Berkeley Parents Network: Public Speaking & Diction

Berkeley Parents Network

Public Speaking & Diction

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Classes & Lessons > Public Speaking & Diction

Accent Modification

June 2003

Is there a place in the East Bay where one can take diction lessons? My husband wants to lose, or at least tone down, an accent. MEG

Joan Cehn is a licensed/credentialed speech pathologist in Oakland with over 15 years of experience, including accent modification/reduction. Her Masters in Speech Pathology is from Northwestern University. She can be reached at 510-301-1345, or joanc1036 (at) aol.com. Good Luck! J. Roberts

Public Speaking

March 1999

I highly recommend Butterfield Speaks in San Francisco. Richard Butterfield has been providing this service for many professionals, after having worked in acting for years. He also works outside of San Francisco, e.g., in the East Bay, Los Angeles, and as far away as Australia. I'm not sure of the phone number, but it should be in the phone book. Wendy

Although I have never tried it myself, Toastmasters (in Berkeley, I think) has been recommended to me by both a career counselor and a writer who used it to prepare for a book tour. There's an 800 number in the White Pages that will help you find the closest group. L. Silver

I highly recommend joining a Toastmasters group in your area. Toastmasters is an international organization dedicated to improving public speaking skills. Like many club-oriented organizations, you do need to find a group with which you "click," so don't be discouraged if you need to try a few different clubs out to find the one that's right for you. Before mommyhood, I worked for an environmental consulting firm doing human health risk assessment. I frequently needed to present findings to members of the public, and often found these presentations daunting. Toastmasters helped me a great deal--I'm a believer. Look them up in your phone book Christina

My husband has been a professisonal actor and performance instructor for 20 years. He has written, directed and produced theater and television in the Bay area and Los Angeles including a one-man show that ran in San Francisco and Los Angeles. He teaches classes and does private coaching. His students not only include actors but professional and public speakers who wanted/needed the skills to be comfortable speaking in front large audiences. If this sounds like what you are looking for, please call Brian Scott at 415-253-7840. epidem

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