Reader questions and feedback on public speaking issues. Also refer to speeches, presentation, writing, preparation, fear, anxiety, nervousness, stuttering, Toastmasters, evaluation, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Answers to Readers' Questions on Public Speaking:
Goals
The following 11 comments and questions have been sent in. They are listed according to date.
List of first 10 items
- I need some help with a speech topic
- Wants to become an international speaker
- Wants to be a public speaker in the community
- Have to give a presentation on AIDS to get a job
- How do I make money in public speaking?
- Wants to control a huge crowd
- Is there any way to improve an accent?
- Mind goes blank on impromptu speeches
- When speaking to elders with a mic
- Speak perfectly
I need some help with a speech topic
Question
February 9, 2009
Hi my name is kimberly thomas and i am a member of FBLA at kirby high school. I need some help with a topic that i want to talk about in my speech. I was wondering if you could help me
Kimberly - USA
17241
Answer
The topic depends on what area your teacher wants you to speak about.
If allowed to give any topic, consider what really interests you that you would like to share with others.
Don't try to get into too much detail on your topic. Just tell three things that you can remember and that others may enjoy.
I hope this helps. Best wishes in your speech.
Wants to become an international speaker
Question
June 18, 2008
I have learnt a great deal from this article. Am very happy I stumbled on this site. It's a wonderful place to be! I have been looking for resources that can help me develop my speaking and writing skills. Thank you so much for making these resources accessible.
My name is Idowu Omisore, a Nigerian and a University of Lagos graduate of Mass Communication. Am currently with an advertising agency, Novelpotta Y&R. God has been speaking to me that He has called me to be international speaker,writer and revivalist. He particularly spoke to me from Psalms 45:1"...my tongue is the pen of a ready writer".
My goal- I want to become a professional speaker and I need all the encouragement I can get. I think I need someone who can help mentor me in this area, that can help challenge me, counsel me and help me achieve this goal to God's glory. Eagerly waiting to hear from you.
Idowu - Nigeria
16101
Answer
The first thing to do is to write a 5 to 10-minute speech on a topic you are enthusiastic about. Practice the speech and then try to give it to various groups in your community, where it would apply. This could be your church, company, business clubs, schools or such. In this way, will perfect your skills and gain a reputation as a good speaker. Then you can expand your horizons.
Seek opportunities to hear good speakers. Study their techniques and subject matter. Try to meet them to get advice. Look into the following top Nigerian speakers:
Ubong Essien - http://www.mistermotivator.com/
Niyi Adesanya - http://www.niyiadesanya.com/
Sam Adeyemi - http://www.successpower.org/newsite/profile.asp
Fela Durotoye - http://www.theoutpouring.org/minister-fela-duratoye/
Richie Dayo Johnson - http://www.richmondjohnson.com/
Best wishes in your career as a champion speaker.
Wants to be a public speaker in the community
Question
March 29, 2008
I would like to be a public speaker in my community but i dont have any qualification for that and my english not very good also no basic at all only learn from the internet.
Any basic or technique or can i become the small community public speaker without experience?
I always said i must do it but become public speaker i still not very confidence.
Your opinion and help very-very appreciated
Sabah, Malaysia
Nursah - Malaysia
15624
Answer
It is much easier to become a public speaker in your native tongue. Once you become good at speaking, you can work on improving your English skills, so you can speak to those audiences.
The most important thing is that you need to have a good subject for your speeches. It must be something you know about and is dear to your heart, as well as of interest to others.
Write down your ideas for a short, 5-minute talk. Then practice giving it to friends and family to see their reaction and to improve your skills.
Then seek out small groups, clubs or organizations in your community that would be interested in your topic. You can give a 5-minute talk as a starter, but the usual speech to a group is 15 to 20 minutes long. It is better to do well in 5 minutes than to bore people in 20 minutes.
Look around in your community to find when organizations have speakers. Try to get a chance to listen to the speaker. Also try to get a chance to talk to the speaker for some advice.
I hope these ideas help. Best wishes on becoming a public speaker.
Have to give a presentation on AIDS to get a job
Question
November 22, 2007
I have to give a presentation on hiv and aids to someone who is interesting in hiring me as a health educator for schools. Send me some pointers on making a good presentation.
Desiree - Antigua and Barbuda
14829
Answer
I assume your presentation will demonstrate how you would teach that subject to students, as well as to know your knowledge about HIV and AIDS. Consider the age group that you will be addressing in the schools. Before your presentation, it would be good to tell the interviewer what age group your presentation is aimed at.
This subject can be very dry and boring if you present a lot of graphs and statistics. It is better to use stories of how ordinary people were not careful and ended up with AIDS. Then show some pictures of the results of getting the disease. That can bring the message home.
You also want to make your presentation interactive--even in your interview or demonstration. Ask such questions as, "How many of you know what AIDS is?" and "Do any of you of someone who is HIV positive?" and then try to get some explanation from the audience.
Note that you need to know ahead of time what the interviewer is actually looking for. My example is to show your skills on educating. If you find the interviewer is simply looking for knowledge about AIDS, you may need a second, more statistical presentation available.
I hope these ideas help. Best wishes in getting the job.
How do I make money in public speaking?
Question
August 15, 2006
I have the desire and the skill now how do I make money at this?
What is the first steps that have to be taken?
Donald
Donald - USA
11707
Answer
You need to have a good speech written on a specific topic that is of interest to others. Many aspiring speakers say, "I can speak on anything." But no one will pay just for anything.
A good place to develop your speech material is through Toastmasters. See www.toastmasters.org/find to find a club in your area.
Then start giving free speeches in local organizations such as the Kiwanis Club, business organizations and such. This will lead to paying speaking engagements.
