Intonation training description




About this Course


This course enables you to use the pitch patterns that top communicators use to win hearts and minds. These patterns make it easy for listeners to follow you and grasp your message. Simply put, they make you a more effective communicator.

The course is based on academic research on monologue intonation, which is a relatively new subject area in linguistics. But it explains everything in non-academic terms that anyone can understand.



How this Training will Help You


You will be able to make your message resonate with your audience. The heart of the training is the dozen or so pitch patterns that listeners recognize. If you use these patterns, your speaking delivery will convey your message instead of hiding it. (This is explained in the home page video, which you should watch if you haven't already.)

Your speaking will be "stickier" (fewer people will click away or tune you out). If you put videos or podcasts online, people can click away at any time. To hold their attention, you have to reduce the mental effort required to follow you. Good intonation does this by signaling the structure of your sentences and the flow of ideas from sentence to sentence. As a result, fewer people click away.

You will sound calmer when you speak. If you try to "sound good" without understanding the mechanics of intonation, your voice will tend to bounce around too much, which will send false intonational signals. It will also make you sound like you're trying too hard. The solution is to master the pitch patterns and calmly use them to get your point across.

Your voice will sound more professional, which will signal your subject expertise and build trust. Every voice is different, and we wouldn't want to change that. But what makes all good communicators sound oddly similar is they way they use intonation effectively. It's what makes them sound clear and professional. After taking this training, your own voice will sound more professional as well.



Who is this Course for?


The course is for two types of people. First, it's for you if you lack confidence as a communicator and (perhaps) don't like hearing recordings of your own voice. If that describes you, then this course could be a huge turning point and confidence booster.

Second, the course is for experienced, professional communicators who want to understand the mechanics of what they are doing at a granular level. Just as golfers understand the mechanics of the swing, communicators who want to be at the top of their game need to understand intonation at the level of craft.

Anyone who communicates for a living, or anyone who just needs to communicate effectively with team members, will benefit from this course: podcasters, marketers, managers, lawyers, professional speakers, sales agents, customer support agents, professors, pastors, corporate trainers, etc. etc.



Course Outline




SECTION 1: The building blocks of easy-to-follow speech

Voice-over challenge: Apple's Crazy Ones ad

The two types of building blocks

The longer of the two types of building blocks

Complete the voice-over challenge



SECTION 2: Casey at the Bat download

Download your PDF and MP3 files for Casey at the Bat



SECTION 3: Using pitch lowering to combine the building blocks into sentences

Two of the brackets we'll use to represent these building blocks: < > and [ ]

Combining the shorter blocks: < > < > < >

Combining the longer blocks: [ ] [ ] [ ]

Combining both types of blocks: [ ] < > [ ]



SECTION 4: A common pitch pattern for non-emphatic statements

A common pitch pattern with two beats (i.e., two stressed syllables)

The brackets we'll use to represent this pattern: curly brackets { }

A closer look at the slope (gradual descent) between the two beats

Curly brackets in Casey at the Bat



SECTION 5: Using tones to combine the building blocks

The two most important moving tones: ` and \

More moving tones: / ~ *

Using level tones: - ^ _

Tones in Casey at the Bat



SECTION 6: A common pitch pattern for emphatic statements

Say it with a bit more emphasis: vertical brackets || ... ||

Vertical brackets in Casey at the Bat



SECTION 7: Different speech rates

Say it faster: round brackets ( )

Say it slower: square brackets [ ]

Embedding brackets within other brackets

Round, square and embedded brackets in Casey at the Bat



SECTION 8: Key finishing touches: Connecting the dots and making your message resonate

How to signal the flow of ideas (part 1)

How to signal the flow of ideas (part 2)

How to signal the flow of ideas (part 3)

(Note: This course outline may change slightly)




Your Instructor


John Earnshaw is a former college professor who has taught ancient Greek and used many aspects of linguistics in his teaching. John also has experience writing speeches for members of Parliament in Canada's House of Commons, where he worked for several years. Lastly, John is a published academic author (Cambridge University Press).

When John was a teenager he had strange thoughts that one day he would teach public speaking in some way, even though he had no plans to do so and was pursuing a different career path. Those thoughts went away. Decades later, long after beginning work on these training materials, John remembered those thoughts he had as a teenager and has drawn motivation from them to do his best work.



Questions & Answers


What is your teaching method?

In most lessons I demonstrate a specific skill, break it down for you, and then provide exercises that will help you develop the skill. The exercises have been carefully designed to get you results.

When does the course start?

The course starts in August 2024. (The course is almost finished but is still in development.)

How long does the course last?

You get access to the course materials for 12 months, starting from the first day of the course.

Do I get immediate access to all of the lessons?

No. The lessons are dripped out over the course of a month.

Is the learning management system (LMS) reliable?

Yes. The course will be hosted by a recognized LMS provider such as Teachable.com, Thinkific.com, etc.

What if I discover that the course isn't right for me?

You can get your money back at any time before the course begins. Also, there is a 14-day no-questions money-back guarantee during the first two weeks of the course. Just send an email to: refund [at] jobspeak [dot] co.






Intonation course pre-sale offer



This is a new course currently in development. Purchase it ahead of the launch date and get 50% off.


Full price: $75 USD


Early bird price: $37.50 USD



Enroll me now



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