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Preschool book now available!

Posted February 8th 2010 by jojosblog

Say What You Mean for Preschoolers is finally back!  So many of you had been waiting patiently for this 2-5 year study to be updated as an eBook and put back up on the website.

For those of you who pre-ordered, I am emailing your copies out this morning!

For those that did not yet order, but would love to introduce your preschooler or even your older boys to communication skills in a fun way, THIS is the program for you!  Come check it out here!

It’s never to early to introduce your child to communication skills.  In fact, the earlier you do, more proficient they will be!  PLUS introducing your children to communication skills early can help them avoid shyness which can become debilitating beginning in later elementary school.

Very few people understand the power of communication for their young children and Art of Eloquence is the only company I know of that offers a study for children this young!  Say What You Mean for Preschoolers is packed with fun and creative activities that help teach your youngster communication skills and grows with them as they do!  Check it out today!

Another creatively fun speech communication product from Art of Eloquence.com!

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Posted in Art of Eloquence News

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21 Accents in 2 1/2 Minutes!

Posted February 5th 2010 by jojosblog

When I had my internet show, The Communication Comedy Network, I had to play several different people in a span of an hour.  I played a New York Newscaster, a Southern Roving Reporter, a British Professor and myself with a sort of California accent.  I found it difficult to switch back and forth between the accents and the accents I was doing were very different from each other.

The woman in this video is absolutely amazing!  She does 21 different accents in a span of just two minutes and 36 seconds and some of the accents present only very subtle changes.  I don’t know if the accents are 100% accurate, but I’ll tell you one thing, this lady is talented!!!  I can’t do it.  Can you?

More communication fun brought to you by your friends at Art of Eloquence.com!

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Posted in Friday Funnies

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It’s Convention Day!

Posted February 3rd 2010 by jojosblog

What are you doing here at Communication FUNdamentals?!  You should be over at the Say What You Mean Convention today having fun and learning from all our fabulous speakers! lol

Have Fun!  And don’t forget to enter our contests for a chance to win a prize package worth $200!

Here is the talkcast where the live events will take place and where you can access all the pre-recorded audios!  ENJOY!

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Posted in Art of Eloquence News, Contests, Uncategorized

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Only 48 hours left to enter our drawings!

Posted February 1st 2010 by jojosblog

Ok so you’re coming to the 5th Annual Say What You Mean Convention, right?  You’ve got in on your calendar to hear my interview with Christian Comedian Michael Jr. at 8am PST and then our fabulous line up of seminars and workshops throughout the day.  You’re bringing your kids to enter our Name That Sound Contest, you’re ready to enter our Scavenger Hunt  contest to win a prize package of $200, and you’ve invited your homeschool friends to come check out all the fabulous pre-recorded audios that will be released on February 3rd.  So what did you forget?

You forgot to enter our drawings!!

But it’s not too late!  You still have 48 hours left to sign up to enter our drawings to win even more fabulous prizes at the Say What You Mean Convention this year!  At every live event during the convention, we will be drawing a name to win a prize, but you can’t win if you don’t enter!!

PLUS!!

If you are present at the live event when/if your name is drawn (and of course you’re going to want to be there for each live event because some of them will NOT be recorded!) you will win an ADDITIONAL PRIZE!

Drawings will begin during our 8am PST live session and continue through our Prayer Chat at the end of the day!  Winners will be notified via email!

Details for our two contests will be posted the night before the convention (posted Feb. 2nd) and winners will be drawn from all the correct entries.  Winners will be notified via email and given instructions to claim their prize package worth approximately $200!

Don’t miss out on all the fun this year!  Come to the Say What You Mean Convention Feb. 3rd beginning at 8am PST/ 11am EST!

See you at the Say What You Mean Convention!

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Posted in Art of Eloquence News, Contests

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Your foreign language guide video

Posted January 29th 2010 by jojosblog

What You Ought to Know is a video show on YouTube.  This one shares some tips for speaking to locals when traveling abroad.  Too funny!

Another fun way to learn about communication skills brought to you by your friends at Art of Eloquence.com

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Posted in Communication News, Friday Funnies

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The Say What You Mean Convention is Coming! Feb. 3rd!

Posted January 28th 2010 by jojosblog

Extra!  Extra!! Read all about it!

The 5th Annual Say What You Mean Convention is coming to a computer near you!

Say What?

Dateline ABC…DEFG…Mark your calendars for this amazingly FUN and FREE event!

When? February 3rd beginning at 8am PST/11am EST

Where? Right from the comfort of YOUR OWN HOME…COMPUTER! http://www.SayWhatYouMeanConvention.com

What…to expect? LOTS!

Keynote Speakers: Christian Comedian, Micheal Jr. interview on Faith and Humor! AND…Talk-A-Latte’s Cindy Rushton’s seminar on Marriage!

