Speech Arts
Kirsten Hawson's Speech Arts program helps students to develop the technical and critical-thinking skills necessary for confident, informed and dynamic oral communication. She is a CELTA certified English teacher and an IELTS speaking examiner and interlocutor.
These on-to-one lessons are designed for the individual needs, personalities and interests of students, as expressed through speeches, stories, poetry and vocal exercises. This service attracts a wide range of people from young children with speech impediments to professional stunt men looking to get speaking roles to professional actors wanting to film a scene for a screen test.
Focus is given to facial and tongue placement to help students form certain consonants and vowels, to lip movement for clarity of words alignment, as well as to breath control, gestures, vocal articulation and prosody, all of which help students to gain confidence with the expressive possibilities of speaking. She also incorporates instruction in drama, voice projection and reading comprehension, and students learn to release tension in the face, neck and jaw.
She has recently done some professional development at The Kristin Linkater centre in NYC to deepen her knowledge of the Linklater technique. She is proficient in The Estill Method as well as familiar with Lessac Voice, Fitzmaurice Voicework and The Vocal Process. She trained with GillyAnne Kayes, who founded the vocal process, for three years as well as Joanna Weir Ouston (a Linklater Master Teacher).
Kirsten Hawson has a proven track record of helping people with their speaking and singing voices. She has worked with students before and after diagnosis of nodules, polyps, cleft palates, nasal issues and facial paralysation.
To learn more about how Speech Arts can help you or your child, please contact Kirsten at khawson@gmail.com or at 604 377 2349.
These on-to-one lessons are designed for the individual needs, personalities and interests of students, as expressed through speeches, stories, poetry and vocal exercises. This service attracts a wide range of people from young children with speech impediments to professional stunt men looking to get speaking roles to professional actors wanting to film a scene for a screen test.
Focus is given to facial and tongue placement to help students form certain consonants and vowels, to lip movement for clarity of words alignment, as well as to breath control, gestures, vocal articulation and prosody, all of which help students to gain confidence with the expressive possibilities of speaking. She also incorporates instruction in drama, voice projection and reading comprehension, and students learn to release tension in the face, neck and jaw.
She has recently done some professional development at The Kristin Linkater centre in NYC to deepen her knowledge of the Linklater technique. She is proficient in The Estill Method as well as familiar with Lessac Voice, Fitzmaurice Voicework and The Vocal Process. She trained with GillyAnne Kayes, who founded the vocal process, for three years as well as Joanna Weir Ouston (a Linklater Master Teacher).
Kirsten Hawson has a proven track record of helping people with their speaking and singing voices. She has worked with students before and after diagnosis of nodules, polyps, cleft palates, nasal issues and facial paralysation.
To learn more about how Speech Arts can help you or your child, please contact Kirsten at khawson@gmail.com or at 604 377 2349.
Testimonials:
Kirsten Hawson is a friendly, helpful, encouraging diction teacher. She has helped me train my ear to hear my mistakes so that I can correct them. As a result, I speak with more clarity and with improved public speaking confidence.
– I.D., 12-yr-old speech student who studies
Kirsten has played a pivotal role in the personal development of my son. She gave him a place to feel unique. He loved working with Kirsten — it was always fun and full of laughter, and at the same time he said he learned so much working with her.
– D.G., parent of a student who worked with Kirsten from ages 13-15
Kirsten is incredibly energetic and friendly while being firm and able to clearly set expectations and guidelines. She is remarkable in how she earned such trust and respect from my daughter so quickly. No other teacher has ever become such an important person in her life. She is a highly gifted teacher and I will be forever grateful to her for the impact she has had on my daughter and her voice. – K.D., parent of a student who worked with Kirsten from ages 14-17
Kirsten Hawson is a friendly, helpful, encouraging diction teacher. She has helped me train my ear to hear my mistakes so that I can correct them. As a result, I speak with more clarity and with improved public speaking confidence.
– I.D., 12-yr-old speech student who studies
Kirsten has played a pivotal role in the personal development of my son. She gave him a place to feel unique. He loved working with Kirsten — it was always fun and full of laughter, and at the same time he said he learned so much working with her.
– D.G., parent of a student who worked with Kirsten from ages 13-15
Kirsten is incredibly energetic and friendly while being firm and able to clearly set expectations and guidelines. She is remarkable in how she earned such trust and respect from my daughter so quickly. No other teacher has ever become such an important person in her life. She is a highly gifted teacher and I will be forever grateful to her for the impact she has had on my daughter and her voice. – K.D., parent of a student who worked with Kirsten from ages 14-17
