10 Tips for Improving Your Public Speaking Skills

Few are immune to the fear of public speaking. Marjorie North offers 10 tips for speakers to calm the nerves and deliverable memorable orations.

Marjorie North

Snakes? Fine. Flying? No problem. Public speaking? Yikes! Just thinking about public speaking — routinely described as one of the greatest (and most common) fears — can make your palms sweat. But there are many ways to tackle this anxiety and learn to deliver a memorable speech.

In part one of this series,  Mastering the Basics of Communication , I shared strategies to improve how you communicate. In part two, How to Communicate More Effectively in the Workplace , I examined how to apply these techniques as you interact with colleagues and supervisors in the workplace. For the third and final part of this series, I’m providing you with public speaking tips that will help reduce your anxiety, dispel myths, and improve your performance.

Here Are My 10 Tips for Public Speaking:

1. nervousness is normal. practice and prepare.

All people feel some physiological reactions like pounding hearts and trembling hands. Do not associate these feelings with the sense that you will perform poorly or make a fool of yourself. Some nerves are good. The adrenaline rush that makes you sweat also makes you more alert and ready to give your best performance.

The best way to overcome anxiety is to prepare, prepare, and prepare some more. Take the time to go over your notes several times. Once you have become comfortable with the material, practice — a lot. Videotape yourself, or get a friend to critique your performance.

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2. Know Your Audience. Your Speech Is About Them, Not You.

Before you begin to craft your message, consider who the message is intended for. Learn as much about your listeners as you can. This will help you determine your choice of words, level of information, organization pattern, and motivational statement.

3. Organize Your Material in the Most Effective Manner to Attain Your Purpose.

Create the framework for your speech. Write down the topic, general purpose, specific purpose, central idea, and main points. Make sure to grab the audience’s attention in the first 30 seconds.

4. Watch for Feedback and Adapt to It.

Keep the focus on the audience. Gauge their reactions, adjust your message, and stay flexible. Delivering a canned speech will guarantee that you lose the attention of or confuse even the most devoted listeners.

5. Let Your Personality Come Through.

Be yourself, don’t become a talking head — in any type of communication. You will establish better credibility if your personality shines through, and your audience will trust what you have to say if they can see you as a real person.

6. Use Humor, Tell Stories, and Use Effective Language.

Inject a funny anecdote in your presentation, and you will certainly grab your audience’s attention. Audiences generally like a personal touch in a speech. A story can provide that.

7. Don’t Read Unless You Have to. Work from an Outline.

Reading from a script or slide fractures the interpersonal connection. By maintaining eye contact with the audience, you keep the focus on yourself and your message. A brief outline can serve to jog your memory and keep you on task.

8. Use Your Voice and Hands Effectively. Omit Nervous Gestures.

Nonverbal communication carries most of the message. Good delivery does not call attention to itself, but instead conveys the speaker’s ideas clearly and without distraction.

9. Grab Attention at the Beginning, and Close with a Dynamic End.

Do you enjoy hearing a speech start with “Today I’m going to talk to you about X”? Most people don’t. Instead, use a startling statistic, an interesting anecdote, or concise quotation. Conclude your speech with a summary and a strong statement that your audience is sure to remember.

10. Use Audiovisual Aids Wisely.

Too many can break the direct connection to the audience, so use them sparingly. They should enhance or clarify your content, or capture and maintain your audience’s attention.

Practice Does Not Make Perfect

Good communication is never perfect, and nobody expects you to be perfect. However, putting in the requisite time to prepare will help you deliver a better speech. You may not be able to shake your nerves entirely, but you can learn to minimize them.

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About the Author

North is a consultant for political candidates, physicians, and lawyers, and runs a private practice specializing in public speaking, and executive communication skills. Previously, she was the clinical director in the department of speech and language pathology and audiology at Northeastern University.

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How to Give a Speech: 10 Tips for Powerful Public Speaking

how-to-give-a-speech

When we start preparing to give a speech, it can be a nerve-wracking experience. It’s completely normal—most of us feel a combination of excitement and nerves when we’re about to take the stage.

However, with some strategic planning and practical advice, you can make sure your speech is powerful and effective. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to give a speech that will leave your audience engaged and inspired.

We’ll examine 10 tips to help you build a powerful speech, from outlining your points methodically to crafting captivating introductions . Whether you’re a beginner or experienced public speaker, these nuggets of wisdom will help you take your next speech to the next level. Let’s get started!

Quick Review of Key Points

Preparing ahead of time is the key to giving an effective speech. Make sure to structure your speaking points, rehearse your delivery, and be aware of the needs of your audience for maximum impact.

How to Prepare for a Speech

Preparing for a speech is an essential step to public speaking success. It can help to build your confidence, create content that reaches the audience, and reduce performance anxiety.

