How to Easily Write and Deliver a Funeral Eulogy Even If You Hate Public Speaking

The task of composing and delivering a funeral eulogy is a huge responsibility, for the eulogy forms a very important part of a typical funeral service in western culture.

I have always shied away from public speaking however from experience I have discovered that authoring and delivering a eulogy is a separate issue. It is an honour to be able to express to others my feelings towards, and review the life of someone I loved through my eyes. See your eulogy as a chance to put your feelings on the record and not a harrowing experience to be fearful of undertaking. Take this view, develop a positive attitude and the prospect of writing and delivering a funeral eulogy becomes achievable.

If you are not confident at public speaking do yourself a favour and take ample time to construct your eulogy. Take advantage of the many resources available to ensure your funeral eulogy is cohesive and compelling. Such resources will include people close to the deceased, personal records and online resources. Being well prepared will give you time to shape and refine your funeral eulogy

Make full notes of your eulogy and rehearse it until you are really familiar with its contents. It's a good idea to run your eulogy past someone who was closely associated with the deceased for comment and confirmation.

When delivering your eulogy I suggest you read directly from your notes.Better make sure that they are clearly written and you can easily see where you are at if your attention wanders. Personally, I never try to "wing" it but always read from notes. I suggest large print and good spacing between paragraphs, paper is still cheap.

Pause between points, look up at the audience and breathe evenly and slowly to maintain control. A good long pause between points enables your audience to ponder what you have just said and at the same lets you focus on your next point. This pause adds a sense of professionalism and control to your eulogy.

So now you can be confident and relaxed about delivering your funeral eulogy because you have relevant material, comprehensive notes to read from, done your research and had the whole thing checked out by someone close to the deceased.

How to Speak Well In English - Tips on How to Speak Well in English

If you want to learn how to speak well in English, you have a variety of options to choose from. You can enrol in formal classroom training by yourself or in a group. You can buy language tapes and try to learn on your own. You might also consider taking an online virtual class in English. Internet classes are great because you can work in the privacy of your own home, usually at any time that is convenient to you. Some course work may require you to interface with an instructor but even that is easy with programs like Skype. If disability, distance or your work schedule make it impossible for you to go to a regular classroom, internet English classes may be perfect for you.

Students who take English as a second language generally strive to speak their new language well. Speaking great English takes more than just structured classroom work, however. You need to also practice with friends. You can listen and watch movies with English. With movies, you can even activate a subtitle function which is a great tool so you can make sure you understand the visual as well as the spoken words. You can also pause and replay a movie to review your understanding. Another great aspect about learning English by watching movies with subtitles is that you can also learn or simply enjoy a particular subject or content depending on the movie of your choice.

If you want to speak English well and you are learning it as a second language, you must be patient with yourself, but you must also commit to practicing as much as you can. The more you read, write, and speak in English, the more you will retain vocabulary and begin to know when to use it. English has a lot of exceptions as compared to some languages. You should find ways to make learning English fun too. It doesn't have to be completely a serious endeavour. Consider taking a field trip to a zoo or other interesting location and try speaking in only English with a friend as you observe everything around you.

Discover How You Can Effectively Protect Your Online Reputation From Fake and Bad Reviews

Without doubts, SEO would have no reasonable impact on the online presence of a business owner whose brand already has bad online ratings. Since the brand identity of your business determines its success, it's very important that you protect your online reputation from being damaged through fake and bad reviews.

The Challenge
Today, there are several marketing and promotional methods that you can adopt to gain more popularity for your business or company. Nonetheless, these strategies wouldn't produce the best results if your business has been badly rated in online communities. Even, if your site shows up on page 1 of Google, the negative rating would still discourage potential customers.

Inarguably, what people say about your company or business is very important to its success; and if you want to beat your competitors, you must be able to prove that you have all it takes to deliver the best products or services in your niche. As a result, news about your credibility would spread all over the web.

It's worth noting that some competitors are involved in unethical marketing practices. They can purchase your product and then go ahead to post a negative review about the brand. What do you think would happen to your business if it scores 4 out of 10 in online ratings?

Factors that Affect Online Reputation

Generally speaking, a particular brand can receive bad ratings in the following ways:

* Your reputation can be damaged through poor service delivery, low-quality products, unfriendly customer support, and other factors that are within the confines of the business. In this case, a dissatisfied customer can post a negative review about your business.

* As noted earlier on, a bad reputation can also arise from paid fake reviews.

The latter is largely beyond the control of a business owner. There is no way anyone can trace the real sources of such fake reviews.

How to Protect Your Online Reputation

With respect to the foregoing, the following are steps you can take to protect your online reputation:

* Evaluate your business in terms of your products, services, and personnel. You need to ensure professionalism in every aspect of the business so as to present a good image before your customers.

* Write a polite, non-confrontational letter to the owner of sites where negatives reviews have been posted on your business. Remember that most websites don't have any contact information. Therefore, it would be practically impossible to reach the webmasters.

* Sign up for Google Alerts to receive notifications on up-to-date search results that are related to your keywords or brand name. Besides, conduct a regular search for your name or business name in search engines to see what would come up with it.

