There's the classic image of the ugly American in a foreign country who's upset that everybody in this country, whether it's Italy, or whether it is Malaysia doesn't speak English. Now, it's inexcusable for Americans to be like that, but it is true. Now, when you see something like that in a movie, or a TV show, there's the classic. I am now talking to you loudly and slowly so you will understand my language. Obviously, that doesn't work if the person you're speaking to doesn't speak your language. Now, here's the part that's a little bit confusing or contradictory.

I actually do recommend that when you are speaking to foreign audiences, that you speak a little louder than normal, and a little slower than normal. Now, hey, we all have cultural biases. I have a bias. I'm an American I only speak English. But what I have found in speaking all over the world is there's a tremendous number of people who even if English is not their first language, they have a working understanding of English because they've seen so many movies from Hollywood TV shows, in English, they have learned a lot of English. So here's where speaking a little bit slower, helps.

It's simply easier for people to process what you're saying. When it's slower, they can see the separation between words it's easy to sort of hear it, figure out in their mind, what is that word that they remembered studying in English class five years ago, and then they have to translate it from the English word to the word in their language. That takes time. Now, I'm not suggesting that you speak like this in a robotic way. That's annoying. That's really not suggesting that.

What I am suggesting is speak a little bit slower than normal. Don't be afraid to pause a little more between sentences, thoughts, paragraphs, feel free to walk a little more pause, reflect, look at people's eyes to see that there is some connection going on. So it's a subtle thing. But I do recommend speaking a little bit slower than normal, longer pauses, it's going to be much easier for the people in the audience who are translating in their own brain, but it's also going to make life much easier for the translator because professional translators are doing an awful lot but it's still tough to be speaking out. To the audience at the same time having to listen to you. So when you pause, occasionally, they can then say what you just did in the other language.

And yet they haven't missed anything from what you're saying. So that's the beauty of pausing. And also, just speaking a little louder than normal is gonna make it easier for anyone to comprehend it again, you're not yelling. You're not shouting. You're not the so called ugly American, but a little louder. More pausing, will make it much, much easier for everyone to understand and translate in their own brains.

And that's going to make it more effective for your speech and your presentation.