Live Seminars:
Most of the live seminars will also be recorded for later, but if you’re listening in live, you can win bonus gifts. Plus, you won’t want to miss the Michael Jr. live interview, which will NOT be recorded at all.

•    8am PST/11am EST – Interview with Christian comedian Michael Jr. on Faith and Humor
•    10am PST/1pm EST  – JoJo Tabares  of Art of Eloquence “The Three Flavors of Communication: Writing, Speech, and Conversation”
•    12pm PST/3pm EST – Cindy Rushton of Talk-a-Latte ”Building a Passionate, Forever, Happier, and Happier-Ever-After Marriage”
•    2pm PST/5pm EST Joan Rudder-Ward of Girl Nurture “The Heat is On: Techniques to Protect You and Your Daughter from Becoming Culture War Casualties.”
•    4pm PST/7pm EST Kim Kautzer of WriteShop “Writing Skills: More Important than Ever!”
•    6pm PST/9pm EST Prayer Chat

Pre-recorded Audios:
Read the descriptions of each talk here.

•    How to Tailor Your Writing for Effectiveness
•    The Lazy Student: What’s a Mom to Do?
•    What Good Is a Speech Course If Your Kids Won’t Use It?
•    How to Write a Speech
•    Conversation: The Most Important Communication
•    Speak the Truth in Love
•    What Most Apologetics Courses Don’t Teach You
•    Talking vs. Communicating
•    Listening: THE Most Important Communication Skill
•    Humor: A Powerful Communication Tool
•    Avoiding, Reducing and Healing Conflicts
•    What It Takes to Be a Great Communicator

Even More FUN!
•    Contests
•    Freebies
•    Free Admission
•    Visit the Say What You Mean Convention for more details.

Don’t forget to sign up for our drawings on the home page of the convention site!  We will draw a name to win a prize at EACH LIVE event!  You don’t have to be present to win, but you do have to enter by signing up!  If you are present in the live event and your name is called, you will win TWO PRIZES!

Have FUN!  And bring a friend!

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Posted in Art of Eloquence News, Communication News, Contests

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Word to the e-Wise

Posted January 27th 2010 by jojosblog

I came across two true stories about miscommunication over email that ended up leaving the writers with egg on their faces.  Be careful not to inadvertently (or on purpose) send a private email to a list.

According to snopes.com, in June of 2003, an intern at a prestigious law firm inadvertently sent a fairly unprofessional email intended for one party to about 40 employees including 20 partners.  The email in question used foul language and seemed to indicate that the intern was intentionally goofing off at work.  His mistake was immediately noticed which necessitated a formal apology.  He apparently was eloquent enough in his apology to remain gainfully employed at the firm.

Snopes.com confirms another email mishap which occurred in June of 2005.  It seems a secretary in a law firm in England somehow got ketchup on her boss’s pants.  The day she returned to work after her mother’s funeral she found an email from her boss asking for four pounds in cash, the cost of his dry cleaning.  As her salary was about a fourth of his lawyer’s salary, she sent a sarcastic reply suggesting that the office take up a collection for him.  Apparently she copied several people in the office in on the correspondence when someone leaked it to the newspapers who demonized the lawyer and made the two of them a household name.  The attorney had planned to leave the firm just prior to the publicity and the secretary was said to be thinking over her employment after feeling isolated her former boss’s supporters who felt he was unfairly victimized.

These two incidents give us a glimpse into how important it is to be careful about even our informal communication.  Take care to choose your words wisely, respectfully and carefully.  You  never know who might be reading.

A word of communication caution from your friends at Art of Eloquence.com!

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Posted in Communication News

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January’s Mailbag Monday

Posted January 25th 2010 by jojosblog

I cannot believe it is the end of January already and time for Mailbag Monday here at Communication FUNdamentals.  This month we found MANY questions and comments in our mailbag–mostly feedback on all the changes we have had here at Art of Eloquence.com and the newsletter.

Say What You Mean Convention

1. Several of you asked how to register for the event and enter the drawings.  The sign up form is now on the home page.  This not only enters you in the six live drawings but allows you to receive What’s New at Art of Eloquence, our monthly newsletter with freebies, special offers and info JUST for our subscribers.

2. A few of you emailed asking about the events at the convention.  I have recorded a welcome audio you can access from the home page that will give you a quick overview of the site and events.  To see all of the events, times and descriptions, click on the Schedule of Events page. We also have an audio of our preview show with my guests Kim Kautzer from WriteShop and Cindy Rushton from Talk A Latte and Mom to Mom Radio who is one of our keynote speakers this year!