* Try to remove negative reviews through positive content publishing. In other words, you should post high-quality content on the web from time to time. This step would push negative reviews into the abyss of the Internet where they would be buried almost forever.

* You can as well hire an online reputation agent to undertake all of the afore-mentioned activities on your behalf. It would save you time.

In all, you need to take conscious steps in ensuring that your brand, business name, or personal name as an expert is not damaged on the net. Always protect your online reputation.

Earn More and Get Hired Faster By Improving Your Grammar

Good grammar in spoken and written communications can dramatically increase your value to both current and potential employers. In the business world, and especially in the job interview process, an important part of your value is the perception you present of the profitability of your past performance and expectation of future continued successful performance, and the ideas and strategies you express. If you can speak well and in an organized fashion to communicate important concepts to people with whom you interview with or work with -- and do it quickly and clearly, you remove an important obstacle to your advancement; an obstacle of communications of which many people are not even aware.

When you speak and write correctly, people make the assumption that you are intelligent, educated and capable, and they will concentrate on what you have to say, on your ideas, not on the incorrect or unclear way that you try to express yourself. Think for a moment about the effect that misuse of the English language has had on the image of politicians and public figures over the years. People in the pubic eye who don't use language well are considered foolish for their errors. Needless to say, this is not the image that you wish to present to others in your professional career. By the same token, if you write and speak correctly and effectively, people will think of you as a leader, and you will be able to advance according to the value of your work and your vision, and not be hindered by the perception that you 'don't talk so good.'

In this article, we will be discussing the impact that your proper use of language can have on your professional standing. And how, "...if you don't talk so good, you often just don't get nowheres." And, while this article is not meant to be a formal lesson in grammar, it's my intention to touch on some of the most common areas where we fumble with the rules of grammar, so that the reader will leave this article with some practical information that may help. Beyond that, it is the responsibility of each individual to seek out more detailed and formal sources for continued grammatical improvement.

Let's cover some of the basics. The major areas to review to improve one's grammar, are sentence structure, the various parts of speech, subject and verb agreement, pronouns, and punctuation.

When you speak, as much as when you write, if you phrase things correctly, then your audience will pay attention to what you have to say. If you use language incorrectly, the audience will focus its attention on your errors, and not on your points. It's similar to a smooth stretch of road when you are driving. Your focus is on what's ahead of you and around you, so you understand where you are and what's coming your way. The only time you will put your focus on the road itself is if you hit a pothole, or a speed bump. As long as the road is smoothe, you can keep your eyes where they belong. So it is with those who listen to you speak or read what you write.

Understanding sentence structure is crucial. The sentence is the basic building block of all verbal and written communication. Even in the modern context of bullet lists and sound bytes, the sentence is still the standard way to express a complete thought. Many people actually think in sentences.

The first step to understanding sentence structure is being able to identify the parts of a sentence. Every sentence must have a subject, which is usually a noun or pronoun, and a verb, which is a word that expresses an action, such as 'runs,' or a state of being, such as 'exists.' Most sentences will also have words that describe the subject or the verb in more specific terms. These descriptive words, or modifiers, are usually adjectives, which describe nouns and pronouns, and adverbs, which describe verbs. Adverbs often end in 'ly,' as in 'ran quickly.'

Also, it helps to understand some of the subtleties, like the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs, and what makes a word an irregular verb. Now is a good time to say -- as you go through this process of considering new concepts of writing and speech, don't be put off by the terms used or the seemingly detailed nature of grammar, thinking it is too boring or demanding. There are many free sources at your local library and on the internet to help you get your mind around proper use of grammar. Concentrate on the benefits you receive from having a better understanding of basic grammar.

With that said, be aware that the common verb, which denotes action, comes in more than one flavor. For example, a transitive verb has a direct object, as in 'ran the race.' An intransitive verb does not. Many verbs can be used both transitively and intransitively, as in the difference between 'the boy ran,' and 'the boy ran the race.' In the first case, since there is no object for the verb, 'ran' is used intransitively. In the second, 'race' is the direct object, so 'ran' is transitive. And an irregular verb is a word whose past tense is not formed by the regular rules of adding E-D. For example, the past tense of the word 'live' is 'lived,' but the past tense of 'give' is 'gave.' 'Give' is an irregular verb.

Other areas of consideration in understanding sentence structure are the uses of prepositional phrases as adjectives and adverbs, agreement in number between subject and verb, as in 'the men are' as opposed to 'one of the men is,' the proper use of pronouns, and correct punctuation.

Correct punctuation is an issue for many people and essential for creating clear business communications. The rules of usage are confusing at times. People are often unsure of correct punctuation while they are writing, but can usually recognize incorrect punctuation when they are reading. Therefore, it makes good sense to understand the correct usage for the common punctuation marks: the period, the comma, the question mark, the exclamation point, quotation marks, apostrophes, colons and semi-colons. Correct capitalization is also included under the heading of 'Punctuation.'

