silent letters and French expressions used by educated English speakers

  • 🗣️ Warm-up articulation exercises to build crisp, dynamic speech from day one

 

The Method

As with our previous books, the approach is rooted in drama-school technique:

  • Understand the precise positioning of lips, tongue and jaw for each sound

  • Build muscle memory through words, phrases, sentences, verses and tongue-twisters — 10% theory, 90% practice.

  • All exercises are supported by audio tracks recorded by professional actors, available on Audible and through the companion app Business English Speech

 

Get Rid of Your Accent for Business is the definitive guide for any professional who understands that how you speak can be just as important as what you say.

👉 Available on Amazon and in UK Flagship book stores such Foyles and Waterstones.

How to Pronounce the /w/ Sound?

/w/ sound does not exist in many languages, for example, in Hindi, Russian, French, and Hebrew.

My native language was Russian, and it took me 6 months to strengthen my lip muscles in order to pronounce this sound correctly without thinking about it. In the past, I was substituting it with the /v/, and people could not understand me. As you can see from the examples below, the meaning of the word changes if the pronunciation of the /w/ sound is incorrect:

wet - vet, west - vest, whale - vale, wane - vain, worse -verse, wheel - veal.

If you want to achieve great results, practise the long /u:/ sound for three days, Lesson 2 and then /w/ sound, Lesson 25, in the apps:

·        Elocution Lessons

·        Get Rid of your Accent

·        Business English Speech

You will feel your lip muscles getting used to the forward position. The practice will take 10-20 minutes a day.

309. The lost art of elocution — and why your career depends on it

"Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel."

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

I once watched a brilliant engineer lose a promotion to someone with half the technical knowledge — simply because that person could command a room. The ideas were equal. The articulation was not.

That moment crystallised something I had long suspected: elocution is one of the most underrated professional skills of our time.

What elocution actually is (and isn't)

When people hear "elocution," they often picture Victorian-era deportment classes or actors projecting to the back row. But in a modern professional context, elocution is simply the disciplined practice of clear, expressive, and effective spoken communication.

It encompasses how you pace your words, the clarity of your diction, the deliberate use of pause and emphasis, and the resonance you bring to your voice. It is not about sounding posh — it is about being understood and believed.

Clarity Pacing Diction Tone Emphasis Presence Pause

38%

of communication impact comes from tone of voice alone

7 sec

to form a first impression — largely based on how you speak

3×

more likely to be seen as a leader if you speak with vocal clarity

We spend enormous energy crafting what we write — slide decks, reports, proposals — yet treat speaking as something we simply do. The result? Brilliant thinking delivered in a mumble, brilliant ideas lost in a rush, brilliant people overlooked because their voice does not match their capability.

Four principles to elevate your spoken presence

1. Slow down more than feels comfortable. Most professionals speak far too quickly when nervous. Speed signals anxiety; deliberate pacing signals authority. Practice pausing for a full two seconds before answering a question. It will feel like an eternity. To the room, it reads as confidence.

2. Articulate consonants, not just vowels. Consonants carry the meaning; vowels carry the music. Crisp word endings — the 'd' in "world," the 't' in "important" — transform mumbled words into messages that land. Read one paragraph aloud each morning, exaggerating every final consonant.

3. Use the strategic pause. Silence is punctuation for the spoken word. A pause before a key point creates anticipation. A pause after creates weight. Leaders who master the pause never need to raise their voice to be heard.

4. Vary your pitch deliberately. A monotone voice, regardless of the content, signals disengagement to the listener's brain. Rising inflection invites; falling inflection concludes; sudden variation captures attention. Record yourself for sixty seconds and count how little your pitch moves — then work to double that range.

PRACTICE TIP

Read one page of a speech, novel, or article aloud every day. Not to yourself — into a recording. The act of hearing your own voice objectively is the fastest feedback loop in existence. Thirty days of this will change how you present permanently.

This matters more now, not less

Hybrid work has not diminished the importance of elocution — it has amplified it. On a video call, your voice is the primary signal. There is no body language to fall back on, no room energy to ride. Your words, your pacing, your clarity: that is all you are.

In an era of AI-generated text and asynchronous communication, the human voice — used well — is a rare differentiator. The professionals who invest in how they speak will stand out not despite technology, but because of it.

"What's one speaking habit you've deliberately worked to improve?"

Share your experience in the comments — I read every one.

