<p>When our kids were in middle school, they had a teacher who had them play a game where they had to speak for one minute without using a “filler” word… things like “um”, “you know”, “like”, etc. They took turns for a minute each in small groups, and “lost” if they used one. One is my kids tried reciting the Gettysburg address, but the teacher shot that down – no recitation. 
They played a few times a week, and it worked pretty well. You could get your friends or family to play it with you with your list of items you want to purge from your current vocabulary.</p>
<p>@snarlatron You’re taking my DIALECT to the extreme. I would never wear a confederate flag… plus I’m from Southern California everyone around me talks this way unless they’re from Mexico or Compton. It’s a dialect and I’m not trying to imitate anyone. In my past professional experience, I’ve been a little bit embarrassed about the way I speak but it’s never stopped me from accomplishing goals like getting published and getting a job. If I could turn off my valspeak I would, trust me. But it’s part of me so I have to work hard to reverse it.</p>
<p>@intparent thanks so much that’s a really great ideas! Most of my friends want to go to competitive schools that recommend interviews so hopefully I can convince them all to play!</p>
<p>@Sabrina2372 snarlatron didn’t mean that it’s you who would wear a confederate flag. And it doesn’t really matter if everyone around you speak like that in a social life in business world. You shouldn’t be using “totes” or “cray cray” in the professional world for sure. Even “like” or “you know” might hurt your chance in professional world, because it makes you seem less professional. And “it never stopped me from accomplishing goals like getting published and getting a job”? How old are you? Aren’t you still a high schooler applying for a college? So how professional have you got, other than getting a part-time job or a summer job for high schoolers? I wonder why you even started this thread, if you’re gonna be defensive about your habit. Obviously, those words won’t help you in any way. Be logical.</p>
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<p>Everyone? I find that hard to believe. Do your parents talk that way?</p>
<p>Perhaps I am wrong, but you come across as very shallow. And your comment about “Mexico or Compton” makes you appear insensitive and privileged.</p>
<p>People often speak differently for different audiences. It’s not that hard to adjust. Some high school kids use a lot of profanity regularly around friends, but would you speak the same way to your grandmother? No, of course you wouldn’t. If you can drop the profanity for Grandma you can drop the Valspeak for your Harvard interviewer. Try it. You may surprise yourself.</p>
<p>@Sabrina2372 I am also from Southern CA and I can assure you that most people, including teens and young adults - I have one of each- do not speak like this, nor do their cohorts. And, yes, they are affectations, not a dialect. @snarltron was being very helpful in his explanations and yes, almost all affectations come from imitation at some point - this is no different…also not a judgment of you. Please take advice (you did ask) from those older and with more real world experience than you. Your “valspeak” will hurt you and if you can develop a more professional “language” for your interviews it will serve you well.</p>