Practice Crutch 1 while reading aloud

[Sun]

Crutch 1 is the perfect crutch to practice while reading aloud. That’s for sure. But when I was doing so, I’ve encountered a few questions.

I tried to skip as many syllables as I can in one page. One issue is that it really takes time. I need about 20 min to finish a page. It is normal? Or it’s just because I haven’t become proficient? Also I feel no passion in reading at this speed.

The second issue is that now I can skip the first syllable of around 90% of the time. But I wonder if it is really necessary even if I know it’s for practice. Dropping the first syllable works for perfectly for some words, without causing any confusions, usually those longer words with multiple syllables such as (c)onversation and (h)istory. But for some other words, it could really make listeners confused, such as “in my (te)ens”. For these words, even if I practiced, it’s not very likely that I say them in real life conversations. Yes, I know I can say “in my ens-teens”. It’s just not that desirable. Why not use other crutches? So, my question is that is it a good idea that I only practice those I would use in reality, and try on summarize the common points and be really familiar with those words?

The last question is that Lee mentioned we should master crutches one by one. I am very fond of C-1, and I think it’s just so cool. But so far I make little progress on apply it to real conversations. I guess this one is just not that beginner-friendly, or am I being impatient? But I really want to see improvements as soon as possible. Should I stick to C-1? Or try multiple crutches and see how they works? Any recommendations on the sequence of choosing crutches?

Thank you so much!

[John Kerr]

Hi Sun,
What you could do when using crutch 1 when reading aloud is to drop the first letter of the first word in each sentence and not on every word. What I do is this:
Day 1 practice crutch 1 for 30 minutes in the afternoon….practice crutch 11 for 30 minutes in the evening
Day 2 practice crutch 2 for 30 minutes in the afternoon…practice crutch 11 for 30 minutes in the evening.
I do this everyday for each subsequent crutch. Also, when using crutch 1 on a long word with say 2 or 3 syllables you only have to drop the first letter of that word.
I really think you should practice crutch 11 as it contains many elements and for me, it really improved my speech when I first started using it.
I have seen you talk at the SAM meetings and your speech sounds great.
I hope this helps!
John

[Javier]

Great suggestions, John. I used to do similar things to those too. For example, when I was at work, I challenged myself, for example, to use Crutch 1 in the next 5-10 minutes, even if I don’t need to. So the idea is not to use it on every word, but to use it whenever I feel like it. For the follwoing 5-10 minutes, I’d do the same with Crutch 2, and so on. It is a great way to practice it.

[Javier]

Hi Sun,
I am going to write comments in bold, in your post, to answer to all your questions in a more effective way:

Crutch 1 is the perfect crutch to practice while reading aloud. That’s for sure. But when I was doing so, I’ve encountered a few questions.

I tried to skip as many syllables as I can in one page. That’s a great way to master the Crutches. But don’t do it with only that Crutch, use it with all the Crutches: one Crutch per page, on as many words as possible. One issue is that it really takes time. I need about 20 min to finish a page. It is normal? Or it’s just because I haven’t become proficient? Also I feel no passion in reading at this speed. When I read aloud using C-1, it takes me around the same time… Can it be that you take time to plan the word you’re going to say instead? Try to do it more immediately, drop 2 syllables (or more) or letters if needed. Have you heard Lee drop letters in his videos, or in some of the SAM meetings? (W)e (C)an (D)rop (T)he ((F)irst (L)etter of our (W)ords and (K)eep on (T)alking at the (S)ame (Sp)eed.

The second issue is that now I can skip the first syllable of around 90% of the time. But I wonder if it is really necessary even if I know it’s for practice. If you stop practicing it, you might forget how to do it properly, and when you need it, you might not be able to use it. Dropping the first syllable works for perfectly for some words, without causing any confusions, usually those longer words with multiple syllables such as (c)onversation and (h)istory. But for some other words, it could really make listeners confused, such as “in my (te)ens”. For these words, even if I practiced, it’s not very likely that I say them in real life conversations. Yes, I know I can say “in my ens-teens”. Give it a try. Most people sometimes mispronounce a word, and then they say it again properly. If you use that “o-do” that, people will see it that way, so nobody will care. I have done it plenty of times and I’ve never seen strange faces in the people I was speakign too. And I think it is always preferable to use C-1 than to stutter. It’s just not that desirable. Why not use other crutches? So, my question is that is it a good idea that I only practice those I would use in reality, and try on summarize the common points and be really familiar with those words? I encourage you to master ALL THE CRUTCHES. Now you have your favourite ones (Crutches 4 and 10 were mines), and you use them the most. And that’s fine. But don’t you agree with me that having 12 (13) alternatives is always better than having 1 or 2? The more alternatives you know to avoid a problem, the better! And trust me, they won’t make you sound funny. Actually Crutches 8-12 are going to improve your speech.