Although it can be time-consuming in the beginning, preparation will ensure less stress and more comfort during delivery. Here are some tips to consider when preparing for a speech:

Practice : Before delivering a speech, practice it out loud several times. This will allow you to gain experience in speaking without an audience and increase your confidence when you do have one.

Practicing also helps to identify awkward moments in the speech or any difficult phrases which then can be changed or removed altogether. Additionally, it helps you determine where to pause for effect. Research : Depending on the topic of the speech , research should be done beforehand to gather information that is relevant and interesting for the audience. It is important to get acquainted with the language typically used by audiences to ensure a clear understanding of what is being said.

Additionally, relevant statistics and stories concerning the topic are a great way to draw in listeners and make the presentation more engaging .

Know Your Audience : When preparing your speech, be sure to consider who will be listening. For instance, if giving a presentation at work, include industry jargon that members would understand and include relevant topics from publications that might be familiar to the employees.

On the other hand, if consulting business professionals in their field then technical language may be easier for them to comprehend than laypeople or students.

By gathering valuable information about the topic and getting comfortable with a speech’s content and delivery through practice, speakers will gain more assurance during their talk as well as respect from their audience.

Preparing beforehand not only gives insight into how to engage listeners but also encourages more meaningful conversations after the event. Now that we have discussed how to prepare for a speech let us move on to creating an outline which will provide structure during delivery.

Create an Outline

After determining the audience and purpose of your speech, the next step to effective public speaking is to create an outline .

An outline serves as a roadmap to ensure that your speech has a logical flow and contains all important points. It also can help keep you on track during the speech itself, allowing you to stay focused and organized.

When constructing an outline, consider drawing up both a main point and sub-points for each portion of the speech. Both should be relevant to the goal of the presentation and backed up by facts and research.

Brainstorming can help in this process; try grouping your ideas together in clusters to make sure you cover all possible angles.

Furthermore, writing out exact quotations or figures can prove beneficial in forming a cohesive argument. At this stage, it is also wise to decide where transitions, humor, stories, or other engaging techniques will be included.

While there are differing opinions as to whether outlines should be memorized or simply used as a reference while speaking, many agree that they should serve their purpose – not only articulate the main thoughts of the speech but also assist the speaker with maintaining focus and preventing distractions.

The debate between those who advocate for memorization versus casual consulting touches upon issues such as rehearsal time, risk of errors in delivery, ease of practice versus actual performance and more.

Each side has valid arguments that should be weighed prior to deciding what type of approach best suits your needs.

Having a firmly constructed outline acts as a valuable tool when it comes time to deliver a powerful public speech. By actively utilizing this tactic, speakers may not only enhance their clarity and coherence, but also add structure and vibrance to their presentations.

Now that we have explored what goes into crafting an effective outline, let’s dive deeper into how we can best collect resources and research our topics for maximum impact.

Collect Sources and Research

Collecting sources and research is a crucial step for any public speaking engagement. It ensures that you have the necessary information to make strong points and back up your statements.

Before writing your speech, take time to research your topic to gain familiarity with different perspectives, facts, and counterpoints. This will help you to craft an argument that can stand up to scrutiny while also adding a breadth of knowledge to your speech.

Interviews can be a powerful source of evidence and anecdotes, so try to include one or two relevant interviews in your research process. Relying solely on secondary sources such as books and articles can lead to a narrow scope of understanding.

Interviews provide an opportunity to hear directly from an expert and create an interesting dynamic in your speech by adding personal experiences as well as commentary from a professional.

In research it is important to stay objective. Gather a variety of perspectives and be open-minded about their merits. Don’t forget to consider both sides of the argument when researching for your speech.

Doing this allows you to understand the opposing perspective and enables you to anticipate potential counter arguments from your audience.

By acknowledging them beforehand, you may increase the persuasive power of your speech by showing confidence in the points you make.

Once you have collected all sources, review them carefully and separate the most pertinent information from the less useful material.

Synthesising this information into concise yet impactful points is a critical part in delivering powerful talks without overloading your audience with too much data or going off track during your speech delivery.

Organizing Your Speech

Before you start putting your words together, it’s important to consider how the different parts of a speech fit together. By taking the time to organize the ideas in your speech , you’ll be able to deliver a presentation that is well-constructed and easy to understand.

One way to help with organizing your speech is to write an outline . An outline is like a map or plan that will provide you with a framework for each section of your speech.

Start by writing out your main points and then include additional details underneath each one. This will help keep your speech focused and provide direction for where you are going next.

Another approach for organizing your speech is known as the “inverted pyramid” method. This structure starts with your conclusion at the beginning of the speech, and then works backward by providing more explanation and detail as it moves toward the introduction.

