PRACTICAL PUBLIC SPEAKING Purpose:

The purpose of most speeches made in the public arena meets one of the following eight objectives:

To Inform To Persuade

To Educate To Market

To Convince To Sell

To Convert To train

Prerequisites:
There are four key prerequisites to a successful Public Speech:

Planning

Preparation

Practice

Presentation

Special Considerations:
In planning. preparing and presenting a speech, special consideration must be given to key aspects: Purpose Speech Content Humour Introduction What is the primary objective of the speech? What is the main Theme - the key Thrust - the overall Emphasis? What part will Humour play in your speech? Will you introduce yourself? How will you introduce your subject/topic or your theme? Whom should you acknowledge? How should your speech be structured? What will be the three (3) main aspects of the Body? Will these three (3) aspects each be comprised of three to five sub-segments? Is there a Linkage that the audience can follow and know where they are at? How will you conclude? - a-Summary - a Challenge Question/Answer session- With Thanks? How much time has been allocated for the speech? Who will comprise the audience? - Age - Culture - Ethnic background? How will you welcome them? What is the English proficiency level of your audience? Is it a Lecture? Is it Formal or Informal? - Do you want Maximum Participation? -Is it to be Highly Visual? What is the size - seating - sound acoustics of the venue? What type of microphone is available - hand-held - fixture on lectern - mobile - battery-operated? Are the LCD - Power-point projector and your computer compatible? Is there a Whiteboard Pens - Eraser - OHP? Have the required Occupational - Health and Safety requirements been met? Exits - Fire Extinguisher, etc.

Structure

Closure/ Conclusion

Period-Length Audience

Your Language Level Delivery-Presentation

The Venue The Speaking Aids and Equipment

OHS

Practice

When will you set apart time to practice, practice and practice?

Why Practice?
Rehearsing and practicing a speech has many advantages, especially if the practice session is audio taped or videoed, thus allowing a detailed, self-paced review on the event. The final practice sessions should eventually be as close to a full rehearsal as possible. If possible, there is value in involving a trusted observer or observers. The session should be an introspective, self-assessment exercise whereby a speaker can identify personal weaknesses and areas for improvement. Practice engenders personal confidence as well as raises competency levels and also enables a potential speaker to pre-test:ones delivery skills and preparedness ones personal confidence ones competency at pronouncing difficult words the equipment to be used the sequence and flow of the subject matterif the subject linkages are sequential and effective the response to any humour to be used the suitability of illustrations and language the clarity and simplicity of the overall presentation grammatical and pronunciation errors the length and complexity of any sentences or jargon used the length and timing of the speech possible questions that could arise from the audience body language that need to be disciplined the quality, volume and pitch of ones voice the speed of delivery that you have achieved you objective -

Final Factors to Remember:

Your voice, your eyes and your personal presence can make or break a Public Speech. Making a superior Public Speech is all about the Product (the substance), the Presenter and the Presentation.

V oice and V olume are V ital! E ye-Contact is E ssential! - P ersonality is a P lus!

Your task as a speaker is to make everyone in the audience feel they are important to you. This begins by ensuring that you regularly canvass the auditorium like the hands of a clock or ploughing a field, i.e.- briefly eye-contacting individuals, couples and groups as you visually cover each and everyone throughout the speaking session. Secondly, it requires your responding to questions and queries from all sections of the audience, not just from those seated to the fore. One also has to be mindful that those up the back may be at a disadvantage if the public address system is poorly located or you are speaking to quickly - especially when the audience are not primary English language speakers. Listeners who have to strain to hear lose interest. Finally, remember, no one knows you are not the greatest public speaker in the world. Practice, Practice, Practice and Pretend that you are!