Friday 23 November 2018

Learning public speaking from others

I was surprised to hear a member of our Rostrum public speaking club say that she had learned so much in her first few months at the club.  She was very shy and did not volunteer to speak on many occasions at all.


The club coaches had tried to encourage her to speak but like many beginners she was reluctant to turn up if she was rostered to give a formal presentation at the meeting.  Yet, like most of our members and visitors she was able to participate in our club exercises and speak informally for a minute or two as part of an activity.

We like to feel that each of our members is reaching their goals and worried whether we were helping at all!  So it was interesting to hear her comment and explanation.  Here's what you can learn from her experience:

  • She had taken notice of the club tutorials and worked on her basic speaking technique - in private for lower stress - and this improved her voice projection and variation
  • Listening to the experienced speakers in their prepared speeches but also in their answers to questions had helped her to be aware of the ways in which she could introduce her personal stories and experience into her conversation to enhance her messages
  • Watching the ways that experience speakers used body language and gestures showed her how to enhance the meaning of her speaking with natural gestures and facial expressions
It is exciting to help someone even when don't know that you are helping!

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