* Easy-to-follow organization, with gradual development from easier to more difficult topics in Spanish phonetics and clear explanations of linguistic terms. * A wealth of examples and accompanying audio reinforce understanding of linguistic points and illustrate the social and linguistic variation of Spanish. * A rich array of exercises and activities are included, with a full answer key provided online for self-study.

Write and present a memorable wedding toast with this light-hearted, humorous guide that gives you all the tools you'll need for a successful speech-the perfect gift for any best man or maid of honor. As much as it's an honor to be chosen as the best man or maid of honor at a wedding, giving the perfect speech can sometimes be nerve-wracking. Delivering a crowd-pleasing toast at the reception that has the right amount of humor and sentimentality is a daunting undertaking, no matter how advanced your public speaking skills are. Pete Honsberger's guide to giving the perfect wedding toast provides even the most nervous of public speakers with all the tools and advice they need for writing and presenting the best toast ever. After witnessing speeches both good and bad, Honsberger shares a few bits of wisdom he's learned along the way, providing building blocks to creating an unforgettable story along with helpful speech prompts, and the perfect checklist that will turn a potentially scary obligation into a golden opportunity. Wedding Toasts 101 presents a fun and simple way to write a successful wedding toast without all the stress so you can spend less time worrying and more time celebrating the happy couple.

Teach yourself German in just 12 weeks with this fun, user-friendly, and uniquely visual language course. DK's 15 Minute German is the perfect course for busy people who want to learn German fast. Twelve themed chapters are broken down into easy-to-follow 15-minute daily lessons, spanning a range of practical themes, including leisure, business, food and drink, travel, and shopping. Each lesson combines vocabulary and grammar essentials with attractive full-colour images, making it quick, easy, and fun to learn new German vocabulary. There is no writing or homework - you simply use the cover flaps to hide the answers to exercises and test yourself as you learn. Each chapter ends with a review module, so you can track your progress and identify areas where you need further practice. The course includes a free audio app that enables you to hear German words and phrases spoken by native speakers. Use the app alongside the book's easy-to-use pronunciation guides to perfect your pronunciation and practise German conversation in real-life situations. Whether you're a complete beginner or just in need of a refresher course, there's no easier way to learn German than with 15 Minute German.

The only guide you'll need to help you make that speech a success. The very thought of standing up in front of and then addressing an audience is sufficient to fill most people with blind terror, whether it's to be a wedding speech, a work presentation or simply proposing a toast. Yet speaking effectively in public is a skill that can be learned like any other, and this guide will teach you the techniques and tips to overcome your nerves and become an effective speaker, whatever the situation. Covers all the practical techniques needed to plan, write and present any speech successfully Packed with advice and hints on speeches for a wide variety of occasions, from family gatherings to formal social or business events Contains a useful selection of quotations organised by subject and lists the different forms of address and references to where to find inspiration on the World Wide Web Checklists and practice examples help build confidence quickly If you only ever buy one book to help you make that speech, this should be it!

This book also comes as part of a pack with audio CDs: ISBN 9781406679007 Talk French (Book) has already inspired thousands of people to learn French from scratch and is great support if you're attending a French class. Whether you're learning for business, travel or just for fun, its straightforward, step-by-step approach will ensure you're soon able to speak French in a range of everyday situations. With specially designed activities and clear, jargon-free grammar explanations you'll quickly develop your language skills and make genuine progress right from the start. Make real progress using the successful, proven Talk method. Develop your language skills with tips and strategies to help you learn. Practise and learn with interactive activities to support every topic. Also available: Talk French Pack (includes this book and 2 x 60-minute CDs) ISBN 9781406679007 and Talk French Complete ISBN 9781406679212 (includes this book and 2 x 60-minute CDs; Talk French 2, book and 2 x 60-minute CDs; Talk French Grammar, book). Other languages in the series: Arabic, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish www.bbcactivelanguages.com

Public speaking is a much coveted yet difficult art. This book illustrates the use of various linguistic devices and persuasive strategies with examples from the speeches of powerful orators in history. It systematically draws on the various approaches to public speaking and persuasive discourse to present new insights and techniques. The volume: Critically examines strategies of persuasive oratory. Draws on extensive investigation of a corpus of famous public speeches in history. Focuses on the needs of those who want to brush up their public speaking skills. The volume will be a key reference for aspiring civil servants, lawyers, business and corporate professionals, and politicians. It will be of great interest to scholars of linguistics, and political and business communication.

