Language Arts Audiobooks | Language Instruction

The Art of Conversation: A Guided Tour of a Neglected Pleasure

A wide-ranging, exhortatory look at the pleasures of great conversation, including strategies for how to bring it about, from the witty pen of an Englishwoman wise in its ways In The Art of Conversation, Catherine Blyth eloquently points out the sorry state of disrepair that conversation has fallen into - and then, taking examples from history, literature, philosophy, anthropology, and popular culture, she gives us the tools to rebuild. Her prose embodies the conversational values she promotes: It's smart, succinct, self-deprecating, and light on its feet. The Art of Conversation isn't about etiquette, elocution, or knowing how to hold your teacup with your little finger crooked just so. It's about something simple and profound: connecting. In our distracted days, it's easy to forget that each of us possesses a communication technology that has been in research and development for thousands of years. Conversation costs nothing, but can bring you the world. Blyth offers us a chance to revel in the possibilities of conversation. As Alexander Pope nearly wrote, "True ease in talking comes from art, not chance, as those move easiest who have learned to dance." Okay, Pope was actually talking about writing, but Catherine Blyth has that skill as well. When you have read The Art of Conversation, you'll not only know the steps, but hear the music like never before.

Catherine Blyth (Author), Catherine Blyth (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Lowdown: Improve Your Speech - US English

Improve Your Speech - US English by Mark Caven A guide giving useful tips to help achieve a more professional level of speech. Our speech and voice can say as much about us as the clothes we wear, the car we drive, or even the newspapers and magazines we read. Used properly, speech can help us to achieve a greater level of success. Improve Your Speech is not about individual accents - it is about clarity in our communication skills. It is aimed primarily at those who have American English as their first language, but it is also useful for those with English as their second language. Topics covered include: Valley of the Lost Consonants Incomprehensible Vowel syndrome Reconnectin' with your word endings Learning, like, not to like, say "like" Losing those upward inflections!

Mark Caven (Author), Mark Caven (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Lowdown: Improve Your Speech - British English

Improve Your Speech - British English by David Gwillim and Deirdra Morris Clear speech sends out the message "I am in control" - inspiring confidence in those around you. Clear speech will maximise your potential, making you a greater asset to your company and your profession. This guide is aimed primarily at those who have British English as their first language, but it is also useful for those with English as their second language.Topics covered include: Bad vocal habits and how to correct them The importance of consonants Give value to the vowel Doing a "batman" Developing fluency

David Gwillim, Deirdre Morris (Author), Jamie Glover (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Way With Words IV: Understanding Poetry

In A Way with Words I, II, and III, Professor Michael D.C. Drout increased listeners' understanding of the way literature works, of the rhetoric that in many ways defines people's lives, and of the intricacies of grammar, all while maintaining a lively tone that conveys the professor's infectious enthusiasm for the subject. In part IV of this fascinating series, Professor Drout submerses listeners in poetry's past, present, and future. Addressing such poetic luminaries as Milton, Wordsworth, Shelley, and Keats, these lectures explain in simple terms what poetry is while following its development through the centuries. **Contact Customer Service for Additional Material**

Michael Drout, Professor Michael Drout (Author), Michael Drout, Professor Michael Drout (Narrator)

Audiobook

Communication Matters II: That's Not What I Meant!: The Sociolinguistics of Everyday Conversation

The following series of lectures draws on linguistics, or the scientific study of language, to show the many ways in which language has a profound effect upon human relationships. These lectures address the various aspects and implications of what Professor Tannen calls 'conversational style.' It also looks at the dynamics of specific situations such as the workplace and classroom where the role of conversational style is of particular importance. A person's conversational style includes far more than the words that he or she speaks. Each conversation is composed of contextual cues, unspoken messages, body language, and the rhythms of speech. For the most part, people communicate without a conscious focus on the subtleties of language. Through this course, the complexities of language, and all that language entails, will become more apparent. A better understanding of language, of how we communicate, and of how our ways of communicating differ based on who we are talking to should lead not only to a better understanding of ourselves and of those with whom we have relationships, but should also lead to improved communication. Our language shapes our lives in numerous, complex ways. These lectures help us to make sense of our language and will help to improve our relationships with friends, spouses, and coworkers.