This method can be helpful when speaking about topics that are unfamiliar to the audience since it doesn’t require them to wait until near the end of the presentation to learn what you’ve been talking about.

No matter which organization approach you choose, make sure to practice it before giving your speech so that you are comfortable with its flow. Lastly, remember that it’s ok to adjust things while you speak if they don’t seem or feel quite right.

Now let’s take a look at how we can use these organizing techniques to actually put our speeches together – starting with structuring our speech.

Structure Your Speech

Creating a strong structure for your speech will ensure that the audience stays engaged and understands your main points. As you are developing an outline, map out how you want to begin and end your speech.

Break up the information into smaller sections with either verbal or visual cues so that your audience can clearly see how you are transitioning between topics . Consider adding humor judiciously throughout your presentation as this could help engage the audience and lighten any tension.

The length of your presentation is also important. You will want to make sure that you include all of the necessary information without going over time.

Oftentimes less is more; if you can say it in five minutes why use ten? Make sure that you practice timed rehearsals so that you can gauge how long you’re actually speaking.

In contrast, avoid trying to pack too much content into one presentation as this could overwhelm both you and the audience. If needed, offer supplemental reading materials for those who may be interested in delving further into the subject matter.

Paragraphs can also be helpful when organizing large amounts of content within the body of your presentation. Utilizing paragraph breaks gives your audience a break and helps to highlight key ideas or summaries before moving onto a new topic area.

Finally, it is crucial to remember what your desired outcome is from the presentation; plan accordingly by ensuring that the beginning, middle, and end serve their respective purposes and adhere to that goal.

With careful deliberations, structuring a successful presentation can be achieved with relative ease.

Having established a solid structure for your speech, it’s important to focus on another key element: rehearsal. The next section will discuss the benefits of practicing before delivering a powerful public speaking performance.

Rehearse Your Speech

Rehearsing is integral to giving a successful speech. When you rehearse your presentation, you give your mind an opportunity to become familiar with the notes and concepts that you are presenting. It also increases your confidence and reduces anxiety or self-doubt.

In fact, studies have found that those who rehearsed their presentation had higher scores in public speaking performance and language proficiency evaluations.

When it comes to how much rehearsal is enough, opinions are divided. Some people believe that over-rehearsing can lead to a more robotic speech with less natural emotion and connection with the audience .

On the other hand, others argue that no matter how well-versed someone is on the topic, additional rehearsal time improves both the delivery of the speech and memorization of key points and facts.

Ultimately, it’s important to practice until you personally find the most comfortable level for yourself, as this will ultimately result in a more engaging delivery.

Finally, if at all possible, try to practice in front of a friend or colleague for honest feedback on any elements that need improvement before the big day. Rehearsal dedication may be tedious, but it results in big rewards on stage–enabling you to deliver your content with clarity, confidence, and poise.

With thoughtful preparation complete, it’s now time to step into the spotlight and give your speech!

Giving Your Speech

The key to success when giving a speech is to be well prepared and confident. Every individual’s preparation process will vary, but the basics should stay the same.

Start by studying your content, understanding the material and being able to repeat it in your own words. Clarify any potentially difficult points. Create visual aids like PowerPoint slides or handouts that supplement the key ideas in your speech.

Practice your public speaking skills with informal conversations with friends and family or rehearse it alone in front of a mirror. Use visualization; imagine yourself confidently delivering your speech. Consider addressing a practice audience if possible to become more accustomed to a live size group.

On the day of the event, arrive early and plan for any potential obstacles: What if my computer doesn’t work? What if I forget something? Allow sufficient time for setup and check-in.

When you are ready to give your speech, take some deep breaths, focus on the positives, and distract yourself from any anxious thoughts with positive affirmations. Remember you have prepared diligently for this moment, you are well prepared and you will succeed!

Start strong by engaging the audience immediately with an attention grabbing opening statement. Speak clearly and make sure that everyone can hear and understand your message.

Slow down and emphasize points as needed throughout your presentation. Be aware of pace, volume, and tone of voice: too fast/monotone can confuse/bore listeners while pauses add a dramatic effect that keeps their interest piqued.

Ultimately, giving a successful speech will depend on knowing your material well enough to speak confidently in front of your audience without hesitation or missteps.

When you do make a mistake (and they happen!) don’t panic – know that mistakes are inevitable but don’t be discouraged; get back on track as soon as possible and continue at the same energy level you had before the mistake occurred.

Having successfully given your speech, take a moment to reflect on what went well and what could be improved upon for next time before transitioning into the next step: mastering delivery.

Master Your Delivery

Mastering your delivery is the key to an effective speech. Without purposeful body language and careful emphasis on certain words , your speech may lack wow-factor and prevent listeners from tuning in. Following these simple tips can help you get started with delivering an engaging and memorable speech:

The most important part of delivery is practice. Rehearse and perfect your speech ahead of time – this allows for more natural flow and confidence during your presentation. It also helps to create pauses between sentences for clarity, emphasize key points, and not be too casual or stiff.