Lasso Them With Laughter The way to your listeners hearts is through their funny bones. Want to grab their attention? Do it with humor. Need to drive home a point they ll remember? Nothing does it better than a rib-tickling anecdote---like the ones in this book. 1002 Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking is jam-packed with one-liners, jokes, humorous stories, and pithy proverbs for just about any subject or circumstance under the sun. Pick your topic. Appearances, Communication, Opportunity, Prayer, Self-Image, Sports . . . these and plenty more come to you conveniently alphabetized, numbered, and indexed for instant referencing. There s even a space for you to log what you use, so fresh nuttiness doesn t become old chestnuts. Tested by preachers and public speakers, this ensemble of humor is just the ticket to get your audience laughing---and listening."

This is a comprehensive introduction to English text-linguistics. It deals with those areas of text-linguistics that have enjoyed widespread attention in English linguistics, notably aspects of cohesion and coherence. Further topics are corpus-based studies in lexical patterns and in text classifications, psycho-linguistic and cognitive studies in text constitution and decoder-orientation. One special feature of this book is that it not only covers abstract lexical and grammatical structures but also medium-dependent written and spoken presentation.

From the organization of a speech to knowing your audience, your vocals, and the delivery, this essential guide covers an entire course on public speaking yet is handy enough to reference throughout your speech preparation. With more preparation comes more confidence and with added inspiration throughout this guide you will stand to deliver.

Whether it's in a one-on-one meeting with the boss or at an international conference to an audience of thousands, presenting information is a integral part of modern working life. And since few businesses offer any training in presentation skills, nearly everyone dreads these occasions: even the most confident can give mediocre talks simply through stage fright and poor preparation. This in-depth, easy-to-follow guide offers a thorough grounding in the art of public speaking and presentation. Emphasizing the importance of proper preparation, it walks readers step by step through every stage -- developing a key message, designing effective slides and audiovisual aids, dealing with anxiety, appropriate dress, achieving good delivery, and dealing with questions from the floor. Written in clear, jargon-free English, this practical guide aids those wishing to hone their speaking skills as well as those gearing up for their first talk.

Experienced speakers know the value of humor for adding punch to their point and muscle to their message. That's why 1001 More Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking belongs in every pastor's and speaker's library -- including yours! Like its rib-tickling predecessor, 1001 Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking, this volume is a gold mine of one-liners, jokes, and humorous anecdotes for almost any situation or subject. Pick your topic: Attitudes, Evangelism, Romance, Weddings . . . you'll find what you're looking for, conveniently alphabetized, numbered, and indexed for instant referencing. There's even a space for you to record the times and places you use each illustration, so no one will hear you tell the same joke twice. Most of these humorous gems have already been tested by preachers and other speakers. And the huge variety ensures you'll find something to tickle any congregation's funny bone -- and grab its attention.

Voice and Mirroring in L2 Pronunciation Instruction presents an approach to teaching pronunciation which aims for learners to internalize the voices (complexes of linguistic and non-linguistic features that embody particular speakers' emotion, social stance, and group identification) of proficient speakers of the second language (L2). Beginning with a review of bottom-up and top-down approaches to second language acquisition (SLA) research and pronunciation teaching, the authors present previously published and new findings in interlanguage phonology and variationist approaches to SLA showing the powerful impact of sociolinguistic context on L2 pronunciation. On the basis of this review, the authors argue that a top-down approach which begins with social context is preferable in both the research and teaching of L2 pronunciation. They highlight the Mirroring Project as one such approach that includes the social factors impacting L2 pronunciation, such as interlocutor, empathy, and nonverbal elements. With accompanying instructional activities that have been used in a variety of teaching and learning settings in the U.S., the authors demonstrate how this project can help language learners modify their L2 pronunciation patterns and improve their intelligibility as they internalize and channel the voices of speakers they have selected as models. The audience for the volume includes language teachers, particularly those desiring to use top-down pedagogical approaches like the Mirroring Project to improve learners' intelligibility, and academic researchers interested in studying the way adults can acquire second language phonology by holistically adopting and channeling the voices of speakers they admire. The book is also of potential interest to language teacher educators, curriculum developers, and textbook writers.

