Building relationships for ideal business interactions is vital. Jennifer Kumar helps IT professionals in India understand and communicate better with Americans through cross-cultural, etiquette and language training and executive coaching. Take a look at the PPT for more about her offerings or contact her at authenticjourneys@gmail.com

1. @2014 Authentic Journeys
Slide #1
USA Culture & Language
Preparation for Indian
Professionals Working with
Americans
Jennifer Kumar
Authentic Journeys
authenticjourneys.info | authenticjourneys@gmail.com

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Slide #2
Agenda
Points of discussion:
• Overview of Voice & Accent/Culture Classes
• Examples of Customizations
• Review & Recommendations
• Gauge of Costs

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OVERVIEW OF VOICE &
ACCENT/CULTURE CLASSES

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Communication Skills
Similarities between
Business English and Voice & Accent
• Highly customizable
• Recordings required for spoken English
• Strategies for communicating more effectively with Americans
• Non-verbal elements for American audiences: body language,
tone and word choices
• Homework is required between classes

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Communication Skills
Similarities between
Business English and Voice & Accent
Class Size & Venue
• Individuals & Groups (up to 5) – In person or Voice Chat
(Skype, Phone, etc.)
• Groups of 6-20- In person only

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Communication Skills
Business English
• Delivered to individuals, small
and larger groups
• Training can cover spoken,
written and non-verbal
communication
• Review of company
communications for analysis
often part of individual and
small group trainings
Voice & Accent
• Emphasis on individual or
small group (no more than 5)
training, to ensure
effectiveness
• Training is focused on clarity in
face to face presentations and
over the phone
• Participants must be willing to
do pronunciation exercises in
front of their peers
Differences between

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Individual vs. Group Training
Individual Coaching
• Most modules can be delivered
through 1:1 coaching sessions
• Individualized, goals based on
participant’s 360 feedback and
other performance indicators
• Sessions are confidential,
participants are to fill out
confidentiality and client
contracts
• Focus on professional and
personal growth
Small to Larger Group Work
• Small group (2-5) for
specialized topics and more
individualized attention
• Larger group trainings are for
10-25
• Topics delivered to benefit the
group as a whole
• Focus on professional growth
and classroom outcomes

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Individual vs. Group Training
Individual Coaching
• Participants are encouraged
to mentor their peers/direct
reports on the same skills
learned in coaching
• Not available as Train the
Trainers
• Charged hourly, based on
number of sessions required
Small to Larger Group Work
• Focus is on applying skills learnt
in training to immediate job
tasks/responsibilities
• Some opt for large group
trainings and individual coaching
for select participants
• Many modules can be delivered
as Train the Trainers
• Rates vary on requirements

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American Culture Courses
Classroom Training
• Emphasis on classroom
training, group sharing, role
plays
• Can include elements of Voice
and Accent
• Flexibility for customizations –
pp 8-11 or tailor-made
• Train directly to employees or
Train the Trainer
Online Training
• Emphasis on individual
learning, introspection, self-
discovery
• Includes language elements,
but no Voice and Accent
• Customizations are limited
• Employees train online, Train
the Trainer fully online or
hybrid online/in-person

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CUSTOMIZATIONS

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Customizations
• Diversity training based on demographics of
company/clients/area of the country
• NRI cross cultural concerns
• Creating orientation information for employees, spouses and
families on specific US cities
• Creating role plays that mirror the company’s culture,
experiences, and guidelines. (Often previously used role plays
are enhanced or new ones are created.)
• Tailoring particular sections with a good understanding of the
company’s culture, expectations, and current guidelines
• Games and interactive sections added depending on other
soft-skills that are identified as training goals

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REVIEW & RECOMMENDATIONS

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Review & Recommendations
Want the following training programs reviewed:
• American Culture
• Business Etiquette with American Clients & Colleagues
• Small Talk & Conversations With Americans
• Business English for Americans
• American Accent Classes
Jennifer is available for consultation, review and updates to your
company, as your personal American Culture Expert.

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Review & Recommendations
• What are the portfolio of programs that are to be reviewed?
• Why is a review important? What may be missing?
• Is there a gap between the training outcomes and the
application to the work environment?
• Has the audience profile changed?
• What is going well with your current training portfolio?
• What would be the benefits of enhancements?
• Would you prefer enhancements of current training modules
or new modules altogether? What are the benefits and
disadvantages?

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GAUGE OF COSTS

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Gauge of Costs
Before gauging the costs and giving estimates, the following
need to be explored and addressed:
• What are the priority projects?
• What is the audience profile to attend the various training
modules (this will help to understand any customizations
needed)?
• What are the deadlines to deliver the final products?

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FEEDBACK/QUESTIONS

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Thank you
Feel free to contact Jennifer Kumar anytime with your
comments, questions, or feedback at:
E-mail: authenticjourneys@gmail.com
Website contact page – click here.
Browse the website:
http://authenticjourneys.info
Browse the blog:
http://blog.authenticjourneys.info