The boardroom, the job interview, the keynote stage, the one-to-one with your team — all of these moments hinge not just on what you know, but on how fully and credibly you can deliver it.

Your ideas deserve a voice that does them justice.

308. The Power of Great Communication: Lessons from Exceptional Leaders

Whether we are leading a team, pitching an idea, or navigating change, our ability to communicate often defines our success. Everybody is unique and has their own communication style. At the same time, we can learn from the best practices of top leaders.

Lesson 1: The Power of Vision and Emotion

Martin Luther King's speeches, especially his iconic “I Have a Dream, " prove how an emotional connection can inspire action. He didn’t just share ideas, he painted a vision people could feel and believe in.

Lesson 2: Simplicity Wins

Steve Jobs was a master of simplifying complex ideas. Whether unveiling a new product or explaining innovation, he made technology accessible and exciting. If you can’t explain it in simple terms, you don’t understand it well enough.

3. Lesson 3: Authentic Connection

Oprah Winfrey's success is her ability to connect deeply with people. She listens with compassion, responds with empathy, and creates space for open, meaningful conversations.

A Personal Reflection

I’ve discovered that my strengths are storytelling and my confident presence. My weakness: my speech can become rushed when I’m emotional.

Self-awareness is the first step to becoming a better communicator.

Do you know your communication strengths and weaknesses? Share them in the comments. I read every response.

Warmly

Olga Smith

307. The Day I Recorded Myself and Got a Shock

I was confident. I thought my English was excellent.

I had a linguistics degree, an MBA, and I had been living and working in London for years. I genuinely believed I communicated well.

Then one day I recorded myself.

I played it back and I was shocked. I could not understand some of the words I was saying. Not because my vocabulary was wrong or my grammar was poor — but because my sounds were unclear, my speech very quiet, and what felt clear inside my head was actually quite difficult to follow from the outside.

That recording changed everything.

Not because it embarrassed me. But because it fascinated me. As a linguist I immediately wanted to understand the gap between how we sound in our own heads and how we actually sound to others.

That gap, I discovered, is where some communication problems live.

Here is what I found after years of research and teaching:

The professionals who struggle most are rarely struggling because of where they are from. They are struggling because of unclear sounds, rushed speech, swallowed endings and hesitant delivery.

These are technical problems. With technical solutions.

I know because I solved them myself — systematically, as a linguist. And that process became the Get Rid of Your Accent series — books, apps and video courses now used by international professionals in over 40 countries.

The recording feature in our apps exists for exactly this reason.

Because you cannot fix what you cannot hear. And most people — just like me — have never actually listened to themselves properly.

Try this today: Record yourself for 60 seconds talking about your work. Play it back. Listen not as yourself — but as a stranger hearing you for the first time.

What do you notice?

That moment of honest listening — however uncomfortable — is where transformation begins.

I'd love to know — have you ever recorded yourself and been surprised by what you heard? Share in the comments below.

Warmly, Olga Smith

306. Do The Right Thing

This is my motto.

Often, others try to manipulate me, advise me or ask me what I “should be doing” and “how good it would be for me.” It could be a dinner invitation, and I do not eat after 6 pm. So it is a NO for me, but others would say: “If you do it once, nothing will happen”.

Even more often, I am manipulated by my lazy brain (this is the brain's most important quality: to economise our energy for survival; the brain wants us to do what is necessary for our survival). For example, I should go for a run, but instead I have coffee with a cookie, or instead of practising my RP I watch my favourite comedian.

I looked back and realised that when I was a teenager, my willpower and sense of direction were much stronger. Somehow, I do not feel as strong in resisting temptation.

I know that if I don’t do the right thing, it is a road to nowhere. I will lose my direction.

I remember one of my great teachers once told me: move the world, baby, or the world will move you.

Each time I deviate from my direction, this phrase helps me to get back to myself.

Warmly

Olga Smith

www.batcsglobal.com

305. The Key Success Factor in Business

So let me ask you—how’s your business doing?

When it comes to running a business, I’ve learned that the key success factor is the right attitude.

There are two common mindsets I see every day:

  • Customer-oriented

  • Numbers-oriented

A customer-focused business asks: “How can I really help people?”

It’s about:

  • Solving real problems

  • Making life easier for customers

  • Building trust that lasts

A numbers-driven business asks: “How can I hit my targets or improve metrics?”

It’s about:

  • Revenue and profit

  • Conversions and traffic

  • Efficiency and margins

Metrics are important—but they should guide, not define, the purpose of business.