Deborah Tannen (Author), Deborah Tannen (Narrator)

Audiobook

You've Got to Be Believed to Be Heard: The Complete Book of Speaking...In Business and in Life! (Upd

Effective communication is essential in business and in everyday life. The most powerful communicators reach not just our minds, but our hearts: They win our trust. You can learn to impress and persuade people by following Bert Decker's program in You've Got to Be Believed to Be Heard Decker trains over 10,000 professionals each year in the art of communicating. In this audiobook, he distills his expertise into a fresh new approach to speaking, with examples and how-to exercises that anyone can follow. You'll discover how to win the emotional trust of others-the true basis of communicating in any situation-and these tips: o How to conquer "stage fright" o How to inject dynamic energy into your voice o Why eye contact helps win trust o When and how to use humor to make a point o A proven technique to eliminate "Umm" and "Ahh" from your speech o Eight steps to transforming your personal impact

Bert Decker (Author), Bert Decker (Narrator)

Audiobook

Proust and the Squid

It took 2,000 years for written language to develop, and it takes 2,000 days for a child's brain to learn to read. During that time, the brain must literally rearrange itself in order to understand written symbols. What happens when a child has difficulty mastering these abilities? Using down-to-earth examples and personal anecdotes, a preeminent researcher and literacy lover embarks on a lively journey through the reading brain. Drawing on her vast knowledge of neurology, sociology, psychology, philosophy, and child development, she shows how the brain that read Sumerian cuneiforms on clay tablets is different from the brain that reads images on a computer screen. Just as writing reduced our need for memory, technology is reducing the need for written language—a change sure to have profound consequences for our future. Fascinating and revelatory for anyone interested in the science of the brain, for parents of young children learning to read, and for those who want to know more about dyslexia.

Maryanne Wolf (Author), Kirsten Potter (Narrator)

Audiobook

Reporting America at War: An Oral History

Now, for the first time, the nation's most respected reporters share their stories as the eyes and ears of the nation to create a fascinating oral history. Some of the most influential journalists of our time, including Christiane Amanpour, Walter Cronkite, Morley Safer, Peter Arnett and Andy Rooney convey the facts, the brutality and the drama of warfare and examine issues such as censorship, propaganda, ethics, the power of the press, and the future of war reporting, especially after September 11th. In addition, they relay their own experiences as U.S. war reporters in a unique work of history.

James Tobin, Michelle Ferrari (Author), Various Narrators (Narrator)

Audiobook

Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Mignon Fogarty, a.k.a. Grammar Girl, is determined to wipe out bad grammar—but she's also determined to make the process as painless as possible. One year ago, she created a weekly podcast to tackle some of the most common mistakes people make while communicating. More than seven million episodes have now been downloaded, and Mignon has dispensed grammar tips on Oprah and appeared on the pages of the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. With the trademark wit, warmth, and approachability that the podcasts are known for, Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing covers the grammar rules and word choice guidelines that can confound even the best writers. From "between vs. among" and "although vs. while" to comma splices and misplaced modifiers, Mignon offers memory tricks and clear explanations that will help readers recall and apply those troublesome grammar rules. Chock full of tips on style, business writing, and effective e-mailing, Grammar Girl's latest audiobook should be heard by every communicator.

Mignon Fogarty (Author), Mignon Fogarty (Narrator)

Audiobook

Making Your Point

We all need to speak, write and communciate more effectively. Dave Bartlett shares his decades of experience as a strategic communications consultant in an accessible, easy to apply guide to help anybody--students, business people, public speakers, or politicans--improve their speaking and presenting skills. The tricks are as old as Aristotle and as new as The Daily Show: know how to appeal to each specific audience through research and thoughtful planning, and then use appropriate content and style. Bartlett's advice is common sense backed by dozens of real-world examples. Learn: -How to devise a simple strategic goal for every interview, meeting, or speech -How to give your audience your message, but in the way they will be the most receptive to -How to make messages positive, concrete, and empathetic -How to use blogs, podcasts and YouTube to promote your message -How to reach your audience one person at a time

David Bartlett (Author), Jonathan Coleman (Narrator)

Audiobook

Global Wording: The Fascinating Story of the Evolution of English

In the same engaging style and humor that has attracted 4.5 million downloads of the Podictionary podcast, Global Wording traces the development of our language using easily recognizable milestones such as Beowulf, William the Conqueror, Chaucer and Shakespeare. Rather than relying on scores of dates and boring facts, Hodgson instead punctuates his story with anecdotes about why these characters were so memorable, as well as interesting details on how we know what we know and the conditions of life over the years as they affected the growth of our language.

Charles Hodgson (Author), Charles Hodgson (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Way With Words III: Grammar

The answer to this all depends on-you guessed it-grammar. In the third part of his extraordinary Way with Words series, Professor Drout continues to explore humanity's intimate association with language, here delving into the finer points of English grammar. Since others judge you by the way you speak, the intricacies of grammar, in fact, should not be relegated to the realm of fussy "guardians of the language," but are rather essential clues all can employ to communicate more exactly. In such a light, this course forms an invaluable guide for everyone from all fields of interest.

Michael Drout, Professor Michael Drout (Author), Michael Drout, Professor Michael Drout (Narrator)

Audiobook

Language Arts Audiobooks in Language Instruction