Practicing inflections and varying tones adds interest to your speech by keeping listeners’ attention.

Additionally, it’s important to project your voic e so everyone in the room can hear you; make sure you’re speaking loud enough but don’t feel pressure to shout or yell at any point unless that’s part of the atmosphere of the event.

It’s also crucial to maintain good posture while speaking – stand tall with both feet on the ground, keep your back straight, hold yourself up without gesturing too much or leaning against a podium if applicable.

To further engage listeners, use purposeful hand gestures as they help emphasize certain points and add visual interest – however, avoid overusing them as it can hinders communication.

Make meaningful eye contact with audience members throughout the presentation – otherwise you might come across as unenthusiastic or bored with what you’re saying which deters attention away from the content itself.

By mastering your delivery, you can boost the impact of your presentation considerably – providing a memorable experience for your audience that stands out from others’. As such, it’s worth investing time into practicing ahead of time until delivery feels comfortable and second nature.

Having said this, making use of visual aids such as PowerPoint slides can greatly improve the impact of a speech once delivery has been mastered – let’s look into that next.

Use Visual Aids

Using visual aids can help presenters express concepts more clearly and engage the audience.

Visuals are particularly useful when conveying complex information, such as data, trends, or statistics — they impart meaning at a glance. But some public speakers may wonder if visual aids can be distracting or unnecessary.

Even though visuals can attract attention away from a presenter’s verbal delivery, carefully designed visuals can actually support the speech and help provide clarity. If done well, visuals are effective for capturing an audience’s interest and helping them to better understand the content being presented.

For example, a graph or chart should relate to the points made in the speech and should be discussed in more detail during its appearance onscreen. The presentation can also include larger images that effectively reinforce the ideas conveyed in the speech.

Videos and sound clips are other powerful forms of multimedia that could be employed to make the speech more meaningful.

To ensure that visuals enhance the message of the presentation, key factors to consider include relevancy to topic, good graphic design or aesthetics, accurate size to prevent distortion or blurriness, and seamless integration into the keynote slides or printed handouts .

In this way, visuals offer an opportunity for presenters to demonstrate their creativity and keep their audiences interested in what is being said. Thus, used wisely and aptly, visuals can add tremendous value to speeches by presenting arguments more efficiently and driving home important points. Now let’s explore effective techniques for speech giving that will allow you to craft and deliver your speeches with confidence.

Effective Techniques for Speech Giving

There are a number of effective techniques for giving a speech that will help you deliver it with confidence and poise.

First, practice your delivery in advance. You should practice both in front of a mirror or recording device to check for any distracting habits such as talking too quickly or mispronouncing words.

Second, use simple, clear language and short, concise sentences. Avoid overly technical terms and jargon that may leave your audience confused.

Third, work to establish a connection with your audience by using appropriate facial expressions and hand gestures while speaking.

Fourth, utilize effective persuasive techniques such as presenting evidence, strong arguments supported by facts, personal anecdotes and vivid metaphors.

Finally, articulate an organized structure for your speech. Your speech should have an introduction, body and conclusion to clearly communicate the main point and provide the audience with the necessary context to understand it better.

While these techniques may sound intimidating at first, they can be learned over time with practice and will make all the difference in how successful your speech delivery is received by your audience.

To build on these skills further , the next section will provide tips on how to build confidence when giving a speech.

Building Confidence

Building confidence is key when giving a powerful speech, as it will enable you to deliver the speech in a more poised and credible manner.

To create this confidence , start by understanding that any hesitation or butterflies prior to your speech are completely normal and should not be feared. Instead, view them as natural states of anticipation for something exciting, knowing that you are about to give an amazing speech.

Next, understanding who your audience is and tailoring your speech to meet their expectations will help build your confidence.

Familiarizing yourself with their interests and knowledge on the subject matter ahead of time can equip you with the understanding needed to respond appropriately if questions arise or objections surface during the speech.

Further, practice is key when building confidence for a public speaking engagement . Rehearsing with friends or colleagues before hand will give you an opportunity to learn where problem areas are within the content of your speech, as well as help solidify your delivery by becoming more comfortable with each step.

Checking sound levels in the room you’re presenting in coupled with learning where exits/emergency locations are located within that space can also help alleviate stress levels and boost self-assurance while delivering the speech.

Finally, wearing comfortable clothing and dressing professionally adds an extra layer of confidence when speaking in public.

If possible, bring an additional outfit on hand during the presentation in case of spills or accidents that would require a quick change between sections of the talk. Having this back-up plan in place can aid in keeping peace of mind at ease throughout the speech.

In conclusion, building confidence prior to a public speaking event can mean the difference between a good and great delivery of your message.

By taking into account each of these tips you can ensure that this part of your preparation runs smoothly and sets you up for success when delivering powerful speeches.

With a well-crafted note card of talking points and strong sense of self-assurance, it’s time to start speaking with passion!

Speaking with Passion

As a public speaker, your audience expects you to engage not only with your words but also with your emotions. To share the most impactful message, it is important to speak passionately about your subject.

Doing so will make your speech more memorable and thereby more effective in convincing your audience of its legitimacy.

The power of speaking authentically with emotion lies in its relatability and connection. Showing feelings allows people to connect with you as a person rather than just a speaker. It opens the door to understanding through empathy and active listening .

Examples might include adding personal stories , telling jokes, or displaying your feelings openly during the delivery of your message.

However, not all topics lend themselves easily to expressing emotion. If the subject matter is overly complex or technical there may be less opportunity for emotional expression—but this doesn’t mean those conversations can’t incorporate emotion.

Even if faced with a difficult situation such as death or financial turmoil, emotions can still be conveyed in a respectful way that keeps audiences engaged.

Remember that how much emotion you show depends on the type of audience you’re sharing it with—using sensitivity when delivering passionate speeches helps avoid awkwardness or embarrassment for any attendees who may find opinionated language uncomfortable for whatever reason.

Striking the right balance between being straightforward and showing compassion takes practice, so take the time to develop a style that works best for you and improves upon each performance.

Finally, incorporating passion into a speech gives it life and makes it relatable and engaging—which are essential elements to speaking effectively.

Having passion means giving ourselves permission to take ownership over our stories, making them deeply personal in order to reach our goals and touch people’s hearts in meaningful ways. With that said, let’s move on to discussing how we should tackle dealing with challenges while giving a speech.

Dealing with Challenges

The process of delivering a speech can be challenging, but it is also rewarding. Difficulties can arise during the process that may threaten to derail your success. To ensure you are adequately prepared for these possible pitfalls it is important to consider strategies for proactively mitigating the risk of encountering these challenges. 1. Public Speaking Anxiety: Many people experience some form of anxiety when asked to speak in public. There are a number of techniques available to combat this fear and increase confidence, such as deep breathing exercises, mental rehearsal, positive self-talk and visualization of success.

Learning about the audience, creating an engaging presentation and using props or visual aids can also help reduce anxiety levels and create a better overall experience for both the speaker and the audience. 2. Unfamiliar Topics or Audiences: When presenting on unfamiliar topics or to an unknown audience it can be difficult to prepare effectively.

In this situation it is important to conduct research on the topic and familiarize yourself with the needs of your audience so that the content is tailored accordingly. It is also helpful to use humor or stories related to the topic in order to engage your audience and make them more receptive to your message. 3. Lack of Support: If you lack support from family, friends, colleagues or mentors, it can be difficult to push through difficult conversations or speeches without any additional motivation.

To overcome this challenge, seek out peer mentorship opportunities or find compatible online communities where people discuss similar topics or objectives. Here you can share ideas, provide feedback and learn from others who have experienced similar issues. 4. Time Constraints: One of the biggest challenges when giving a speech is managing your time effectively in order to deliver an effective message without going over allotted timeslots and boring your audience .

To successfully address this challenge try setting manageable goals for each section of your speech and practice regularly. Replicating real-time conditions as closely as possible will help you stay within time constraints when delivering your speech on the day itself. In conclusion, there are many potential challenges you may face when giving a speech or taking part in a public speaking event – but with proper preparation and practice they are easily managed if approached correctly.

With knowledge of techniques for dealing with such scenarios comes increased confidence when stepping up to the podium – further improving your chances of delivering an effective speech that resonates with your audience members.

Responses to Frequently Asked Questions

How should i end my speech to leave a lasting impression.

The best way to end your speech is by reinforcing your main point and summarizing the key takeaways. You should also encourage the audience to take action, whether it be to sign up for a newsletter, make a donation, or visit your website for more information. This final call to action will not only leave a lasting impression on the audience but will also help you achieve any goals you might have had when making your speech in the first place.

What techniques can I use to keep my audience engaged during my speech?

One of the best techniques for keeping an audience engaged during a speech is to keep it interactive . Ask questions throughout the presentation, as well as allowing for audience input and discussion. This can help to keep people’s attention and create a more engaging experience.

Another great tip is to use humor. Even if you don’t consider yourself a natural comedian, sprinkling in a few jokes here and there can break up the monotony of long speeches and keep people interested. Humor can also help to make points stick in people’s minds, making them easier to remember.

Finally, try to be enthusiastic about the content of your speech. If you show too much indifference or lethargic behavior, it will discourage your audience from paying attention and taking your message seriously.

Instead, be passionate about what you are saying so that the energy of your words carries into the room and engages your audience with excitement.

How can I use storytelling to make my speech more interesting?

Storytelling is a powerful tool that can be used to make any speech more interesting. Telling stories in your speech will help engage the audience and make your message stick. Here are some tips for using storytelling in your speech:

1. Choose stories that are relevant to your message and audience. Think about stories that will best illustrate the point you are trying to convey, or evoke emotions in your listeners. 2. Use vivid descriptions and visuals when telling your story. Be sure to include details such as setting, character descriptions, dialogue and plot points. This will help to bring the story to life for your audience. 3. Make sure the story you are telling has a strong conclusion or moral at the end. This will help add emphasis to your message and make it memorable. 4. Practice telling stories out loud before delivering a speech with them. Rehearsing will help you deliver your story more effectively and with more confidence in front of an audience. By using these tips, storytelling can be an effective tool to make any speech more interesting, engaging, and persuasive!

How can I prepare for my speech effectively?

Preparing for a speech effectively is essential to delivering an impactful and memorable presentation. Here are some tips: 1. Have a clear goal in mind. Before starting to prepare, ask yourself what the purpose of giving the speech is: what message do you want to convey? Defining this will help to structure your content and focus your research. 2. Research thoroughly. Make sure you understand the subject matter well, so that your delivery sounds confident and inspiring. Using facts and data will strengthen your arguments and make your talk more convincing. 3. Outline your speech. Make a rough outline of how you want it to go – from beginning to end – well in advance of the actual presentation. This will give you a strong foundation upon which you can craft an engaging talk with an effective narrative arc that keeps audiences interested and engaged. 4. Practice regularly. Rehearsing your speech out loud several times is key to ensuring that you know it well enough to feel comfortable when delivering it live in front of an audience.

5. Time yourself. Record how long it takes for you to go through your entire speech, so that you can adjust the length as needed before delivering it live – remember that most speeches should last no more than 10-15 minutes. 6. Identify potential questions from the audience and prepare answers before hand. Knowing ahead of time what kind of questions people may ask can help reduce the anxiety of not knowing what comes next, enabling you to stay confident when speaking in public. 7. Work on building up confidence levels before delivering a speech. Visualize yourself succeeding in delivering a great presentation; practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or positive self-talk; or use props during practice sessions such as water bottles or stress balls if needed to remain calm during the real thing!

What strategies can I use to reduce my anxiety when giving a speech?

1. Plan Ahead: Create an outline of your speech beforehand and practice it multiple times to become familiar with the content. Doing a trial run with the audience can also help you get used to speaking in front of people.

2. Visualize Success: Positive visualization is a great way to reduce anxiety before giving a speech. Imagine yourself confidently delivering the speech while feeling relaxed and composed.

3. Get Organized: Make sure you have all the materials necessary for your presentation, including notes, slides, etc., to reduce any additional stress that may come from not having what you need when you speak.

4. Take Deep Breaths: Before and during the speech, take a few deep breaths as this will help calm nerves and make sure your breathing is regulated throughout the duration of your presentation.

5. Speak Slowly: It is common to feel anxious while giving a speech and try to rush through it too quickly. Speaking slowly helps maintain composure while delivering your message effectively and clearly.

6. Pay Attention to Your Body: Your posture, stance, movements , facial expressions can all influence how confident you appear to your audience and how nervous you may be feeling inside. Check in with yourself frequently throughout the presentation and correct any tense body language or physical actions if needed.

7. Focus on the Audience: If you notice that your anxiety levels are growing as you present, shift your focus onto the audience instead of yourself as this will help refocus your attention away from negative thoughts that may arise from fear or insecurity.

8. Make Eye Contact: Establishing eye contact with your audience is a key confidence-builder for public speakers—it shows that you’re strong, engaged with them, and receptive to feedback or questions they might have regarding your speech topic .

9. Practice Positive Affirmations: Positive thoughts will boost your self-confidence as well as your mood which can help increase performance quality significantly during speeches or presentations in general—so don’t forget to tell yourself “you can do it!” several times throughout the day leading up to the event!

10. Seek Support of Friends & Family: Many experienced public speakers suggest seeking support of close friends & family members prior and during their speeches—not only does it allow helpful critique regarding content but it also creates a more comfortable atmosphere while speaking which can reduce pre-speech jitters drastically.

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16 Public Speaking Tips for Students

Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of The Anxiety Workbook and founder of the website About Social Anxiety. She has a Master's degree in clinical psychology.

how to give a speech as a teacher

Aron Janssen, MD is board certified in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry and is the vice chair of child and adolescent psychiatry Northwestern University.

how to give a speech as a teacher

Public speaking tips for students aim to reduce anxiety that can interfere with giving presentations or speeches in class. These tips can also be helpful for those with social anxiety disorder (SAD)   who have difficulty speaking in front of a group or telling a story among friends.

Public Speaking Tips

If you have SAD and need to give a speech  in elementary school, high school, college, or university, it helps to be as prepared as possible . Beyond preparation, however, there are strategies that you can use to reduce anxiety and fight the urge to stay home with a fake illness.

Even great speakers practice their speeches beforehand. Practice out loud with a recording device or video camera and then watch yourself to see how you can improve. If you are feeling brave, practice in front of a friend or family member and ask for feedback.

  • Talk about what you know : If possible, choose a topic for your speech or presentation that you know a lot about and love. Your passion for the topic will be felt by the audience, and you will feel less anxious knowing that you have a lot of experience to draw from when other students ask you questions.
  • Concentrate on your message : When you focus on the task at hand, anxiety is less likely to get out of control. Concentrate on the main message of your speech or presentation and make it your goal to deliver that message to the other students in your class.
  • Grab the audience's attention : Most of your fellow classmates will pay attention for at least the first 20 seconds; grab their attention during those early moments. Start with an interesting fact or a story that relates to your topic.
  • Have one main message : Focus on one central theme and your classmates will learn more. Tie different parts of your talk to the main theme to support your overall message. Trying to cover too much ground can leave other students feeling overwhelmed.

Tell Stories

Stories catch the attention of other students and deliver a message in a more meaningful way than facts and figures. Whenever possible, use a story to illustrate a point in your talk.

Being prepared to speak in public can also be important if you have social anxiety disorder. Feeling confident and prepared to give your speech may help lessen your feelings of anxiety. Some of the things that you can do to prepare include:

  • Visit the room : If you have access to the classroom where you will be speaking outside of class hours, take the time to visit in advance and get used to standing at the front of the room. Make arrangements for any audio-visual equipment and practice standing in the exact spot where you will deliver your speech.
  • Rack up experience : Volunteer to speak in front of your class as often as possible. Be the first one to raise your hand when a question is asked. Your confidence will grow with every public speaking experience.
  • Observe other speakers : Take the time to watch other speakers who are good at what they do. Practice imitating their style and confidence.
  • Organize your talk : Every speech should have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Structure your talk so that the other students know what to expect.

Manage Your Anxiety

Taking steps to deal with your feelings of anxiety can also make public speaking easier. Some of the things that you can do:

  • Tell someone about your anxiety : If you are speaking in front of a high school or college class, meet with your teacher or professor and describe your public speaking fears . If you're in elementary or high school, share your fears with your parents, a teacher, or a guidance counselor. Sometimes sharing how you feel can make it easier to overcome stage fright.
  • Visualize confidence : Visualize yourself confidently delivering your speech. Imagine feeling free of anxiety and engaging the students in your class. Although this may seem like a stretch for you now, visualization is a powerful tool for changing the way that you feel. Elite athletes use this strategy to improve performance in competitions.
  • Find a friendly face : If you are feeling anxious, find one of your friends in class (or someone who seems friendly) and imagine that you are speaking only to that person.

Press Play for Advice on Finding Courage

Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares a strategy to help you find courage when you need it the most.

Follow Now : Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts

Maintain Perspective

Remember that other students are on your side. Think about a time when you have been an audience member and the student delivering the speech or presentation was noticeably nervous. Did you think less of that student? More likely, you felt sympathetic and wanted to make that person more comfortable by smiling or nodding.

Remember—other students generally want you to succeed and feel comfortable. If for some reason the audience is not on your side or you experience bullying or social exclusion, be sure to discuss this with a parent, teacher, or guidance counselor.

Be Confident

Sometimes just knowing what makes a good speech can help you feel more confident. Focus on some of the following elements and practice them before you have to speak in public.

  • Develop your own style : In addition to imitating good speakers, work on developing your own personal style as a public speaker. Integrate your own personality into your speaking style and you will feel more comfortable in front of the class. Telling personal stories that tie into your theme are a great way to let other students get to know you better.
  • Avoid filler words : Words such as "basically", "well", and "um" don't add anything to your speech. Practice being silent when you feel the urge to use one of these words.
  • Vary your tone, volume, and speed : Interesting speakers vary the pitch (high versus low), volume (loud versus soft), and speed (fast versus slow) of their words. Doing so keeps your classmates interested and engaged in what you say.
  • Make the audience laugh : Laughter is a great way to relax both you and the other students in your class, and telling jokes can be a great icebreaker at the beginning of a speech. Practice the timing and delivery of your jokes beforehand and ask a friend for feedback. Be sure that they are appropriate for your class before you begin.
  • Smile : If all else fails, smile. Your fellow classmates will perceive you like a warm speaker and be more receptive to what you have to say.