Look at the examples and see the difference:

1. Building a Website

  • Numbers-focused: “How many SEO keywords can I stuff in to rank higher?”

  • Customer-focused: “How can I make this site really useful and easy for visitors?”

2. Choosing a Product Line

  • Numbers-focused: “How do I maximise profit and cut costs?”

  • Customer-focused: “Does this product truly help people? Will it solve a real problem?”

3. Writing My First Book

When I wrote my first book, Get Rid of Your Accent, I calculated how much money I would make. But this was not my main drive. I wrote it because I wanted to help people with a problem I had myself: an unintelligible foreign accent. I knew how frustrating it was to feel misunderstood or ignored. I wanted to give others confidence and clarity in their speech.

I focused on helping, not earning. And because of that, the book became an international bestseller. That one act of putting people first naturally led to more books, apps, and video courses—all built to continue helping people communicate confidently.

So let me ask you again —how’s your business doing?

If the numbers are dropping, maybe it’s not the market or the timing—it might be your attitude. Maybe somewhere along the way, you forgot the most important thing: the people you’re here to serve.

Serving them well isn’t just good ethics—it’s the heart of a business that lasts.

Warmly

Olga Smith

www.batcsglobal.com

304. The Biggest Mistake of All

In today’s edition, I want to share a technique I learned at school as a teenager—one that somehow slipped out of my routine as life became faster and more demanding.

Recently, I noticed a frustrating pattern: I was repeating the same mistake. Again and again. It started to feel like I was doomed—that it was simply my nature and there was no way out.

Then I remembered something we used to do at school. We had a simple but powerful task: Work on Mistakes.

Here’s how it worked:

1. Make a clear note of the mistake
Be specific. Not vague, not emotional. Write down what exactly went wrong.

2. Write down the reason
This is where honesty matters. Was it carelessness? Lack of preparation? Assumptions? Distraction? This step forces you to confront the cause, not just the outcome.

3. Decide what you will do differently next time
This turns reflection into action. Without this step, awareness alone doesn’t lead to change.

Write it down by hand. Not on a phone or laptop. Handwriting engages the brain differently and helps the lesson stick.

What makes this exercise so powerful is its simplicity. It interrupts autopilot behaviour. Instead of letting mistakes blur into a general feeling of failure, it separates them, examines them, and turns each one into a lesson.

Making a mistake once is not the problem - repeating the same mistake is. I believe this is the biggest mistake of all.

Change doesn’t always require complex systems or drastic decisions. Sometimes, it begins with a pen, a moment of honesty, and the willingness to learn from what went wrong.

Warmly,
Olga Smith

www.batcsglobal.com

303. 3 Speech Patterns That Slow Down Meetings

3 Speech Patterns That Slow Down Meetings

Olga Smith

Owner of BATCS Global, a publishing business, Director of Accent Reduction courses

March 26, 2026

Yesterday I had a meeting with my tech team, and it inspired me to write this article.

I want to showcase speech patterns that create confusion, slow down decisions, and frustrate participants.

1. Interrupting Others

This habit disrupts the flow of conversation. It’s ineffective because important ideas may be lost, and it can create tension.

Cure: Have patience to listen to others and make notes of the most important points.

2. Avoiding Direct Answers

It is quite frustrating when people do not answer questions directly, as if they didn’t hear them and go in circles. Not answering questions clearly delays decisions.

Examples

Question 1: “Can you finish this report by today?”

Indirect Response: “Well, I’ve got quite a few things going on, and the report is pretty detailed, so it might take some time to make sure everything is accurate…”

Direct answer: “I won’t be able to finish it today, but I can have it ready by tomorrow morning.”

Question 2: “How much will this project cost?”

Indirect answer: “Costs can vary depending on different factors like materials, timelines, and scope changes…”

Direct answer: “The estimated cost is £5,000, depending on the final scope.”

Cure: Listen to questions, clarify them if necessary and answer the question directly.

3. Speaking Too Quickly

This is particularly difficult if there is a tech discussion with non-tech people. It slows down the meeting because listeners may miss key information or misunderstand you.

Cure: This is a hard one to cure because it is a habit for many people and part of their nature. I recommend:

Warmly

Olga Smith

www.batcsglobal.com

302. Elevate Your Language -Elevate Your Life

Yesterday, I attended a philosophy group in Barnes and I have enjoyed not only what I heard but the way people spoke - a wonderful choice of words and Received Pronunciation.

