Fresh Start

New Stuff

I hope your 2023 is off to a good start. In the last newsletter, I said I’d be starting January with information about prosody, but that will have to wait. I have been busy making something for you that is finally ready to be announced and shared. I’m excited, but I’m actually kind of nervous about putting something “out there” for everyone to see, even though this has been seen by many people who have given me feedback to help make it better and better. Thank you to all those extra eyes! I will keep making more downloadable guides and videos this year, but the first ones took a long time due to learning by trial and error.

Here it is:

I have started a product store on Gumroad: https://adastraspeech.gumroad.com

There are only two products right now, but I will keep adding new things and hopefully the process will get faster and easier each time.

I have a free one (First Steps) that has the option to pay what you want. This will get you thinking about how to build practice into your life and not just add it on as something you never get around to doing.

The other one (Guidebook) I priced at $20.23 as a way to start off this new year with ideas to practice speaking and listening in your everyday life. There are lots of small things you can do to add up to big results. There are seven videos that describe and demonstrate each one that can only be accessed through the links in the pdf.

Here are the descriptions of the contents of each one and links to the website to download them:

1. First Steps to Improving Your English Speaking and Listening Skills

This is a free pdf about:

• How to build a self-practice plan

• Apps that help build habits

• How to prepare for speaking situations

• How to create small speaking opportunities

• Online resources from Adastra Speech

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2. Guidebook: How to Practice American English Speaking and Listening Skills

This guide is for non-native English speakers who want to improve their skills.

It contains text and videos that describe strategies and practical exercises you can use in everyday life to improve your English skills.

The information is based on my research and years of teaching experience that focus on the most efficient method to make changes to speaking skills.

I begin with the answer to the most common question I receive as a speech coach, "Where do I start?" and then list ways to apply practice in your everyday life in each of the three stages of progress:

1. Awareness

2. Control

3. Analysis

Set the Foundation

The importance of cognitive load on learning

3 stages of making changes to speech

The order to practice speech features

Practice exercises and videos for:

Prosody

Word Stress

Individual Sounds (vowels & consonants)

Preparing & creating speaking opportunities

Continue learning

Online resources

About Dr. Christi Barb at Adastra Speech

About private speech coaching

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If you haven’t been sure where to start to make improvements to your English speaking and listening skills this year, I hope I can provide you with motivation, ideas, and encouragement through these guides and videos.

Here’s to a fresh start in 2023!