You can also join the National Speakers Association. They have a good program for people wanting to become professional speakers. See: http://www.nsaspeaker.org/search/chapter_directory.xpl to find a chapter in your area.
Best wishes on your speaking career.
Wants to control a huge crowd
Question
April 21, 2005
Hi Sir,
I am really glad to see your website. I am a faculty and teaching Management and IT Subjects..All my students say i have good communication and audience control.
I have 2 queries listed below:
1)If i want to control huge crowd and senior executives,CEO's How to prepare myself for that. Please let me know
2)I dont have any problem with speaking ; but i suddenly i will get stuck in between .. How to overcome this
3)I need to improve my fluency.. please give me a solution
Thanking you,
Regards,
Hemanth
Hemanth - INDIA
6723
Answer
Write a short speech on a subject of interest and practice giving it as much as possible. Look for small groups and organizations in which to give your speech. In this way, you can improve your confidence and fluency.
One good source for practicing and improving your speaking is through Toastmasters. See:
http://www.toastmasters.org/find/default.asp?Country=India and look under Guided Source for a listing of cities in India with a Toastmaster club.
Look over our lessons for tips on various aspects of speaking.
Note that your goal is not to control the audience. Rather it is to provide them information in such a manner that they will want to listen and learn more. Often dramatics and a good presentation will help in that area.
I hope those ideas help you. Best wishes in your speaking.
Is there any way to improve an accent?
Question
January 1, 2005
is there any way to improve the accent ?
Sam - Canada
5460
Answer
It is difficult, because the way you pronounce words are so ingrained. You almost have to consider yourself a mimic, where you copy the way other people speak.
One thing to do is to repeat words and sentences you hear on a TV or radio show where a person speaks the way you would like to speak. Record what you say and check if it sounds the way it should.
An even better way is to use 2 tape recorders. Make an audio tape and play it back, recording your voice in the second recorder. Then you can really check how close you get in pronunciation.
There are also diction courses available, but these methods are a good start. Getting your hears attuned to how other people speak will help reduce your accent.
Best wishes in your efforts.
Mind goes blank on impromptu speeches
Question
February 23, 2004
Thank you for the practical hints on public speaking. My problem is in using my imagination to speak on a subjectg at random, when called upon to do so. I am easy with subjects on which I am knowledgeable or when I am given time for preparation. However, when put on the spot, despite my command of the language, I find myself at a loss for words and ideas, however simple the subject. I know that if I am given at the most 10 minutes to think about it I could get my thoughts in order. I just cannot respond on the spot, however much I would like to do so. I just find myself groping for thoughts and words. This is very frustrating. Can you give me some practical tips?
Thank you very much indeed.
Ginny -
2489
Answer
In Toastmasters, they have an exercise called Table Topics, where a person is asked to give an impromptu mini-speech.
A good method to use in such a situation is to start with a saluation to the group, "Ms. Group Leader, fellow members and friends..." Then repeat the question: "I have been asked to give my opinion on the state of...xxx. That is a very interesting question that deserves a compete answer..."
To a degree, it sounds like you are beating around the bushes instread of starting your talk. But what it really does is allows you a short time to gather your thoughts. It really doesn't take much to come up with some ideas. But if you try to blurt out an answer right away, your mind can easily go blank.
Finally, you structure whatever you say with a beginning, middle and close. Sometimes it hardly matters what you say, as long as it is structured.
I hope that helps and gives you some ideas of handling the problem.
When speaking to elders with a mic
Question
December 27, 2003
Dear Sir,
I have a great diffiuculty in switching my speech to suit the particular audience.
Naturally, i find it very easy to speak in the mist of my junior and mates but find it very hard to speak effectively in the midst of my elders because of the fear of lack of enough wisdom and intelligence to match up with them.
This has affected me several times.
I also have a natural phobia for using michrophone to speak to an audience.
I feel uneasy and too conscious of myself and voice when i want to speak with mic. In fact, i face a lot of diffiucuties in this.
What could be the soultion?
Olaide -
1753
Answer
You should never try to impress the audience. Rather, your goal is to make sure you clearly communicate what you have to say. If you try to impress those young than you, they will feel you are just showing off or the material will go over their heads. Likewise, if you try to impress your elders, you can easily get nervous and do just the opposite.
Your elders do not know everything. What you want to do is to do a good job in your presentation of the information. Even if they already know what about what you are saying, they will appreciate the good job done.
A microphone gives you power--especially in a large room. Practice speaking into a tape recorder mic and then listen to how you sound. Sometimes people will turn their head from the mic such that parts of the speech can't be heard.
Best wishes in your speaking. I am sure you will excel.
Speak perfectly
Question
September 13, 2003
How do i as a young and ambitious teenager learn how to speak perfectly. i am not afraid to speak and not afraid to learn. I have a desire to learn,knowledge is power, i believe that i will need this ability soon in my life. Right now i feel with all my heart to be able to speak with passion and fulency is the most important lesson i could learn. i ask you, how can i achieve my goal, what should i do....
Shaun -
481
Answer
I agree that the ability to speak clearly and fluently is an important skill. The first place to start is to take some classes in school on speaking, speech, and rhetoric, if they are available. Also check out the debate club and drama club, if you school has such activities. Since public speaking is somewhat of a performance, getting into a play can only help your elocation.
Another good source for improving your speaking skills is Toastmasters. Typically, the participants are in business, but I am sure they would welcome an ambitious teenager who wants to speak well. You can check out some meetings with no obligations. See: http://www.toastmasters.org/find/default.asp to find a club in your area. Find out when there is a meeting and stop in.
I hope this gives you some ideas on becoming a speaking champion.
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