In this episode, I begin to explore issues of pronunciation in English, with a particular focus (you'll see why that word is important later!) on the needs of Slovak learners. The programme will be of interest to learners and teachers alike who want to explore how different sounds are made and why some are more challenging to get right than others.

This will be the first in a series of podcasts on the topic and I am grateful to Matej and Tomáš for agreeing to be interviewed to give authentic voice to the difficulties learners face with some pronunciation in English.

In the programme, I explore the difficulty of silent letters for learners who read every letter sound in their first language. I question whether 'first language interference' exists, or whether we are more correct to say that learners use sounds differently in different languages.

I make the point that I am learning, too, both to speak Slovak, but also to improve my teaching strategies so that I am more attuned to the difficulties Slovak learners face, given their prior linguistic experiences.

I go into some technical detail about the difference between voiced and voiceless consonants, an awareness of which is important in sound production in answer to the question, 'Am I saying this word correctly?'.

I also explore the strange case of the three ways to pronounce '-ed' endings in English words, something that English native speakers often do not realise is going on in their 'own' first language. I hope you enjoy the podcast and come back for further episodes.

Comments and suggestions for further topics can be addressed by email to: [email protected]

In this episode I interview Eleanor McLeod from Swansea in Wales about her career as an actor, teacher, writer, examiner and festival adjudicator.

I discuss Eleanor's love of the spoken and written word and Eleanor recites some of her poems from the books, 'Poems for Children to Enjoy and Teachers, Too!' and 'More Poems for Children to Enjoy and Teachers, Too!'.

Eleanor discusses the significant achievements made during the global pandemic by organisations such as LAMDA, the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and the Hong Kong Festival in moving their work online so that children could still perform and be assessed or adjudicated.

Eleanor points to the improvements in articulation and self-confidence that can be gained from such performing, as well as the sheer joy and pleasure in appreciating language in all its forms.

One of Eleanor's earliest poems, 'Ballet Lessons' is still performed today, written from her personal recollections as a child encouraged to take part in creative pursuits by her parents. Her timely poem, 'A Second Hand World' is a poignant reminder of the environmental damage humans have caused and questions whether we want to do anything about before it's too late.

Finally Eleanor recites a poem in Welsh from memory to share with us the beautiful prosody and rhythm of the language.

Eleanor's works are available for purchase at:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Poems-Children-Enjoy-Teachers-Too/dp/1905363494/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=%27Poems+for+Children+to+Enjoy+and+Teachers%2C+Too%21%27&qid=1614367654&s=books&sr=1-1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MORE-POEMS-CHILDREN-ENJOY-TEACHERS/dp/190662819X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=%27More+Poems+for+Children+to+Enjoy+and+Teachers%2C+Too%21%27&qid=1614367579&s=books&sr=1-1

John Scott Lawton is the former Head of Examinations at LAMDA, the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and an English Language Coach. He can be contacted at: [email protected] and online at: https://johnscottlawtonsenglishyouknow.wordpress.com/

In this episode I return to the theme of applying for jobs, submitting CVs (résumés) and attending job interviews, whether online or face to face.

I interview Kristina Preston, Head of Awarding and Skills at Peridot Partners in London. She gives very sound and direct advice on how to customise your CV for each job you apply for and gives useful tips about how this can be done quickly and efficiently.

Then we look at the job interview and the need to give clear and honest answers to questions asked. It sounds straightforward enough, but in the tension of an interview situation, many people let themselves down by talking around an issue, rather than getting to the point.

We further explore the concept of soft skills - particularly problem-solving and the crucial ability of being able to influence others through excellent communication - not persuasion - skills.

Finally, we consider the need for good English Language skills in many international companies where it is the language of communication between different departments or sections within and across international borders.

Peridot Partners is an executive search firm working across third sector, education and membership sectors to transform leadership and inspire change in the United Kingdom.

Kristina Preston leads the Awarding and Skills specialist function within the Education Practice at Peridot Partners. With over 10 years’ recruitment experience in every level across the education and skills sectors, she specialises in roles covering the design, development, delivery and quality assurance of educational products and services in awarding organisations, End Point Assessment Organisations and professional membership bodies.

For English Language support, the opportunity to practise and improve your interview techniques, or for help in making sure your CV or covering letters are as clear as they can be, contact me at [email protected] 

In this episode I address the fear many people have of speaking in public - whether face to face or, more likely nowadays, online.

What is it about giving a speech that terrifies some people? What can a normally quiet, shy or nervous person do to overcome their fears?

I speak with Priscilla Morris from Loud and Clear Voice Coaching, a trained actor and professional coach, who is also an Examiner with the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and a Festival Adjudicator, to get some professional advice for business people, teachers, students and others who might have to give a speech in public, or to groups of people online. 

We consider the central importance of good breathing, posture and vocal projection in helping to control those nerves. We look at building a relationship with your audience, again whether it is online or face to face.

Priscilla and I discuss how not to sound boring or bored when giving a speech! We reflect on the gendered differences that there may be between men's and women's voices. We explore non-verbal communications and how they play a vital part in communicating any message.

