Hey, it’s “Real Talk” with Kelly Wilson.
I’m a voice actor based in Twin Falls, Idaho and I work with clients all over the world. Which is one of my favorite things, BUT communication is HARD...in general, BUT when you're a native English speaker and you work with a non-native English speaker, it can be VERY difficult.
Before I get into this week’s topic, I’d love to know what you’d like for me to cover on this show. Comment on here (I do this live first with StreamYard on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter) OR email me: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com .
Recently, I worked with a client in the middle east region. During this call, there were at least 3 other people on the call, all spoke English very well, BUT none were native English speakers...so, when they directed me, I had trouble understanding what they really meant.
Let me paint the picture for you. I had one sentence to do...a short sentence...BUT it was a one hour session. I went in there thinking, I’ll bang this out in 15 minutes tops, done. FUN. NOPE.
Ya know when you do a directed session and you can tell that you are NOT getting it...well, that’s what was happening. Finally, they played for me, a demo I did (don’t remember doing it) for a different script...They said that’s what they wanted...in my head I was like, OHHHHH OK, I get it. BOOM, I was able to give them what they wanted.
I know better and I should have asked for this at the start of the session. My excuse, it was five AM my time (MTN) and I have a toddler and his sleeping is NOT good. I just wasn’t as alert as I usually am. No complaints here… it was great practice, I gave them that one line 21 different ways. They were very nice and a great learning experience for me.
So if you’re having a hard time communicating with a non-native English speaker, just ask them for a sample of the type of voice or style, inflection, whatever they are looking for. It can be a sample you did yourself OR someone else….doesn’t matter. This works well with anyone really, but if you’re a non-native English speaker, there’s something about context and growing up here that helps with communication.
Also, because they were not native-English speakers, I try to NOT talk too much during those calls, because I don’t want to confuse them and I tend to speak in non-concrete ways when it comes to voice over in the context of the creative side of it...in the art form of voicing. Which for a non-native English speaker, I’m always afraid that I will just confuse them and they won’t understand anything I’m talking about.
Hope it’s helpful. Thanks for checking out “Real Talk”.
Remember, I want to know what you want me to cover on this podcast, (You can comment on social media: I do this live first with StreamYard on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter) OR email me: Kelly@KellyWilsonVO.com .
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Studio Book Out Dates: Monday, August 23, 2021.
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Real Talk, a podcast about voice over, comes out weekly everywhere or direct: https://anchor.fm/kellywilsonvo .
Have a great weekend, my family and I are going to the splash park today!!!!