The fun and easy way to learn the fascinating language of German with integrated audio clips

"German For Dummies, Enhanced Edition" uses the renowned Berlitz approach to get you up and running with the language-and having fun too Designed for the total beginner, this guide introduces you to basic grammar and then speedily has you making conversation. Integrated audio clips let you listen and learn as you hear pronunciations and real-life conversations. Fun and games sections ease your way into German fluency, phonetic spellings following expressions and vocabulary improve your pronunciation, and helpful boxes and sidebars cover cultural quirks and factoids.Master the nuts and bolts of German grammarLearn phrases that make you sound German-and know what "never" to say in German

Whether you're just looking for a greeting besides "Guten tag" or you want to become a foreign exchange student, this enhanced edition of "German For Dummies" gives you what you need to learn the language-as much as you like, as fast as you like

?De acuerdo? 20 Simulaciones para la clase de espanol es el manual perfecto para estudiantes de espanol de nivel intermedio y avanzado que quieren desarrollar su destreza oral. El libro presenta 20 simulaciones que proporcionan un marco eficaz y motivador para el desarrollo de la destreza oral y la produccion del habla espontanea. Los estudiantes asumen un papel que les permite expresar opiniones, discutir y debatir dentro de un contexto significativo, preparandolos para situaciones de la vida real. Caracteristicas destacadas: amplia variedad de temas, tales como los negocios, la educacion, la salud y las redes sociales actividades de preparacion que ayudan al estudiante a participar plenamente en los debates secciones para el profesor y el estudiante, con explicaciones sobre como usar y participar en simulaciones Las versiones en color de las imagenes del libro pueden descargarse en https://www.routledge.com/products/9781138831087. ?De acuerdo? 20 Simulaciones para la clase de espanol es ideal para los niveles B1-C1 del MCER o los niveles intermedio-bajo a avanzado segun las guias de capacidad linguistica de ACTFL. ?De acuerdo? 20 Simulaciones para la clase de espanol is the ideal course for intermediate to advanced students of Spanish seeking to develop their speaking skills. The book presents 20 simulations which provide an effective and motivating framework for developing speaking skills and producing spontaneous speech. Students take on a role allowing them to express opinions, argue and debate within a meaningful context that prepares them for real-life situations. Key features: wide variety of topics, such as business, education, health and social media Preparatory activities to help students engage fully in the debates teacher and student sections with explanations on how to use and participate in simulations Full colour versions of the images in the book are available to download from https://www.routledge.com/products/9781138831087. ?De acuerdo? 20 Simulaciones para la clase de espanol is ideal for levels B1-C1 of the CEFR or Intermediate-Low to Advanced according to the ACTFL proficiency guidelines.

