Mar 03 2025 29 mins 2
Hear the intriguing journey of Donna Durbin, a pronunciation expert who transitioned from art to online teaching. Discover how she combines innovation and connection, offering tailored courses and global corporate support. She also emphasizes the importance of visibility and being bold in marketing.
Donna Durbin is an artist and a Clear English Pronunciation Coach.
In this episode, Ari, Abe, and Donna discuss:
- Donna’s journey from being an artist to developing online courses
- The importance of entrepreneurship and self-promotion in establishing a successful business
- The challenges and strategies in transitioning from in-person to online teaching
- Her focus on pronunciation and accent reduction for non-native English speakers
- The evolution of her teaching method to include a combination of videos, online lessons, and live coaching
- The role of digital tools and platforms like Zoom and YouTube in expanding her reach
- Insights into marketing strategies for growing an online course business
- The significance of embracing new technology and continuous learning
- Her target audience which consists of professionals seeking to advance their communication skills
- The importance of being visible and proactive in promoting her services
Guest Bio:
Donna Durbin started her entrepreneurial lifestyle at age 25 when she bought her first house in Houston, Texas. This turned into a nine-year creative project of hands-on design, construction, and remodeling. With a “can-do” spirit, Donna learned to refinish floors, lay tile, construct lattice fencing, install A/C ductwork, install a roof, plus float and tape sheetrock. Through that, she built the home of her dreams, complete with a second-story art studio space, swimming pool, and deck — while being married and raising two sons.
She launched her first hybrid online course, “The ABCs of an American Accent,” on Ruzuku in 2019. It combines self-study video lessons, feedback, and live coaching in a highly personalized program to transform voices and transform lives. Donna continues to create online pronunciation courses and facilitate live coaching groups and private coaching on Ruzuku.
Resources or websites mentioned in this episode:
Mirasee
Ruzuku
Donna’s website: ClearEnglishCoach.com
Special offer for podcast listeners: Free 1st Monday Accent Reduction Coaching
Donna’s YouTube channel: @ClearEnglishCoach
Credits:
Hosts: Ari Iny and Abe Crystal
Producer: Michi Lantz
Assembled by: Fatima Fojas
Executive Producer: Danny Iny
Audio Editor: Marvin del Rosario
Music Soundscape: Chad Michael Snavely
Making our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio
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Music credits:
Track Title: Bossa BB
Artist Name: Marie
Writer Name: Chelsea McGough
Publisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: Coo Coos
Artist Name: Dresden, The Flamingo
Writer Name: Matthew Wigton
Publisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: Grace
Artist Name: Shimmer
Writer Name: Matthew Wigton
Publisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONS
Track Title: Carousel Lights
Artist Name: Chelsea McGough
Writer Name: Chelsea McGough
Writer Name: Matthew Wigton
Publisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Publisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONS
Special effects credits:
24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.
Episode transcript: Empowering Voices Globally with an Online Pronunciation Course (Donna Durbin).