The podcast will be of interest to anyone who has to attend a job interview (on either side of the table); give a formal presentation of any form; including those giving sales pitches or presenting to audiences of varying sizes.

Priscilla Morris can be contacted at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priscillamorris/ or via her company website: http://www.loudandclearuk.com/ 

John Scott Lawton, former Head of Examinations at LAMDA and now English Language Coach, can be contacted at [email protected] or via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-scott-lawton/

In this episode I explore issues around getting a job. I talk with Samantha Johnston - Head of Division, Higher Education at TPP recruitment in London.

We examine the importance of having a powerful CV or résumé, one which sells your skills and attributes, but which is also customised for each job that you are applying for. We take a close look at the interview process and consider what it is employers are really looking for. We discuss the notions of hard and soft skills - what exactly are 'soft skills' and why are they increasingly important in the workplace?

Samantha emphasises the importance of giving concrete or quantifiable examples when answering prospective employers' questions at interview. This means backing up your responses with hard facts, data and numbers, especially financial information where this is important to the role. 

In a very competitive job market, we ask whether good language skills, not just English language ones, are still important with the increasing use of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and computers doing jobs that were previously done by humans.

If you need help with finding employment in the not-for-profit sector in the UK, contact Samantha Johnston at TPP via email: [email protected] and check out the organisation's website which is packed full of useful resources at: https://www.tpp.co.uk/

For English language support in preparing your CV; for interview practice in English; for support in drafting covering letters to employers; or for help in making presentations in the English Language, whether spoken or written, contact me at: [email protected] or via my LinkedIn page at: www.linkedin.com/in/john-scott-lawton 

This episode explores writing in English, or any language, as a means of therapy. By this I mean writing freely to express emotions and feelings, some of which can be difficult to recall or remember. I speak to Princess R Lakshman from Sydney, Australia about her work supporting women, children and men to recover from trauma, often caused by dislocation - having to leave one's home country because of war or natural disaster - or through individual traumas experienced in families, schools or workplaces because of abusive relationships or bullying.

This podcast therefore comes with a trigger warning, that some of the content may be disturbing to some people. We do not go into details of individual traumatic events, but even talking around the subject may be upsetting to some people.

Princess describes the work she has done to support people who are suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder); including her own personal experiences with the condition. She talks about how writing can be used to empower people to reveal their inner most feelings - to connect with their own souls, in her words - to enable people to understand and move on from very difficult experiences in their lives.

We also touch upon the danger that the imposition of the English Language on individuals or whole communities is problematic and can be seen as a form of cultural imperialism; a topic I will be returning to in greater detail in a future podcast.

This podcast may be of benefit to intermediate and advanced English Language students who want to examine complex topics and to English Language Teachers working in both English as a Second Language and English as a Foreign Language contexts.

Any comments on the podcast should be addressed to [email protected] or via my LinkedIn page at: www.linkedin.com/in/john-scott-lawton 

Princess R Lakshman's 'MInd Body Healing Hub' Blog Page and further contact details can be found at: 

https://muslimahmindmatters.wordpress.com/  

In this episode I interview John Taylor, sports fanatic from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England about idioms in British English Language which have been taken from sports terminology. Many people use phrases such as 'to get on the front foot' without realising where that idiom originated. Boxing is surprisingly rich in having generated such idioms that are now used in regular speech such as, 'down and out', to 'throw in the towel', to 'throw your hat into the ring', or to be 'saved by the bell'.

In American English, the same processes have taken place, with business and accounting language, for example, being particularly rich in expressions from baseball, in particular, such as to 'step up to the plate,' to be asked for a 'ball park figure' or to 'play hard ball'.

This episode will be of interest to anyone with a love of sport or language who wants to know more about the origins of commonly used phrases - their etymology - the history of words - and to philologists who like to examine texts and oral language use and to sociolinguists who might answer the question why more cricketing terms are used idiomatically than football ones.

You are invited to contact John Lawton by email [email protected] or via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/john-scott-lawton

John Scott Lawton, English Language Coach, interviews Miriam Barnaby, Slovak poet, English Language Teacher and writer about what inspires her to create poetry in English. Is all poetry meant to be shared with others? Will poetry see a resurgence given the dramatic and beautiful oratory of Amanda Gorman's, 'The Hill We Climb' at President Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony? Was that poetry, prose, spoken word ... or does it not matter?

Miriam's poems are deeply personal, sensual and layered ... revealing just a little more of themselves at each reading or listen.

Hear Miriam read her own poems such as 'Release', 'Nails', 'Tea Shop' and 'Succinctly' and consider whether you have something you wish to say ... to yourself or others.

John Lawton is an English Language Coach and Teacher, working online out of Bratislava, Slovakia. Having lived in many different countries, John has a rich and deep understanding of how the English Language can be used to unite and to divide us, in equal measure.

Follow this series of podcasts as John interviews English Language speakers around the world and check out his LinkedIn profile at www.linkedin.com/in/john-scott-lawton/ to find out about his Virtual Dinner Parties, the new online Poetry Club and discover more of Miriam's poetry at www.linkedin.com/in/miriam-barnaby/