Stories
Our clients’ successes are our successes.
From a Language to a Story
Plastic Surgeon receives standing ovation at ASPS annual meeting.
Alvaro’s wife came to me frantically. “Bonny, you have to help him. He’s flying up here tomorrow to give a presentation at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ annual event. He’s introducing a whole new way to do the Brazilian Butt Lift surgery.” (Alvaro is a highly recognized specialist in the field of Restorative and Plastic Surgery.) “He needs help. A lot. It’s in 3 days. Help!!”
That evening I spoke to him by phone. His English grammar and vocabulary were just fine. But since he’d learned it years ago in school, he’d never really used English much. So the “music” of American English (intonation, rhythm, stress patterns) was more like a Bossa Nova to my ears: it was very different. The vocal dynamics were completely right for Brazilian Portuguese, but completely wrong for English. Enough wrong to make listening uncomfortable and maybe even to turn off his audience of peers. We had our work cut out for us.
When he arrived here in Orlando, Alvaro wasn’t very sure if his presentation could be helped at all in such a short time. His wife insisted.
Fast forward. 2 days, 6 hours a day and 2 good, long sleeps later … Alvaro walked up to the podium, breathed deep and looked out at the 250+ faces looking back at him expectantly.
2 hours later … Alvaro was receiving a lengthy standing ovation from his peers! Congratulations, Alvaro!
Alvaro Cansanção, Rio de Janeiro, BR
The Best Gets Better
Top Pharmaceutical Sales Rep Gets Even Better.
Her boss sent her to us.
Juniris was the Top Sales Representative in the state for a prestigious, global pharmaceutical company. Her job consisted of traveling to clinics, and medical practices all around the area, speaking with the medical staff about the intricacies of the product. Being a warm and passionate person, she loved her job and got along well with everyone.
When she first came to me, every 3rd or 4th sentence was really hard to understand, even for me, a trained linguist. Her heavy Spanish accent was clouding over her English communications.
Juniris was determined to work on her accent, her boss had told her she needed to. She spent the little free time she had at night working on her Field Work assignments. During the day she would always have her trusty Field Work pad on hand to remind herself of the week’s performance agreements.
After little more than a month the Medical Director of one of the largest clinics that she had been seeing regularly told her, “You know, Juniris, we’ve always loved your visits. You’re so full of energy and optimism. And it’s helped that you have a good product. But now, I can even understand you! What happened?” Juniris just smiled.
Juniris Torres, Puerto Rico
Charming Swiss Woman Entrepreneur
Decides after all to keep (for the effect) her Charming French Accent.
It has to be said that there are times when a foreign accent really works for you. It can actually enhance your communications. This was the case with Sandra. Sandra is one of those magnetic personalities everyone loves. An immigrant from the French part of Switzerland with the loveliest French accent, the kind you just wanted to keep listening to – even if you didn’t understand all of what she was saying.
Back home in Geneva, Sandra had been Executive Assistant to the Director of a European-wide firm. Settling in the States she was determined to start her own business. Struggling with English she came to me one day and told me she wanted to get rid of her French accent. I almost choked. I told her “No, never! It works so well for you!” Sandra was shocked. She insisted.
We agreed to work mostly on her English language business skills, concentrating on clearly pronouncing the vocabulary necessary for her profession and for the social situations at business. We created what we always do – “The Jargon List”, a lengthy list I compile with the most common words and phrases associated with any particular profession. The goal of the program was clarity, pure and simple. Being easily understood. This involved working primarily on the “music” of English, which is so different from French. We practiced rhythms and intonation patterns. We practically sang our conversations until she got the prosody of English in her bones.
Sandra is industrious in all things – she is, after all, Swiss: practicing her business small talk and key terms and phrases daily on her Online Home Lab (included in the course), she advanced quickly.
Her business is now flourishing. Her clients understand her. And everybody still loves her accent.
Sandra Vuitel, Clermont, FL
This could be you.
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