It got me thinking about language and how it transforms experience.

You may have the right thoughts, the right ambition, even the right strategy—but if your delivery lacks clarity and control, it dilutes your impact.

Choice of words, accent, pacing, and tone all contribute to perceived credibility. Like it or not, people associate certain speech patterns with composure, education, and authority.

This is why Received Pronunciation (RP)—often associated with the British upper classes—has historically carried weight. Not because it is “better,” but because it signals:

  • Clarity

  • Control

  • Intentional delivery

It doesn’t rush. It doesn’t blur. It doesn’t apologise.

Elevated speech is not about sounding louder or more formal. It’s about being deliberate.

Instead of:

  • Rushing through words

  • Softening statements unnecessarily

  • Filling space with uncertainty

You begin to:

  • Articulate clearly

  • Pause with confidence

  • Deliver thoughts with structure

Get Rid of your Accent app will help develop clear, composed speech rooted in RP—not to erase who you are, but to elevate how you’re perceived.

Here's how it works:

Elevated language → stronger presence; stronger presence → better opportunities; better opportunities → a different life trajectory

Warmly

Olga Smith

www.batcsglobal.com

301. Mini 1-Minute Public Speaking Challenge

What if you could become a more confident speaker in just 60 seconds a day?

Public speaking doesn’t require a stage, a big audience, or hours of preparation. It starts with consistency—and small, intentional practice.

Here’s a simple challenge you can start today:

⏱ The 1-Minute Speaking Habit

Every day, pick a topic and speak about it for one minute. That’s it.

No scripts. No overthinking. Just speak.

How it works:

  • Choose any topic (your day, an idea, a news story, a lesson learned)

  • Set a timer for 60 seconds

  • Speak out loud—ideally record yourself

  • Don’t stop, even if you stumble

Why this works:

  • Builds clarity of thought

  • Reduces fear of speaking

  • Improves articulation and confidence

  • Trains you to think on your feet

Want to level up? Try this:

  • Day 1–3: Speak freely

  • Day 4–7: Add structure (beginning, middle, end)

  • Week 2: Focus on tone, pauses, and body language

  • Week 3: Challenge yourself with tougher topics

I do this exercise every day, I love it and it has become a habit for me. I can always find one minute a day to have fun and do something useful at the same time.

Your turn:
What will you speak about today?

Warmly

Olga Smith

www.batcsglobal.com

300. Online Accent Reduction Course for Professionals

Are you a non-native English speaker struggling to be understood at work?
Do you feel your accent is holding you back in meetings, presentations, or job interviews?

You’re not alone—and more importantly, you don’t have to stay stuck.

👉 This online accent reduction course for professionals is designed to help you improve your English pronunciation, reduce your accent, and speak confidently in business settings.

🚀 A Proven System to Improve Your English Accent Fast

This isn’t just another English course. It’s a step-by-step accent training system used by professionals who want real results.

⭐ Improve Your English Pronunciation (British Accent Training)

Start building a clear, professional British accent using:

✔ Learn how to pronounce business English vocabulary correctly
✔ Improve articulation and clarity
✔ Be easily understood in professional conversations

💼 Why Choose This Accent Reduction Course?

If you’re searching for:

  • Accent reduction course online

  • British accent training for professionals

  • Business English pronunciation course

  • How to speak English fluently and clearly

…this is exactly what you need.

✔ 43 structured lessons focused on real business English
✔ Covers finance, IT, law, HR, and marketing vocabulary
✔ Designed for career growth, job interviews, and workplace communication
✔ Inspired by the writing style of Financial Times and The Economist

📈 A Simple Learning Method That Gets Results

You don’t need hours of study—just a smart system.

Here’s how to improve your English speaking skills step by step:

  • Watch the video to understand mouth and speech positions

  • Practise with the app daily

  • Focus on one lesson at a time

  • Study for 10–45 minutes per day

  • Repeat each lesson for 3 days

  • Progress steadily and build confidence

👉 This method helps you reduce your accent naturally and permanently

🔑 Powerful Features for Fast Accent Improvement

🪞👄 Visual training – See and copy correct mouth positions
🎧 Listen and repeat exercises – Perfect your pronunciation
🎤 Record and compare – Track your progress like a pro
💿 Extra audio practice – Train anytime, anywhere

🎯 Who Is This Course For?

