Perez Apple & Company

Training / Coaching / Assessment

Achieving Excellence in Workplace Communication™

Success Stories

 

Featured Communication Skill Improvement Success Story

Workplace Learning for the Professional in-Charge: A case study of communication skills coaching for organizational leaders

I often hear my clients described as wonderful, educated, brilliant people but with much, much less regard for their communication skills. Case in point was a trilingual professional whose communication skills had come under fire from the Board of Directors at this not-for-profit organization leaving his job security uncertain. This very visible position demanded that he speak publicly on a weekly basis to the organization, teach small classes, and interact with members.

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Although he was a very audible speaker and spoke with conviction, the lack of clarity created by mispronunciation and poor usage often left his listeners second guessing the meaning of what was being said and disturbed with his grasp of English usage as it reflected on the organization.

As with all learners but particularly with adult learners, the identification of a learning style and the ability to have input into your training program is an essential part of ensuring that the program has a successful outcome. In this case, the learner was quickly identified as a visual and kinesthetic learner who was a "quick study" but struggled with having to slow down to adapt new speaking patterns and realize the value to him and his future as well as the organization's needs.

Because pronunciation and accent training are psychomotor skills like playing the piano or playing tennis, a minimum of 12-16 weeks of twice–weekly sessions is recommended. This program was designed specifically to improve pronunciation and usage; develop new vocabulary and the use of collocations (how words work together for fluent and natural English) while being supported by visual table games, electronic learning formats, and a number of resources for continued learning and improvement.

Since the completion of his training program, he has emerged as a more confident and effective speaker, teacher, and administrator. Feedback from the organization has been very positive and his future as a leader of the organization is no longer in question.

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Listen to an audio clip of Esther Perez explaining a common pronunciation problem:

Improve Business Communication - Oral Speech Case Study

A Senior Vice President recruited from Latin America needed to boost his English language skills to meet the demands of his new position, interacting with physicians and other upper management staff. The most pressing issue was his ability to be understood and also his reticence in speaking up at meetings. The expertise for which he had been hired could not be fully communicated and his lack of self confidence kept him from fully participating.

Customized Solution:

Perez Apple & Company designed an oral communication program by selecting oral speech features that would have the greatest impact on speech clarity and intelligibility. Using a high-frequency vocabulary, he first worked on learning how to pronounce grammatical endings and syllable and word-final endings using correct word and sentence stress. His speech became easier to understand and he began to more fully participate as a vital team member.

Team Communication -

Pronunciation Case Study

In weekly telephone meetings a native Mandarin speaker was difficult to understand when reporting timely financial information. His experience and expertise were highly valued but co-workers were frustrated with having to second guess the analyses he reported.

Customized Solution:

Perez Apple & Company designed a program that helped him increase articulation of sounds by using vocal musculature to carefully enunciate sounds. He also learned to emphasize important words in sentences and use intonation more communicatively.

Written Communication Skills -

Business Writing Case Study

The written communication efforts of a senior HR manager often backfired as the purpose of the message frequently could not be understood in emails and memos. Writing was laborious and often required rewrites from an immediate supervisor.

Customized Solution:

Perez Apple & Company designed a 30 hour program targeted at business writing skills that had a major impact on all written communication. The program developed her ability to organize her thoughts and express her ideas in a grammatically correct, business style that enabled her to become a faster, more effective writer. A most recent performance review praised her written communication skills.

 

Testimonials

What are participants and company representatives saying about Perez Apple & Company’s programs?

"I have worked with Esther Perez Apple for almost 15 years and she has proven to be a reliable training source for accent and pronunciation training for nonnative English speakers. Ms. Perez Apple is able to adeptly assess clients’ needs and customize training programs that meet and exceed client expectations. Time after time, she has helped speakers speak more clearly and interact more effectively in the workplace. She is a pleasure to work with and I would recommend her unconditionally!"
- Annette Taddeo-Goldstein, Founder & CEO LanguageSpeak, Inc

"This is as good as training can get! Ms. Perez Apple showed me how to compensate for my native language interference (Mandarin) and speak more clearly. Now, they can understand everything I say on the telephone."
- Financial Analyst, investment firm

"I learned about the structure and organization that makes it easier and faster to write more effectively. I learned about common grammar and word choice errors that have helped immensely. In a very short time, I feel more confident as a writer and understand the essentials necessary."
- Chief Human Resources Officer, hospital administration

"As a 'Cervantes style' gentleman, I have experienced in the training a professionalism of the highest level. In whatever was necessary to improve my ability to communicate, the program was customized to my needs."
- Vice President, hospital administration

"She (Ms. Perez Apple) helped me write better emails so that I wouldn’t communicate the wrong information or give a mistaken idea about deadlines and expectations. I learned to choose my words carefully and improve my writing with correct grammar and tone. This made a big difference in my ability to manage and reduce my stress level."
- Manager, retail production

"I think the training helped employees recognize the expectations that American English speakers have and how to improve their pronunciation to meet those expectations. It taught them how important correct intonation and word stress are in speaking with our guests. The group worked together to provide feedback to each other and a support system for further improvement."
- Training Manager, hotel administration

"A little polishing up really paid off as I got ready for a special event and it went very smoothly."
- Sports Newscaster, Spanish language TV station

"The training has helped my employees have fewer miscommunication problems that interfere with work getting done. Their improved pronunciation has made them better representatives of our company and its services. I would definitely recommend others to consider these benefits for their company."
- Owner, commercial digital imaging company

Our Clients:

Our expertise has worked with these companies and organizations: