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Effective public speaking
While working on public-speaking techniques with a group of high school students recently, we were reminded about the importance of slowing down our delivery for better audience reception. Being around teenagers puts you into the ‘perfect storm’ of communications conundrums: an onslaught of creativity and enthusiasm, coupled with the English language spoken at the speed of light.
Getting your message across to a group often makes even veteran speakers nervous. Nervousness can then translate into rapid-fire delivery of well-prepared information. Here are two exercises we learned a long time ago, which help to slow delivery of the spoken word:
Alphabet recitation – Easy to do and works like a charm. Simply say the alphabet (and you can do it aloud or just under your breath), but whisper every other letter. Try it and you’ll see that you have to make a conscious effort to do the ‘whisper’ part, which slows your delivery.
Vowel distortion – You should definitely try this only when you are alone, as anyone with you will think you need medical attention. But it works. Simply say each vowel, but get your whole mouth and jaw into the pronunciation. Really distort and elongate the vowel letter, along with your lips, and you will not only take yourself a lot less seriously, you will have calmed your pulse and your speaking pace.
–Amy Biemiller