Instructor
Serena Greenslade F.V.C.M. (Hons), A.N.E.A.
Elocution coach AKA Voice coach F.V.C.M.(Hons) for 28 years
About me
Serena Greenslade is an experienced speech confidence coach from Dorset, UK and she now lives in central Portugal. Serena qualified in 1994 (A.N.E.A.) as an elocution teacher and since then has taught lecturers at Universities, trainee doctors for the NHS, sports coaches, business people, telephone sales personnel, children, health care workers, stroke victims and staff at national charities. Serena specializes in one to one private lessons for children and adults and workshops for businesses. In June 2014 she gained her Fellowship, F.V.C.M.(Hons).
Serena says 'I know how it feels to be uncertain and frightened about speaking.' She is now qualified to the highest level (Fellowship and Associateship) and is able to help you improve your speaking skills. She lives in jeans, laughs a lot and has a hint of a Dorset accent when not teaching but Serena is passionate about her work and incredibly serious (with a huge smile) when it comes to teaching her clients to sound confident.
Background
When Serena was about ten, her school had a parents evening where the parents go along and chat to the teachers to find out how their children are getting on. During the course of the conversation with her mum, the teacher told her that Serena seemed happy enough but that he couldn't remember speaking to her during the year! Serena was an incredibly shy girl.
As a result of this Serena's mum took her to elocution lessons.
These lessons gave Serena confidence but didn't change the way she sounds, 'I still have a Dorset accent (although when I teach I lose it) and I strongly believe we shouldn't all sound the same'.
Serena was still a very shy girl but knew how to speak when she had to. At her senior school, the different classes used to take it in turns to participate in the morning assemblies. She had a very elderly Maths teacher who claimed that the only time he could hear the assembly was when Serena did a reading. In return for this she was excused Maths tests in his class. Luckily her maths didn't suffer – Serena went on to pass 'A' level Maths.
In 1979 Serena obtained a degree in Law and Economics and went on to become a trainee accountant - for all of 12 weeks. Sitting in an office all day was not for her. Luckily she decided to return to what she enjoyed doing and in 1994 qualified (A.N.E.A.) as an elocution teacher. In 2014 she obtained her Fellowship with Honours from Victoria College (F.V.C.M.)
Media
In addition to publishing her own books, Serena has written an academic paper in Voice and Speech Review April 2015.
Serena has also written articles in many publications including The Oldie in 2022, Dance Studio Life July 2015, The Lady Magazine in Sept 2014, ISTD Dance magazine in Jan 2014, PTR Tennis Pro in April 2007, The International Tennis Federation Coaching and Sport Science Review in Dec 2002 and Dance Expression Magazine in Dec 2001.
Serena has also taught students who have appeared in television series and who have won national awards for their acting.
Serena looks forward to teaching you. As she says, 'Enjoy Speaking'