Hi! My name is Susie Garcia.
I am an Australian-English Pronunciation & Speaking Skills Coach.
I have over 20 years of experience in teaching and coaching English language learners in both Australia & overseas.
I have a Master of Arts in English and a B.A in Education. I have also specialised in academic & business English throughout my years of training English language learners.
Over the years, my experience in the classroom setting has shown me that:
- they are usually too populated to offer proficient speaking skill levels
- getting enough speaking time isn’t always possible
- other content prevails over dedicated pronunciation skill practice
- it doesn’t always allow for a customised & tailored focus
This is no one’s fault! It’s a great system for English language learners to improve their skills in all areas. For beginners to reach an intermediate or advanced level in English.
The problem is there’s no ‘one-size-fit-all’ approach to learning fluent English. Not everybody’s learning curve is the same either.
Most importantly, speaking is regarded as one of the most challenging aspects of language learning.
I know how important it is to communicate in another language.
It’s about competing with other competent English speakers in the workplace, at an interview, or for a promotion.
At work, people just simply do not have time to really stop and listen. It’s a fast paced environment where being able to communicate effectively is essential.
As the daughter of Spanish immigrants who moved to Australia, I understand the struggles of learning a language.
At an early age, I remember having to help my parents with bank tellers to communicate basic business transactions because they still hadn’t mastered the language.
In my late teens, my family decided to move to Spain. It took me years to get to a level that I would feel comfortable with.
I know too well the hardship of having to adapt to a new country and to its culture. I know that having to learn a language and having to communicate adequately is a huge challenge.
It’s no easy ride!
Constantly repeating yourself to be understood, searching for words that are just not there… simply feeling out of place. But I got there, and I finally felt like I was a part of the culture I was living in.
I want to help you get there too!
I don’t want you to feel limited by your speaking skills. I want you to be able to demonstrate your expertise to others through fluent and effective speech.
I have been there. I know what it feels like to have others judge you on your language skills rather than on your actual skills.
Let me make this path easier for you.
My knowledge and experience have given me the tools to help you reach your speaking & pronunciation goals.
Learning how to pronounce and speak a language is about learning how to listen to it. It’s about knowing how to make the sounds of English. It also helps you to understand others when they speak.
Let me customise your sessions and teach you the techniques that will allow you to sound fluent so others can understand you with ease. Identifying which sounds we need to work on while leaving out what you are already good at is key.
But, it's not just about pronunciation! Improving your speaking skills is also about language content.
Providing you with the language & vocabulary that you need to feel confident around other English speakers is essential.
I will assist you with reaching your own specific language goals: going for a promotion, improving interview skills, the language needed for meetings, over the phone conversational skills, improving your elevator pitch, etc.
But, there's one more ingredient to becoming fluent in speaking! That is feeling CONFIDENT while speaking.
I can help you achieve this because I have been in your shoes. I know what it is like to walk in them.
Eventually, not only did I become fluent in Spanish, but I took it upon myself to learn another language: French.
Four years ago, I decided to take up theatre classes in French. I went from an elementary level to an intermediate one. I ended up playing lead female roles in two performances in French. I found that my confidence levels were significantly boosted through theatre and drama skills. So, I didn’t stop there! I continued training in acting skills as well. This time in English.
This doesn’t mean that I will be teaching you to improve your speaking skills for acting or stage performance purposes. Well, unless your goal is this! But, this experience has given me a series of skills that are directly related to speaking. And, I work with them in my sessions:
- self-confidence & self-image
- to use body language effectively; eye contact
- public speaking skills
- teamwork & poise
- understand viewpoints
- active listening skills
- salesperson skills
Though my favourite skill is definitely having fun! I truly believe that learning how to speak effectively should also be a journey to enjoy.