PUBLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP

Video

•2 participants speaking in front of a camera

•One minute speech

Content

•Identifying Your Purpose•Diction•Vocal Delivery•Physical Delivery & Body Language •X – Factor

What & Why?

•Have a clear vision of why you’re standing there and what you want to achieve▫State it clearly in the beginning

Preparation!

•Make sure you are comfortable with talking about that topic and dealing with different aspects of it

•Thorough preparation is the key to a powerful speech

Audience & Context•Write a speech using the appropriate register

▫No technical language when things can be explained in a simpler manner Example: If you want to explain how a computer

works to your Grandmother, use simple terms Do not use metaphors which might offend some

people Example: Do not say that your fellow board

members use Gestapo methods, especially when they are former Concentration Camp prisoners

•Respect your audience▫Throughout your speech make sure you

keep your purpose in mind and move towards something concrete

▫Try to be concise when stating your points If something can be said in a simpler manner,

do so!▫DO NOT BORE YOUR AUDIENCE

“Directive” LanguageEmphasize: “The most important factor is…”

Repeat: “Over 37% of the students say that Cantina food is not delicious. Over 37% of the students…”

Restate: “Let’s look at the situation another way.”

Focus: [While pointing to a specific area on a graph] “Note the increase in earnings here. This is caused by…”

Question: “What, then, is the best option?”

Invite: “Let’s put ourselves in his situation.”

Active SpeechRecommendations Avoid Use

Change verbs from passive to active form

“The sample was taken from…”

“A team of four students took samples from…”

Use an action verb “3 of the 5 machines were inefficient”

“Poor maintenance of the machines contributed to its inefficiency”

Make an ‘is’ statement more concrete

“We believe the decision is a good one”

“This decision will save you 100 NOK”

Say what you mean “At this point in time, if you choose not to do your work, you will fail your IB Diploma”

“Do your work. Now.”

Use your experiences to emphasize your meaning: eliminate ‘seem’

“The data seems to indicate that…”

“Our experience in similar situations leads us to believe…”

Activity

•Distinguish between the words we should or should not use in a speech

Pace •Use different pace

▫Slow down for more important points▫Speed up for supporting details

•Use pauses▫To set ideas apart

•Avoid extremes ▫“Motormouth”: speaking too quickly that

no one can understand▫“Drawing Pedant”: speaking too slowly that

people lose their attention

Pitch • Use a variety of pitch

▫BUT avoid extremes such as high pitches, and low pitches which my strain your voice and hurt the ears of the audience

• Avoid speaking in monotone▫Dull and boring (audience will lose attention)

• Avoid sing-song patterns▫Comes across as talking down to audience

• Avoid upspeak ▫Speaking loudly doesn’t put your point across

any clearer

Volume•Emphasize key words and ideas

▫‘loudness’ indicates an important idea and conveys certainty “Lowering the price is the best move”

•Use change in volume to indicate transitions•Don’t let sentences trail off in volume

▫Shows lack of interest in completing thought •Choose volume limits appropriate to setting –

room, audience, situation, equipment

Tone•Audiences react negatively to poor tone

▫Voices that are dry, raspy or harsh are not pleasant to the audience’s ears

▫Voices which are too resonant and too polished make the speaker seem unnatural

•Abuse of vocals▫Insufficient breath control

Nervousness – short breaths panting, short and choppy phrasing

▫Fatigue Be energetic when speaking!

Eye Contact • Sustain real eye contact

▫Engage one person (3-5 seconds) Longer eye contact (>5 seconds) makes the

receiver uncomfortable Short eye contact (<2 seconds) makes you appear

“fidgety” and “shifty-eyed”• Maintain listener focus

▫Never speak without eye contact▫Objects like the screen, walls, ceiling make

poor dialogue partners• Vary focus from one person to another, but

do not fall into a predictable side-to-side sweep or a circular pattern

Gestures

•Use gestures to emphasize key words, shape, size

•Eliminate gestures that are distracting, repetitive or too predictable ▫Gesture intentionally▫Avoid stabbing every accented syllable of

each word▫Be expressive without overgesturing

•Find a “home” position which is natural for you

Freudian Clutch• Primarily used by men• Hands casped above the groin• Never use it as your “home” position• Replace with over-the-waist gestures

At Ease • The opposite of the “clutch”, where hands rest firmly behind the back (military like)• Never use it as your “home” position

The Diva• Hands clasped at navel• Read as undynamic, tense, defensive• Never use it as your “home” position• Replace with more open asymmetrical gestures

Papal Special• Hands pressed together at chest – fingers and thumbs pointed upward – prior to other mirrored gestures • More suitable for use in religious occasions

I’m A Little Teapot• Hands planted firmly on both hips – may lead to side-to-side aerobics• Can be read as combative, or arrogant

Penguin• Arms held stiffly at side, hands flapping nervously

Toscanini• Hands fly, swoop and swirl • Opposite of the Penguin

What, me? Worried about presenting? • Hands in pockets • Extremely casual feel• May lead to playing with things in the pocket

Activity

•Barack Obama http://youtube.com/watch?v=tydfsfSQiYc

•Analysis of a British Politician http://youtube.com/watch?v=s5FUKcrp5D8

Movement •Stand up straight, but not stiffly•Distribute your weight evenly on both feet

▫Avoid shifting your weight Do not sway back-and-forth or side-to-side

•When presenting slides▫Don’t force the audience to split their

attention between you and the slide▫Point to slide elements on screen with

gestures that are precise ▫Move deliberately with a specific objective

Personal Style• Determine your own personal style

▫Are you a storyteller, or a salesperson, or a lecturer?

▫People should be able to remember: Why you said it. How you said it. What you said.

• You should not copy others ▫Adopt aspects▫Observe good speakers (various styles)▫But remember, your audience wants to hear

what YOU have to say

An Example Of A Guy With X-Factor:•Anthony Robbins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9drRUgxZRY

Credibility Key Credibility Factors Comments

Character and Personality First impressions are important

Competence Your knowledge in the area

Composure Your appearance of being at ease with the audience

Affability Ease in communicating as a friendly and reliable presenter

Outgoing nature Indicates willingness to be available and present. Demonstrates desire and enthusiasm to bring your point across

Overcoming FearFear Remedy

Fear of performing poorly Understand how your body reacts to presentation situationsVisualize presenting successfullyUse relaxation methods – breathing deeply

Fear of the audience Show enthusiasm when sharing your ideasTell yourself: “I have a right to be here. What I have to say is of value to this audience. No one else here knows the subject as well as I do.”

Fear your message will not stand up to criticism

Do your homeworkAnticipate and prepare answers to questions beforehand

Handling Questions• Anticipate questions and prepare answers in

advance• Be clear and up front about how you intend

to handle questions▫“Please feel free to stop me at any point…”

• Before answering, reflect your understanding of the question

• Answer ▫Engage through eye contact▫Maintain control▫Check for questioner’s satisfaction▫Respect time constraints

Video

•Watch and discuss recorded videos with participants

Activity

•Adolf Hitler http://youtube.com/watch?v=_Q-6H4xOUrs •Anthony Robbinshttp://youtube.com/watch?v=UBS9TrPYg88

Now, it’s your turn!

•Get into groups of 4/5 •Discuss the statement: “The IB takes too

much time in our everyday lives” •10 minutes

Closing

•Summarize▫Reaffirm key points▫Reflect on key takeaways from the speech/

presentation▫Show appreciation to the audience

Thank them for their time and effort