<p>I speak with a noticeable lisp / stutter, which is even more pronounced because I unintentionally talk too fast, and a lot of the time I have trouble getting the message or words I want to say out of my mouth. And Im Asian, so Im categorized as talking like a fob. The thing is though, Ive lived in the US all my life, Ive never even visited China, English is my first language, and the only words I know in Chinese are knee how.</p>
<p>As a rising senior facing college interviews and applications, I know its going to hurt me in the admissions process, and its not like I can force myself to speak clearer (because trust me, Ive tried). Im not a quiet person at all, but people always have trouble understanding me when we first meet and this causes a reactionary quietness because its just humiliating for people who arent used to my speech patterns to keep asking me to repeat stuff. My application also happens to be very Asian, and I dont want to be pegged that way because Im not. I hate anime, I hate rice, Im loud and bubbly and as whitewashed as it gets.</p>
<p>How do I get the admissions people to understand this? That Im not a walking stereotype. Ive considered devoting an essay to talking about overcoming my speech impediment, but its kind of a sore subject for me and I dont want to sound like a complainer when there are kids who deal with a lot more or cause them to discriminate against me additionally.</p>
<p>Any ideas?</p>
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and the only words I know in Chinese are “knee how.”
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<p>Actually AFAIK "ni" doesn't have a diphthong in Mandarin (Chinese is a <em>language family</em>) while "knee" is effectively /ni^j/ in English.</p>
<p>Have you met with/spoken with a speech therapist? I'm sure they would be more qualified than any of us on this issue</p>
<p>I'd advise you to just be yourself. I know a young man much like you - very social and talkative, but with a real speech problem. He had a <em>wonderful</em> college admissions outcome - full ride at a top-ranked college. I think his personality was just so winsome, they either didn't notice or didn't care. I forget all about this guy's speech impediment because he's just so interesting. </p>
<p>I know another young man who has a speech impediment who has been elected and re-elected in a landslide to an important office in our town. He's just a great guy and does a great job.</p>
<p>If you don't get nervous, but just enjoy being yourself - and try to slow down a bit - I'll bet you'll be posting next year about how you'll decide between all your great choices. </p>
<p>Remember, you want a school that wants you - let your personality shine through!</p>
<p>Please check out the online resources through the Stuttering Foundation of America.</p>
<p>See if there is a qualified speech professional in your area. They could give you strategies for dealing with interviews and other speaking situations you will face in the future. </p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>
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Have you met with/spoken with a speech therapist?
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<p>That would be my suggestion too. If it makes you happier and calmer to speak more fluently, it would be worthwhile to seek that kind of help.</p>
<p>do you have braces, retainer, etc? i have trouble with my "r's" -something that a speech therapist fixed when i was v. little-and then i got a mouth full of metal from 2nd-8th grade, and im still wearing a retainer know. all that therapists hard work went down the drain b/c the braces and stuff just reversed everything. i still actually talk a little like that, but not so extreme that i get made fun of on the playground anymore : ) so maybe if you do have braces talk to your ortho or dentist about it....best of luck. i totally know how you feel...</p>
<p>I know perhaps exactly what you are feeling, I stutter myself! I actually have been a stutterer for more than 15 years now(although thankfully in recent years its going almost non-existent due to intensive speech therapy). First, get rid of the assumption it is really going to hurt you in the admissions process. No admissions officer is ever going to judge you on factors that are so beyond your control. Secondly, I would have your counselor perhaps include this in your recommendation in a very positive way, something like you combating and rising above difficulties. </p>
<p>Remember, a difficulty is only as big as it is in Your view. Get a speech therapist, join a local self-help group, and work on it. It will take an year or two, like it did for me, but you will be speaking almost normally after that. As for the admissions part, I assure you it will not matter at all. Hell i gave all my interviews with this stutter, and every interviewer I had was OK with it! And including a positive essay on the speech impediment won't really be a bad idea as well.</p>
<p>If you need any advice as to speech and related techniques, just pm me. Cheers, and keep us posted on how everything goes.</p>
<p>I guess my advice would be a) speech therapist and b) to really try as hard to deviate from that image without distracting/ruining the interview. Clothes are a really good way to present yourself as well as makeup/hair/etc. If you project yourself, I guess, "un-asiany" in appearance and you speak with enthusiasm ( don't do the asian shy retreat), then I think you'll be fine. I can understand your fears because the way a prospective applicant speaks and looks can say a lot about themselves- you need to be unique. Take extreme care in personal appearance- go for a makeover! Get highlights! Dress in an outfit that represents YOU. ( and shoes too )</p>
<p>Also, it doesn't hurt to say in the beginning something very light, and in a jokey tone like "I hope you can understand me- I have a minor lisp!" If done in the right way with the right tone and nuance, it could clear up those mishaps, and if you're super good, add a sliver of depth to your character. Also, aim for diversity- if you can weave that into your speech so instead of seeming like an asian who hangs only around asians and eats asian foods and drinks, and breathes asian, if you can in your interview( that is, if it is germane to your discussion) bring up as much diversity- racially different friends, foods, likes,dislikes- This interview is about you so weave it in as seen fit.</p>
<p>and I don't want to sound trite but BE YOURSELF! Don't try to sell yourself as a super smart asian nerd or a ditzy whitewashed blonde( and yes, I have stereotyped beyond words in this post)....just be who you can be and hopefully that will come across. Also, prep yourself for potential interview questions- practice, practice, practice! Even if they don't ask you those specific questions, if you can remember bits and pieces of your practice interviews, you can have a much smoother interview. Unfortunately, for most of us, the "it will come naturally to me" doesn't work so well when you're nervous, facing an interviewer who could potentially make or break your future. SO, ask alumni, interviewers you may know and yourself! Compile a list of generic questions- weave in your experiences, things in your life, add some new perspective( because you don't want to necessarily reiterate your essays/EC's), add depth, fashion and shape! And through all that snipping and designing, see if you can add in that "I am unique" factor</p>
<p>Learn phonetics (the science of phone production) :) -- it combines physiology and physics on top of language. Besides, it's fun to be able to analyse everyone's accent. (Technically, that's phonology, but's still...)</p>
<p>Did you ever see the movie The Right Stuff? In the movie John Glenn's wife has a severe stutter. Anyway, I actually saw that movie, back when, with a licensed speech therapist. You know what she said? I wish she'd come to see me I could help her so much!</p>
<p>Your issues are not uncommon. They are "fixable" to a good degree. Go get some help.</p>
<p>That said, don't worry about college, it won't matter for your interviews.</p>
<p>Get evaluated by a speech-language pathologist. Most of the large state universities have speech and hearing clinics that offer services. You'd be able to receive speech therapy for a lower fee than private therapy. </p>
<p>You can also check into your insurance coverage for speech - sometimes they cover it; sometimes they don't. </p>
<p>You sound really motivated to improve your speech. People like you often make great progress with speech therapy!</p>
<p>Here in Minnesota the school systems provide speech therapy. Check with the school nurse to see if something like that is available to you. My daughter had 2 sessions a week with the speech therapist that came right to the school. Speech therapy works! You'll feel so much better if you get some help. I couldn't believe it when my daughter started volunteering to give oral reports and presentations.</p>