This course is perfect if you want to:

✔ Speak clear English at work
✔ Improve your business communication skills
✔ Sound more professional in meetings and presentations
✔ Build confidence in job interviews and networking
✔ Reduce a strong foreign accent

🔥 Start Speaking Clear, Confident English Today

Your accent should never hold you back from success.

👉 Join the Online Accent Reduction Course for Professionals today and start seeing results in just days.

Click here to get started now →

299. One Minute Tongue Exercise to Improve Pronunciation

Most people trying to improve their English pronunciation focus on learning more vocabulary or memorising rules. But pronunciation is actually a muscle skill.

And like any muscle skill, sometimes a tiny exercise can make a huge difference.

Here’s a simple 5-second tongue exercise you can try right now 👇

Step 1: Place your tongue on the teeth ridge, a prominent bone on the roof of your mouth

Step 2: Tap your tongue lightly against that spot. Do this rhythmic exercise from the app Get Rid of your Accent, Lesson 27:

t-t-t-t-t

tt-tt-tt-t

ttt-ttt-ttt-t

tttt-tttt-tttt-t

Step 3: Say these words immediately after
time, today, test, talk, terrible, torts, table, tennis, try, tend

You’ll notice your T sound becomes clearer and sharper.

Many learners keep their tongue too low or too relaxed, which makes pronunciation sound unclear. This quick exercise wakes up the tongue position used in many English consonants like T, D, N, and L.

Think of it like a one-minute warm-up for your mouth.

Try it before:

  • a meeting

  • a presentation

  • a job interview

  • recording a video

Small habits like this can improve clarity more than hours of passive listening.

Do this exercise 3 times a day for one week and notice how much easier certain sounds feel.

Sometimes improving your pronunciation isn’t about studying more — it’s about training the right muscles that create the sound.

Have you tried any pronunciation warm-ups before?

Share your favourite technique in the comments

Warmly

Olga Smith

www.batcsglobal.com

298. N1 Human Strength in the Age of AI

In a world where AI can think faster than we ever could, what truly sets humans apart is no longer memory or calculation—but something deeper.

For most of human history, cognitive ability—memory, calculation, pattern recognition—has been a defining advantage. Today, artificial intelligence systems can perform these functions faster, cheaper, and often more accurately than we can. This shift forces a fundamental question:

When machines can solve problems, what do humans bring to the table?

For me, this question is not abstract—it is deeply personal.

A Personal Turning Point

I am genuinely grateful for AI, because for the first time in my life, I no longer feel inadequate because of my dyslexia.

Growing up, I was made to feel that intelligence looked a certain way—and I didn’t fit it.

I was shamed for my spelling. Reading wasn’t natural or clear to me, yet my father insisted I read fifty pages a day before I could have any fun. What was meant to build discipline often felt like punishment. While others seemed to move effortlessly through text, I had to fight for every page.

I also struggled with routine and anything that required grinding through information without meaning. It drained me.

I remember friends proudly talking about reading a hundred books over the summer. I could barely get through three.

And for a long time, that made me feel behind.

A Different Realisation

Over time, I noticed something important.

Some of the most well-read people I knew—people who could recall vast amounts of information—were not necessarily getting what they wanted from life.

They knew a lot. But knowledge alone didn’t translate into clarity, direction, or results.

That’s when something shifted.

I began to understand that knowing more is not the same as thinking better—and it’s certainly not the same as discernment.

Dyslexia as an Unexpected Advantage

What I lacked in conventional learning, I developed elsewhere.

Because reading was hard, I couldn’t rely on consuming endless information. I became selective. Focused. Intentional.

I developed a kind of laser focus—a drive to understand what actually mattered and how to get what I wanted.

I didn’t have the luxury of drowning in information, so I learned to cut through it.

In a strange way, dyslexia trained me for the exact world we’re entering now.

The Rise of N1 Strength

What I once saw as a weakness is now part of what I call N1 human strength—the smallest unit of uniquely human value that scales everything else.

N1 strength is not about competing with AI. It is about directing it.

It includes mainly leadership qualities:

1. Taste

AI generates options. We decide what is worth keeping.

2. Judgment

AI offers possibilities. We choose what matters.

3. Direction

AI executes. We define the goal.

4. Integration

AI produces fragments. We connect them.

5. Meaning-Making

AI generates content. We give it purpose.

