I need to correct my speech!!!!!!!!?

Question

I am from reading pa and i talk like i am fomr the hood...i am trying to correct the way i talk as i am starting college and want to achieve a doctoral degree in film on day.I could do this on my own but it would take me long.I say yo a lot and nahmean for "you know what i mean" and things like that.Its not that i cant talk different but i am not always realizing the way i am talking.i am very intellgient and i dont want to sound like an idiot.becuase honestly who will take that real seriously.

i dont have money for a speech therapist but am looking for any alternatives.i am also open to your own thoughts helpful hints and suggestions. THANK YOU!

Answer 1

When you start college you will interact with people who don't use slang so I think by communicating with other people you'll learn to talk less "ghetto." You can also practice by just reading books out loud. Focus on your pronunciation and such.

Answer 2

Reading books and practicing the proper pronunciation of words may help you :)

Proper English is good English!

Answer 3

Just hanging around with people that do speak properly and reading can help. You could also just listen to other people on youtube and sites like that. You might want to work on your spelling as well; just double check your writing or even ask someone else to - other people are more likely to see mistakes than you are.

Answer 4

kk i'm nt a professional but movies reali help.. watch good movies.. watever kind u like.. most of the movies have great english.. and its a very good way to learn how to speak 'cus u never get bored..and u don feel like u are studing..and its interesting..and without even u knowing your mind would absorb a lot form the movies..including the way the characters speak.. and if u keep doin it u'll definetly be a star!! ;)

hope that helps a lil..

'cus i hav experienced it ma self.. the movies were ma onli source of learning ta talk eng.. and ma french cuzins speak great eng onli through watching them.

enjoyy ;)

Answer 5

you need to correct your spelling, too.

Answer 6

just stop and think before you speak

Answer 7

Try working on one issue at a time.  For instance:

Today, I will try not to say "nahmean."  Count how many times you wind up saying it.  Then try it again the next day and see if you can get a lower number.  A big key is awareness.  Also try tape recording yourself and listening back to it.  

Try focusing on one thing for a week and then slowly ad more things to that.  For instance, next week focus on "nahmean" and "yo."

Since you are starting school soon, there may be discounted resources on campus to help you (such as an SLP student for a discounted rate).

Answer 8

For one thing, you can take speech in college.  If yours offers a course in voice and diction, go for it!  (If you'd asked a couple of months ago, I'd have suggested that you take such a class at a community college during the summer.)  I suspect that being in a new environment, especially an academic one, will make it easier for you to change your speech habits, too.  You probably lapse into hood English when you're among others who talk that way, and there will be fewer of them at college.