I've been teaching communication skills both online and off since 2002 when I wrote my first study for homeschoolers called Say What You Mean for Teens! From there, I created this website where I have written several homeschool speech communication materials, several studies for adults, and written hundreds of blog posts! I've had several of my articles published by homeschool magazines like The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and Homeschooling Today and several of those articles have been picked up by Crosswalk .com and Dr Laura .com. Art of Eloquence materials have been awarded "Homeschool Approved" by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and are endorsed by the Home School Legal Defense Association which links to my materials from their site. However, in the...
Every year around this time, I receive an inordinate number of private messages from Facebook friends about Breast Cancer Awareness. So many apparently see this as a fun way to promote a worthy cause, the elimination of breast cancer which affects many women, so why do I have such a problem with it? 1. It does NOT promote awareness. A few years ago I was asked to post the color of my bra. Another year I was asked to post where I like to keep my purse. This year I was asked to post a tiny heart symbol. You are ONLY supposed to post the answer, but not explain what it means--even when someone asks. Most people have no idea it has anything...
I found Songdrops while tooling around on YouTube one day. They have some adorable videos and this one has to do with language. Sometimes we say things which are grammatically or otherwise correct, but they are not the most clear way to communicate-thus causing miscommunication or, as in this case, hysterics.
On this Friday Funnies, I present to you, "I Got a Pea."
For more Communication FUNdamentals, visit Art of Eloquence.com!
This week’s question of the Week: Do you speak Spanish? This Thursday’s Talk Talk Show on the Communication Comedy Network is about the communication differences in the Spanish culture and language. My special guest this week is Michelle Rothwell of Dora and Diego Homeschool Spanish. She and I will discuss the cultural and language differences of those who speak Spanish and why learning Spanish can be exceptionally helpful today! My dh was born in Mexico and is fluent in Spanish. He also speaks a little French and Italian. He says there are some distinct difference in the Mexican culture and the language and I'll be sharing some of his insights. Michelle and I will be having some fun with some...
One of the biggest communication mistakes we make is assuming that others have the same frame of reference for topics, terms and ideas as we do. This has always been a recipe for disastrous miscommunication, but in the Information Age where we communicate with so many different people from different cultures and backgrounds, it has become an even larger issue. First I'd like to give you a little history behind my asking the question, "Do you know what Mopar is?" Last Wednesday evening, my daughter, my husband and I were discussing how cars had changed over the years. My first car, Iggy (a 1974 Datsun 710 with the pea green paint peeling off its nearly bald head) had no power...