6. Experience Truth

AI is hypothetical—it can simulate, predict, and suggest.
But truth is grounded in lived experience. Humans test, feel, and verify what actually works.

A New Kind of Confidence

For the first time, I don’t feel like I have to compensate.

I don’t feel behind.

I feel aligned.

AI didn’t just remove a limitation—it revealed that the game has changed.

The traits I once struggled with forced me to develop something deeper than knowledge: discernment, focus, and direction.

Warmly

Olga Smith

www.batcsglobal.com

297. Learning in 2026: From Information to Expertise to Execution

With the invention of the internet, we got access to information. I remember waiting for books at the library. Now, I can search, scroll, and find almost anything instantly.

But information alone didn’t make us capable. It just made us aware.

With the rise of AI, we’ve entered a different era.

We now have access to expertise.

Learning has changed

We no longer need to attend lectures or spend months mastering theory before taking action. It is no longer about preparing first and doing later. It’s now a hands-on process.

We learn by doing.

You get the information and expertise you need for a specific task—and apply it immediately.

My experience improving a website with AI

Recently, I worked on improving my website, focusing on SEO and performance.

A few years ago, this would’ve meant:

  • Taking full SEO courses

  • Reading endless blogs about algorithms

  • Hiring an expert

  • Spending weeks testing without clarity

This time was different.

I didn’t study SEO in the traditional sense.
I improved the website directly.

  • Needed better structure → got clear recommendations

  • Needed keyword ideas → generated and refined them instantly

  • Needed optimisation → made targeted improvements with guidance

I wasn’t becoming an SEO expert.

I was operating like one—with help.

The shift: learning by doing

This is the biggest change in 2026:

Learning is no longer preparation.
Learning is execution.

Instead of:

  • Studying first

  • Practicing later

We now:

  1. Start with something real

  2. Identify gaps

  3. Get expert-level guidance

  4. Apply immediately

Repeat.

Why this works? Because context beats theory.

Everything I learned had a purpose:

  • SEO → visibility

  • Content → ranking and conversion

  • Structure → clarity for users and search engines

Nothing was abstract. Everything was practical.

The new skill: learning on demand

The most valuable skill today isn’t knowing everything.

It’s:

  • Asking the right questions

  • Applying answers quickly

  • Iterating fast

Learning on demand.

The internet gave us access to information.
AI gave us access to expertise.

Now the only thing left is action.

Warmly

Olga Smith

www.batcsglobal.com

296. The List of Our Apps, Books and Video Courses

295. What Creating My First 1-Minute Instagram Video Taught Me

I had been dreading this for years. Finally, I decided to do it—create a 1-minute Instagram video. I even told myself: I wouldn’t do anything else until I got it done. Here’s what I learned:

  • Creating a 1-minute video takes far more strategy than I expected.

  • It’s surprisingly hard to make something that is both attention-grabbing and meaningful in such a short time.

What Worked Well 

 1. I started with a clear idea: explaining how the /t/ sound is created and how to master it.

2. I had a clear structure: a beginning, middle, and end.

3. I used a microphone—audio quality was strong

4. I rehearsed the video content 3 times

5. I spoke clearly and stayed authentic to my style

6. I avoided filler words

7. I used good natural light and faced the window

8. The content was valuable and useful

Mistakes I Made

Mistake #1: No hook

I didn’t think about the first 3 seconds.

Attention spans are short—if you don’t grab interest immediately, people scroll.

Instead of a strong hook, I just greeted the audience.

A simple structure I should have followed:

  1. 0–3 sec: Hook. Strong hooks include:  a bold statement (“You’ve been doing this wrong…”)  or a question that sparks curiosity

  2. 3–45 sec: Main content

  3. 45–60 sec: Conclusion + CTA

Mistake #2: Not visually engaging

The video lacked movement and variation to keep attention.

Mistake #3: No captions or text

I didn’t use text to:

  • Highlight key points

  • Reinforce the message

  • Guide viewers

Many people watch without sound—this was a missed opportunity.

Mistake #4: No call to action

I ended with: “I hope you enjoyed the video.”

Instead, I could have said:

  • “Follow for more tips”

  • “Save this for later”

A CTA turns viewers into engaged followers.

Creating a great 1-minute Instagram video is about clarity, energy, and connection. I had clarity and energy. But I missed a connection with my audience—at the start (no hook) and at the end (no CTA).

I’ll keep experimenting.

And who knows - maybe the next one will be better.

