by Heather Chetwynd | Sep 10, 2020 | Language Training
In my 20s, I learned to speak Spanish with a wave of refugees from South America. I just “hung out” and took a few lessons, sang in a small Latin folk band and eventually married a Chilean refugee. Because I had never properly studied Spanish or lived in a...
by Recommendation of Heather Chetwynd | Jun 26, 2015 | Accent Modification
Here’s a very sad commentary on the relationship between what we see and what we perceive. Is it possible that just by looking at someone influences what we hear? Certainly our assumptions and stereotypes affect our perceptions but this article points to how...
by Recommendation of Heather Chetwynd | Mar 20, 2015 | Non Verbal Communication
You may be making body language mistakes and leading people to interpret things that really aren’t true or that you don’t want them to see! Our body language gives out lots of cues about what we are feeling, thinking and desiring. And certain postures and...
by Recommendation of Heather Chetwynd | Mar 9, 2015 | Culture and Values
Having cultural agility does not depend on memorizing a list of what-to-do’s and what-not-to-do’s. It involves learning about cultural variations, developing self awareness and applying your knowledge in a flexible, reflective manner. While the...
by Recommendation of Heather Chetwynd | Feb 12, 2015 | Accent Modification
In the Greater Toronto Area (GTA,) we have a tremendous variety of accents in the workplace and on the streets. While people often complain about foreign accents and newcomers regularly face discrimination for this reason, we can generally agree that such biases...