'The thrill is that you're actually figuring it out on your own. You're engaging with another language, not just parroting it... It's an excellent way to start, and leaves the listener thinking, Hey, Ich kann do dis.' - New Yorker, David Sedaris, humorist and author, on learning German with the Michel Thomas Method Looking for a convenient language course that fits your lifestyle and gets you speaking a new language in a matter of weeks, not years? The original no-books, no-homework, no-memorizing method is in tune with the way the brain prefers to receive, store and retrieve information. You'll stick with it because you'll love it. * Pick up Hindi naturally and unforgettably without strain or stress * Learn from listening and speaking, without the pressure of writing or memorizing * Build up your Hindi in manageable steps by thinking out answers for yourself * Progress to the full Foundation Hindi course with confidence in the method. WHY IS THE METHOD SO SUCCESSFUL? 'What you understand, you know; and what you know, you don't forget.' - Michel Thomas Before there was machine learning, there was Michel Thomas. For over 50 years he worked on decoding languages by breaking them down into their most essential component parts. These 'building blocks' are introduced to the learner sequentially in such a way that you reconstruct the language for yourself - to form your own sentences, to say what you want, when you want. This unique method draws on the principles of instructional psychology and works with the way your brain prefers to receive, store and retrieve information. Knowledge is structured and organized so that you absorb the language easily and don't forget it. The method is designed to eliminate the stress which prevents you from relaxing and allowing the brain to work in the way which accepts learning in a seemingly painless, very exciting and highly motivating way. HOW DO THE COURSES WORK? 'All stress inhibits true and effective learning' - Michel Thomas During the course, you will join Michel Thomas Method Teacher Akshay Bakaya and two students in a live lesson, learning from both their successes and their mistakes to keep you motivated and involved throughout the course. You, as the learner, become the third student and participate actively in the class. Within the very first hour you will be able to construct simple phrases by listening and thinking out answers for yourself without the pressure of writing or stress of having to memorize. You will learn at your own pace, pausing and repeating where necessary, and complete the course in about 3-5 hours. WHAT WILL I ACTUALLY ACHIEVE? 'I am the architect who builds the house. It's up to you to decorate it.' - Michel Thomas The Michel Thomas Method will help you kick-start, continue, and flourish in your Hindi language learning journey. It is not intended to get you perfectly fluent, but it will get you speaking and using Hindi, with proper pronunciation, faster than most any other method. It is designed to give you a strong foundation and good working knowledge of a language from which you can expand and later 'add decoration' to. It is a rapid method for learning, but still requires effort and concentration on the part of the learner. WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE COURSE?* Start Hindi includes one audio CD. The booklet is available to download from www.michelthomas.com. LEARN ANYWHERE AND ANYTIME! Reclaim your pockets of free time to learn a new language! Don't be tied to chunky books or your computer, Michel Thomas Method audio courses let you learn whenever and wherever you want, in as little or as much time as you have. WHERE DO I GO NEXT? Foundation Hindi follows on from the Start course.

Better Vocabulary In 30 Minutes A Day offers a comprehensive method for adding a more impressive list of words to your everyday speech and learning how to use them effortlessly and accurately. Sprinkled throughout the book are fascinating stories about words and origins.

Rediscovered texts for teaching composition and rhetoric. A project of recovery and reanimation, Lost Texts in Rhetoric and Composition foregrounds a broad range of publications that deserve renewed attention. Contributors to this volume reclaim these lost texts to reenvision the rhetorical tradition itself. Authors discussed include not only twentieth-century American compositionists but also a linguist, a poet, a philosopher, a painter, a Renaissance rhetorician, and a nineteenth-century pioneer of comics; the collection also features some less studied works by authors who remain well known. These texts will give rise to new conversations about current ideas in composition and rhetoric. This volume contains discussion of the following authors and titles: Judah Messer Leon, The Book of the Honeycomb's Flow, Angel DeCora, Sterling Andrus Leonard, English Composition as a Social Problem, Rodolphe Töpffer, William James, Kenneth Burke, Adrienne Rich, Ann E. Berthoff, John Mohawk, "Western Peoples, Natural Peoples," William Vande Kopple, William Irmscher, Beat Not the Poor Desk, Walter J. Ong, Geneva Smitherman, Thomas Zebroski, Linda Brodkey, Craig S. Womack, Deborah Cameron, James Slevin, Marilyn Sternglass, and William E. Coles, Jr.

