English Elocution

Speaking up in meetings, delivering presentations, or even engaging in daily conversations can bring a mix of frustration and anxiety when others ask you to repeat yourself or misunderstand your words. You know what you want to say, but your worries about pronunciation, intonation, or clarity can make you hesitant to speak. Over time, this can lead to shying away from conversations, avoiding speaking up in the workplace and feeling isolated from colleagues.

Clear communication is essential for teamwork and inclusion in organizations. Nearly one-quarter of Canadians speak English as a second language. When employees struggle to be understood, miscommunication can slow projects, create confusion, and limit career opportunities. Workplaces that support clear communication benefit from stronger collaboration, a wider range of ideas, and greater team success.

This workshop provides a structured and supportive environment where you’ll gain skills and confidence alongside others who share similar challenges. Through four interactive sessions, you’ll practice pronunciation, word stress, sentence flow, and intonation. You’ll also work on tone, volume, and fluency to help your message come across more clearly. The sessions include targeted exercises and feedback to support real progress, resources, and long-term strategies to continue developing your skills after the program ends.

By the end of this program, you’ll feel more confident communicating your ideas without hesitation in professional and social settings. You will leave with long-term strategies you can continue to develop that will help you build stronger relationships, become more recognized, and access new opportunities. When you can speak with clarity and confidence, you feel more empowered and ensure that your voice is heard.

The course is designed to have weekly three-hour sessions over four weeks for a total of 12 hours of instructional time. Participants will also be given activities (readings, videos, practise exercises, challenges) to complete throughout the week outside class time.

What You Will Learn

Recognize the importance of articulation, diction and pronunciation in effective communication.
Identify and improve challenging vowel and consonant sounds to enhance overall clarity in speech.
Use word and phrase stress to improve clarity when speaking.
Emphasize keywords in a sentence and reduce focus on smaller function words.
Apply appropriate intonation patterns to nouns, acronyms, numbers, sentences and questions.
Use tone and expression to speak with feeling and connect with your audience.
Improve speech fluency to deliver clearer and smoother ideas and messages.
Adjust your pitch, tone, and pace to fit different speaking situations.

Who Should Attend

This program is for professionals who speak English as an additional language and want to improve their spoken clarity and confidence at work. Whether leading meetings, presenting, or participating in everyday conversations, you’ll build skills to express yourself clearly and feel more at ease when speaking.

You should attend if you

Are often asked to repeat yourself or feel your message isn’t fully understood
Want to improve your pronunciation, rhythm, or intonation when speaking English
Avoid speaking in meetings or group settings due to fear of being misunderstood
Want to contribute more confidently and comfortably in both professional and social situations
Are looking for a supportive environment to build your skills with guided practice and feedback
Work in a setting where clear spoken communication is essential for teamwork, leadership, or client service

By attending this program, you’ll build greater confidence in your speaking and be better prepared for a wide range of workplace conversations. You’ll leave with practical tools to improve clarity, connect with others, and be heard.

Workshop Format

This program offers a supportive space where English language speakers can build confidence together. You’ll connect with others who share similar challenges and goals, creating a learning environment that feels both welcoming and reflective of your experience. Each session includes interactive pronunciation activities, listening and speaking practice, and personal reflection. You’ll receive supportive feedback and encouragement from both the facilitator and your peers, helping you grow in a way that feels achievable and empowering.

You’ll also take away a practical workbook with tools, examples, and checklists to use back on the job.