Olga Smith
www.batcsglobal.com

294. Accent Reduction Method

⭐ How Our Method Works

Step 1: Practice the sounds that challenge you most

  • Start with your video course, app or book.

  • Focus on the specific sounds that are difficult for your nationality.

  • Track your progress with exercises and recordings built into the apps.

Step 2: Work on fluency and intonation

  • Gradually practice words, sentences, and natural speech patterns.

  • Apply your learning in real-life speaking situations, like meetings, presentations, and conversations.

Step 3: Optional Personalised Support: Speech Analysis & Elocution Lessons

How Sounds are Produced

You learn how to physically produce sounds correctly:

  • Where to place your tongue and

  • How to shape your lips;

  • Jaw position: open, half-open or half-closed, etc. Many people have very stiff jaw muscles, which affects pronunciation.


Fluency Training Involves:

  • Connected speech patterns

  • Sentence stress

  • Natural flow of speech

  • Strong and weak forms of words

  • Schwa and fluency

  • Difficult speech patterns: words anding s and consinant clusters

  • Use of colloquial expressions and idioms

  • Intonation

293. How Long Does It Take to Get Rid of Accent?

How long will it take me to get rid of my accent?

This is one of the most common questions we’re asked—and the honest answer is: it depends.

Your progress is highly individual and influenced by several factors. Accents are deeply connected to muscle memory and personal identity, so changing them takes time and consistent practice.

Here are four key factors that affect how quickly you can get rid of your accent:

1. Your native language
Some languages are closer to English than others. For example, speakers of Italian or German may find it easier to adapt to English pronunciation, while speakers of Japanese or Chinese often face more differences to overcome.

2. How long you’ve been speaking English
The longer you’ve used certain pronunciation patterns, the more ingrained they become. Changing established habits takes time—but it’s absolutely possible.

3. When you started learning English
Early exposure can make pronunciation more intuitive, but starting later doesn’t mean you can’t make significant progress.

4. Your listening ability (“your ear”)
Some people naturally pick up sounds and rhythm more easily, while others need more focused listening practice. The good news is that this skill can be trained.

Here’s a realistic timeline (if you practice regularly):

  • 1-2 weeks: You’ll start noticing specific sounds

  • 1–3 months: Your speech becomes clearer and easier for others to understand.

  • 6–12 months: You can sound quite close to your target accent in many situations.

  • 1+ year: Near-native fluency is possible, but subtle traces of your original accent often remain.

 What speeds it up:

  • Daily speaking practice (even 15–45 mins)

  • Recording yourself and comparing

  • Shadowing native speakers (copying rhythm + intonation)

  • Focusing on patterns, not just individual words

292. How to Keep your Audience’s Attention

Yesterday, I visited my Toastmasters club and listened to six impromptu and three prepared speeches. I chose to sit at the back of the room so that, if I got bored, I could peek at my phone for some intellectual or visual stimulation.

Here’s an honest reflection on what I noticed about the speakers and how I felt as an audience member.

Moments When I Got Bored

  • The speaker’s voice was too quiet, and I could not hear much

  • A monotonous speech delivery made me instantly switch off from listening and look at my phone

  • When they spoke too fast and did not have a clear speech structure

  • When the speaker was relying too heavily on notes, it felt like they were reading a boring report rather than sharing a message

Moments When I Really Enjoyed Listening

  • One of the speakers started his speech with a deep, intimate question; it felt like he was speaking to me directly. It was an amazing connection

  • A few speakers made clever jokes and connected them to previous speakers. We all could relate to those jokes and have a good laugh

What Stood Out: Body Language

Finally, I would like to share what stood out to me. I paid attention to the body language because it speaks louder than words and tells a lot about a person. I find it fascinating:

  • One speaker had a lifted shoulder and hunched back, which made him appear tense and uneven

  • The Toastmaster of the evening hugged presenters, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere

  • Some speakers looked very serious throughout, which made their talks feel heavy

Key Takeaways for Speakers

  1. Open with a relatable question or story to capture attention

  2. Project your voice so that people can hear you

  3. Memorise the key messages of your speech and connect with the audience rather than reading a script

  4. Create a clear speech structure, pause between paragraphs and allow listeners to absorb one idea at a time

  5. Stand tall, open your shoulders and smile

I’d love to hear from you—what interesting things do you notice when people speak?

Warmly

Olga Smith

www.batcsglobal.com