A truly unique introductory textbook, Public Speaking and Democratic Participation: Speech, Deliberation, and Analysis in the Civic Realm provides a comprehensive introduction to the basic skills involved in public speaking--including reasoning, organization, outlining, anxiety management, style, delivery, and more--through the lens of democratic participation. It helps students develop the skills to distinguish between productive and unproductive public discourse; participate in and lead constructive discussions of community issues; and analyze public messages as an act of civic participation. By integrating the theme of civic engagement throughout, Public Speaking and Democratic Participation offers a direct and inspiring response to the alarming decline in civic participation in the U.S. and the climate of vindictiveness in our current political culture. It equips students with the tools to reverse these tendencies and move toward a greater commitment to our shared public life.

In order to speak French as it is spoken by native-speakers, one needs not only to hear the language, but to know what to listen for. This comprehensive and accessible guide to current French pronunciation fulfils precisely this need.

The first three chapters outline the book's aims, level and scope, as well as the general principles of French phonetics. The author also alerts the reader to regional variations in the pronunciation of French. He then turns to specifics, including vowels, semi-consonants and consonants, providing the reader with the basic knowledge needed to understand later chapters which discuss these parts of speech at greater length. Interspersed are other chapters covering such important aspects of French pronunciation as rhythmic groups, the syllable, liaison and intonation.

The orientation of "An Introduction to French Pronunciation" is consistently practical, and phonetic theory and technical terminology are kept to the minimum necessary. It will be of interest to anyone with a basic knowledge of French who needs help and advice in achieving a more authentic pronunciation.

In this hilarious and highly practical book, author and professional speaker Scott Berkun reveals the techniques behind what great communicators do, and shows how anyone can learn to use them well. For managers and teachers -- and anyone else who talks and expects someone to listen -- "Confessions of a Public Speaker" provides an insider's perspective on how to effectively present ideas to anyone. It's a unique, entertaining, and instructional romp through the embarrassments and triumphs Scott has experienced over 15 years of speaking to crowds of all sizes.

With lively lessons and surprising confessions, you'll get new insights into the art of persuasion -- as well as teaching, learning, and performance -- directly from a master of the trade.

Highlights include: Berkun's hard-won and simple philosophy, culled from years of lectures, teaching courses, and hours of appearances on NPR, MSNBC, and CNBC Practical advice, including how to work a tough room, the science of not boring people, how to survive the attack of the butterflies, and what to do when things go wrong The inside scoop on who earns $30,000 for a one-hour lecture and why The worst -- and funniest -- disaster stories you've ever heard (plus countermoves you can use)

Filled with humorous and illuminating stories of thrilling performances and real-life disasters, "Confessions of a Public Speaker" is inspirational, devastatingly honest, and a blast to read.

Choices & Connections combines current scholarship and pedagogy, developed by a diverse community of expert voices, to provide all students with foundational communication skills to support their success in the human communication classroom and the community.

Find your voice, and communicate with confidence

Ever wondered why nobody hears you in meetings, or wished people would take you more seriously? Or maybe you're unhappy with your accent, or you feel insecure about your high-pitched or monotonous voice? "Voice and Speaking Skills For Dummies" will help you to discover the power of your voice, understand how it works, and use your voice like a professional whether in meetings, addressing an audience, or standing in front of a classroom. Take a deep breath, relax those vocal cords, and make your speech sparkle

We're not all planning to become politicians, or likely to address large audiences on a regular basis, but we all need to be able to communicate well to achieve success. Certain professions require a high level of vocal confidence, notably teachers and business leaders. As well as using body language effectively, we also rely on our voice to convey passion, exude enthusiasm, and command attention--and that's before we've considered the content of our words A clear understanding of how your voice works, how to maximize its effectiveness, and ways to overcome voice 'gremlins' such as speaking too fast, stuttering, or sounding childish, is pivotal to enabling you to succeed, whatever the situation.Highlights the importance of your voice, explains how to use it effectivelyGives you confidence in public speakingHelps you use your voice to make a great first impression in all aspects of your lifeIncludes a CD with vocal exercises to help you communicate with confidence.

Whether you're looking to improve your speaking skills for work or personal gain--or both--"Voice and Speaking Skills For Dummies" gives you everything you need to find your voice and communicate with confidence.

Note: CD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of the e-book file, but are available for download after purchase.