3. Many of you emailed in or posted on my Facebook page about how much you are looking forward to this year’s convention and how much fun you had last year.  Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts with me.  Here are a few of the things folks had to say about the convention:

“Sign me up, please. Thanks. I CAN’T WAIT!!!! It sounds so good. I’M DYING to listen to the preview.” -BeckyJoie

“I ‘attended’ this convention last year and it was fantastic! Informative, professional and just plain fun! I highly recommend this to all home educators who desire to learn to communicate for Jesus’ glory =)” -Brenda

“I can’t wait for your audios. They are always outstanding.” -Susan

“Looking forward to the SWYM Convention once again!” -Christine

Newsletter Feedback:

1. So many of you emailed in about how much you like our new format.  Many of the comments we received were like this one:

“SWEET! Love the new format. . . especially ART OF ELEPHANTS.  ROFLOL” -Carla

2. We had another wonderful review this month.  This time by two homeschool moms who run a website and have written a book for homeschool group leaders.  Check it out here.

Then we had some really great questions about our communication studies.

1. Karen asked what the difference is between Say What You Mean: A Creative Speech Course and Say What You Mean For Teens.   In case you were wondering the same thing…

    Say What You Mean for Teens is a general communication study teaching basic communication skills and why communication is so important for every day life.  In week eight, the student begins preparing to give a speech he will deliver in week 18. The study takes him through this step by step in a fun and creative way while teaching him the skills he needs to deliver such a speech.

    Say What You Mean: A Creative Speech Course is a full speech course.  Each week your student will prepare for and give a speech on a different creative and fun topic alternating between impromptu and prepared speeches.  This is not your typical speech course where the students have to do a lot of research of the same old topics.  This study puts the emphasis on honing the skills needed to give a great speech while using fun topics such as Cats vs Dogs and 101 Uses of Duct Tape!

    2. Leslie asked when Say What You Mean for Preschoolers would be available again.  Well Leslie you are not alone!  I’ve had someone ask this question at least once a week since we took it down for revising.

      I am actually almost done revising the study as I type this.  It should be out this week!  Since I stopped my weekly podcast, I’ve been working hard on all our new studies you all said you wanted.  In fact, we will have a few more studies out shortly and some more following that.  We will be taking pre orders for some of them so watch our newsletter for details.  We will be offering our newsletter subscribers an opportunity to pre order at a lower rate so if you are not a subscriber, you’ll want to be soon!

      3. Roberto asked if Art of Eloquence had anything that would help him specifically with getting his point across in conversation.

        Well, we are just about to!  I am also currently working on my notes for a new study called Say What You Mean in Conversation and one called Say What You Mean: Persuasion and Public Speaking.  Either of these will help you a great deal.  Keep watch on the newsletter for details on how and when you can pre order these two!

        Thank you all for your fabulous questions and comments this month!  If you have a question or a comment for Art of Eloquence, send it to jojo@artofeloquence.com!

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        Posted in Mailbag Monday

        3 Comments

        Musical Phonetic Punctuation

        Posted January 22nd 2010 by jojosblog

        Victor Borge was a fabulously funny man and a talented pianist.  I’ve posted his bit “Phonetic Punctuation” before here on Communication FUNdamentals, but I just found this related video with Dean Martin.

        The two do “Musical Phonetic Punctuation” where they punctuate the phrases of the following songs.  At least Dean Martin tries.  Victor Borge is so funny, Dean Martin has a hard time keeping a straight face!  Enjoy!

        More Friday fun with communication from your friends at Art of Eloquence.com!

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        Posted in Friday Funnies

        5 Comments

        Reading helps communication

        Posted January 20th 2010 by jojosblog

        My dd was practically born with a book in her hand.  She LOVED reading and was reading on a college level when she was in 3rd grade.  My son actually taught himself to read using the computer and DVD subtitles when he was about 2yrs old.  So I was shocked that he didn’t want to read anything that wasn’t computer game instructions!

        It was like pulling teeth to get Chris to read back then.  I tried covering up most of the page so he could only see a line at a time.  He knew words that were well beyond his years but he just didn’t want to read.  Then we found a series of books that were well below his reading level, but that he really thought were fun!  I allowed him to read them to his heart’s content because I was sure he would blossom as a reader if I could just get him to understand how much fun reading really was.

        It worked wonders!  He is now reading things much higher than his grade level IN HIS SPARE TIME and loving it!  He just finished reading a book that is almost 400 pages and is asking for more! I always knew that reading equals a larger vocabulary, but you know what else?  I noticed that his spelling has improved dramatically as well!  In fact, I have noticed that his ability to describe things and to understand things has also drastically increased.

        Get your kids into reading even if they don’t like reading. Find something they do–even if you don’t.  That’s another reason to check out Foot in Mouth Man.  My 10 y/o son loves reading FIMM!  If you don’t know FIMM, he’s the Art of Eloquence mascot and resident MIScommunicator.  Each month is a funny story many kids love to read!  Reading helps communication and communication skills are powerful!

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        Posted in Communication News
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