The last question is that Lee mentioned we should master crutches one by one. I am very fond of C-1, and I think it’s just so cool. But so far I make little progress on apply it to real conversations. I guess this one is just not that beginner-friendly, or am I being impatient? But I really want to see improvements as soon as possible. Should I stick to C-1? Or try multiple crutches and see how they works? Any recommendations on the sequence of choosing crutches? Sun, as I said before, master all the Crutches. One way to do it is reading aloud, using one Crutch per page, on as many words as possible. Crutch 11 is a Crutch that everyone of us should master, no matter where our speech is, it is going to improve it. Be passionate, smile, these will also help you achieve that goal.

Thank you so much!

[Sun]

Hi John!

Thank you for your kind reply. You are working really diligently and I should learn that from you. Your advice is of great value to me, and I will try to adopt them!

[Sun]

Javier, I have to say your answer is far more comprehensive than I had ever imagined, and I just feel so flattered:)
I see what you said makes perfect sense. And I guess what I need to do is simply to get fully committed to the process. Thank you for being so helpful and generous!

[Javier]

Hi Sun,
I’m glad you found it helpful, that’s why we’re here 🙂

Please do keep us posted with your progress! I look forward to seeing you in our next SAM meeting!

[Sun]

Hi Javier, just a quick update. I just watched your video in which you told Lee that you use your soft voice in your work place automatically because you practiced a lot. I love the whole video, and learned a lot from how you practice the 123 punch and how your learn from videos and apply them into your daily life. That’s definitely my favorite video so far. Thank you!

[Javier]

Hi Sun. Thanks a lot. It’s reallt great to know that you are finding these videos so helpful. This comment has definitely made my day.

As a PWS I tried to watch one video every day. It helped me a lot.

At the beginning I used to forget to use the Crutches when talking. Then I started developping ways not to forget it. One of those was to have post its all over the screen of my computer, reminding me to slow down, or to speak softly, for example.
I also gave challenges to myself, such as: for the next 10 minutes, I’m going to use C-1 when I speak; for the next 10 minutes, the same but with C-2, and so on.

[Anonymous]

Hi Sun,

I am going to tell you what I did while trying to achieve fluency. If I did not like a crutch, I DID NOT USE IT. The other coaches might not agree with me, and that’s okay. I felt that if I forced myself to use a crutch that I did not like, speech became draining and a chore. Speaking is supposed to be fun and “easy”. Yes, the road to fluency is hard work, but it also needs to be at least a little bit fun.

So to repeat what Javier said, MASTER ALL OF THEM so that you have them at your disposal. But you do not have to constantly use a crutch if you do not like it. I loved crutch 1 (I actually discovered it on my own and used it my whole life) but I did not like to whisper or spell, and guess what? I cured just fine. Did I ever use whispering and spelling? Yes, when for some reason, none of the crutches were coming easily to me. And they saved me from forming many embarrassing stuttering memories.

Let me know if this makes any sense.

[Sun]

Thank you Leah! Yeah, enjoying is very important in reading aloud!

[Adam Playfoot]

Hi Sun,
When I read aloud in the beginning of taking the program I had all the crutches printed out so I could glance over and practice them as I read aloud and practice combining them (highly recommend combining them). Eventually after practicing for 2 months I found all the combinations of Lee’s techniques that I have found most desirable as you said haha. So when I read aloud I am always alternating between the crutches I am comfortable with as I go but I don’t stutter that much and never stutter when reading aloud so this is pretty easy for me luckily. So you can do what Lee says which is each crutch at a time, but I like to use all the ones I am comfortable with at once and rotate between them, it feels the most natural sounding to me too.

[Sun]

Thank you Adam! It makes a lot of sense. You approach is also much fun! Actually I am doing what I said, and it’s working very well!

[Anonymous]

And Sun, do not forget, if you do not like a crutch, do NOT use it. It is weird though, there were lots of crutches I did not like and now I LOVE them. Word linkage comes to mind – I thought Lee was nuts when he came up with word linkage – I thought it sounded “stupid”.

I practiced it for about two months, and now I LOVE it and I even use it sometimes, even now. It makes my speech flow so easily and it sounds so natural. It is my go to crutch when under EXTREME PRESSURE. So, I do not use it all the time, but there are definitely times where it has saved me from uttrer humiliation.

I say, you MIGHT be being impatient, or you might really not enjoy the crutch. I say, give it another month and then see???

In fluency,

Leah

[Sun]

Thank you Leah. You pointed out that “I could become a PWSS then master the crutches” in our last session. So, patient in mastering crutches, and impatient in being a PWS. I guess they don’t contradict

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