As I've stated, much of this material is basic, but it applies as your sentence structure becomes more complex. Complex sentences can contain several phrases or clauses, and punctuating them correctly is the key to making them understandable to your reader. If you leave your reader hanging by using sentence fragments, they will feel confused, and be forced to reread what you've written to try and understand it. If the subject of your writing is at all complex, you will lose your audience entirely by confusing them with bad grammar. Therefore, check and recheck your draft for sentence fragments, run on sentences and misplaced phrases and clauses.

There are clever short cuts available to you. Many professionals who create written communications on a regular basis keep some resources handy. A copy of 'Strunk & White's Elements of Style' is a good addition to any writer's desk. 'Elements of Style' is a single volume reference to correct grammar and usage. It is set up as a reference book, so it is easy to use. There are also many sites on the Internet that furnish comprehensive usage information.

Practice and study of basic grammar helps implant regular good usage in both written and spoken communications. If you feel you may improve your results in a job interview or at your current job by being able to present yourself as a knowledgable and effective communicator, then take some time to find a few resources on basic grammar. Set aside study hours. Don't treat this exercise as a forced labor that you dread. See it as an introduction to a new phase of your career, no less valuable than classes or tutorials you may be required to take to improve or upgrade or maintain the skills you utilize in your vocation.

Learn Spanish Fast Online - Free and Paid Alternatives to Learn Quickly

There are many online resources available, that teach Spanish free of charge. Rather one is looking to learn Spanish because of an upcoming visit to a Spanish speaking country, to qualify for a different job, or just because it is something they have always wanted to do, free resources are readily available.

The Why Dictates the How

The type of course that would prove best for the beginner depends on the reason for learning Spanish. If one desires to learn to have conversation with Spanish speaking people, then they should look for a more conversational lesson plan. If one plans on writing and speaking fluent Spanish, then they would need to learn more grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation. There are many online resources available with a focus in these areas, and should be checked out and considered as learning tools.

Other tips for learning Spanish quickly is to study every day, even if it is only for half an hour. Use an online tutorial. Watch Spanish speaking programs or movies. Listen to Spanish music. Watch Spanish teaching videos, Listen to Spanish audio, listen carefully to the accent and try some of the pronunciation. Try to find a Spanish coach, someone willing to help you learn the language.

Although the free online sites do not work well for everyone and one may not want to take the time to sift through the various sites and teaching methods, many do learn from using these free sites.

Better then the Free Alternatives

If the free online sites do not provide enough information or support, or are not teaching fast enough, one should consider a small investment in a tutorial program, such as Rocket Spanish.

This program teaches conversational Spanish and is great for the beginner, or an intermediate learner wishing to expand their language skills. The course includes audio lessons, pain-free grammar lessons in the form of guidebooks and exercises, vocabulary games, audio games, verb games, 24-hour tutorial support, and more. The Rocket Spanish course offers a free 6 day Spanish course and when purchased, a 60 day money back guarantee.

Whatever method of learning Spanish one chooses, the more serious they are and the more time they are willing to put into a course, the more successful they will be. A big part of being a motivated learner is the teaching methods. The tutorial or program should keep the learner interested and provide fun as well as challenges. Learning without the pain may be well worth a small investment.

English Writing Software - Can it Improve the Writing Process?

Yes, English writing software can help you improve the writing process by automating a big part of it. To write better, you need practice. Better writing is a continuous learning process which requires you to learn, apply, review and improve. Each day and each writing task presents you an opportunity for improvement. You seize the opportunity and apply what you learn from your mistakes as well as those made by others. You take time to sharpen the saw. As you do so, it will help you develop your own unique style of writing. You can do all this instantly with English writing software.

Writing in general, requires the ability to translate thoughts and ideas into words. This must be done in an interesting and fluid manner as well as a style that makes the reader want to read what has been written. How can you do this? What do you need to do? At the least, you must be able to get your spelling correct, construct proper sentences and use punctuations correctly. Here, you will do well if you have good guidance. However, can you get this guidance easily? Can you get the correct guidance? Can you get it as and when you need it?

Now, you can get all the guidance you want with English writing software. The software is easy to use and very effective when it comes to telling you what and how to write correctly especially in terms of spelling, grammar and punctuation. Some of the software will even scan and check for errors as you write and offer suggestions for corrections and improvement. You get instant help with English writing software. No need to wait for someone to proofread, check and correct your mistakes. What a relief! What else will the software do for you?

It will ensure that your writing meets all the rules and guidelines for better writing. English writing software will ensure that your writing meets international standards. It helps you decide on who your target audience is, what is the style best suited for them and the most appropriate writing approach to take. For example, if you are targeting a web audience the program will limit the words you can use. It does this with the templates that you are customised for specific target audiences. However, if you are writing for print audiences, you will get more space to furnish more details and comprehensive information. How about specific writing needs?

To meet specific needs of writers, English writing software comes in different versions. The versions available include: business plan pro, resume writing and practical English writing. Some come with a special writing assistant package which is meant for writers who have difficulties that can affect writing such as dyslexia. In addition to these, English writing software also offers a translator and English lessons designed for different levels. The translator enables you to select any text from any text-based application and automatically translate it into a destination language.