Don't Apologize

If you make a mistake, don't offer apologies. Chances are that your classmates didn't notice anyway. Unless you need to correct a fact or figure, there is no point dwelling on errors that probably only you noticed.

If you make a mistake because your hands or shaking, or something similar, try to make light of the situation by saying something like, "I wasn't this nervous when I woke up this morning!" This can help to break the tension of the moment.

A Word From Verywell

It's natural to feel frightened the first time you have to speak in front of your class. However, if you fear continues, interferes with your daily life and keeps you awake at night, it may be helpful to see someone about your anxiety.

Try talking to a parent, teacher, or counselor about how you have been feeling. If that doesn't get you anywhere, ask to make an appointment with your doctor. Severe public speaking anxiety is a true disorder that can improve with treatment .

Spence SH, Rapee RM. The etiology of social anxiety disorder: An evidence-based model . Behav Res Ther. 2016;86:50-67. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2016.06.007

By Arlin Cuncic, MA Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of The Anxiety Workbook and founder of the website About Social Anxiety. She has a Master's degree in clinical psychology.

  • EXPLORE Random Article

How to Give a Speech

Last Updated: May 6, 2024 References

This article was co-authored by Deb DiSandro . Deb DiSandro is the Owner of Speak Up On Purpose, an organization dedicated to improving and teaching public speaking. Deb has over 30 years of experience as a national speaker and has presented at the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Conference and the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. She was awarded the National Speakers Association Member of the Year 2007 and has been published in Writer's Digest, Daily Herald, Women's Day, and Better Homes & Gardens. This article has been viewed 268,326 times.

It's time to tackle what people are afraid of more than death: public speaking. Luckily, there are several strategies to help you get through this nerve-wracking event. Preparation is key and can help you speak confidently, no matter what the topic!

Preparing the Speech

Step 1 Pick your message.

  • So what's yours? Did your teacher give you a specific topic to cover? If so, what's your stance? Or is it more personal? Two or three personal stories with a connecting theme can be quite the vivid speech.

Step 2 Know your audience.

  • Who are they? Age? Gender? Beliefs?
  • How much do they know about your topic? This will determine the amount of complicated language you can use (hint: if they don't know much, don't use it!).
  • Why are they there? To be taught something? Because they have to be? Because they're genuinely interested? If your audience has to be there, try to create an opening that’s sympathetic, supportive, and fun to get them engaged.
  • How long have they been there? If you're 17th of 18th speeches, take that into account!

Step 3 Don't ruminate about negative thoughts.

  • Have at least three points to support your message (that one succinct sentence you're working with). Address the counterargument, but don't focus on it.
  • Only complicate it as much as your audience can tolerate. Stay away from jargon and technical terms if it's gonna leave your listeners scratching their heads and feeling out of place.

Step 5 Use stories, humor and metaphors.

  • Self-deprecating humor (making fun of yourself) has its place. Again, this comes down to knowing your audience and the format of your speech. A best man speech? Totally appropriate. Addressing the president of your company about budget locations? Maybe not.
  • Antithesis is about using opposites. Clinton said, "I want to nominate a man who’s cool on the outside but who burns for America on the inside" in his speech about Barack Obama. Pretty vivid stuff.

Step 6 Use striking adjectives, verbs and adverbs.

  • Opt for strong, descriptive verbs instead of adverbs.
  • Think active, too. "When we have the manpower, we can force change," is much more powerful when it's turned around -- "We can force change when we have the manpower." Make 'em sit up in their seats, you know?

Step 7 Jump right in.

  • So no hemming and "hawwing", no apologizing, no "I wondered...," no "Thank yous," just brass tacks. Get right in there. Don't talk about painting -- get right in there and start creating an image for them. They're there for your speech, not how you felt about it or how you feel now. Hook 'em from the get-go by starting strong outta the gate.

Step 8 Write it out.

  • Take notes on paper or using an app as ideas come to you.
  • You should have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction and conclusion should both be brief and to the point, the conclusion being a reiteration of the intro. And the body? Well, that's everything else.

Practicing the Speech

Step 1 Write down your main points.

  • Get to the point where you're comfortable delivering it just with the notecard. The more comfortable you are with the speech, the more it'll show when you're delivering it.

Step 2 Memorize it.

  • Be sure to memorize the most important aspects, such as a funny story, quote, or memorable turn of phrase so you can deliver them exactly as you imagined.
  • This doesn't mean that you have to go out there unarmed. No, you'll be taking your notecard with you! If your mind blanks, you can take a look-see at it and go right where you need to. You ran over it with the notecard 10 times for this reason.

Step 3 Deliver it to someone.

  • Delivering it to someone helps you get used to someone looking at you while you're talking. Public speaking can be pretty terrifying, so having a practice audience will help calm your nerves.
  • Have them actually pay attention. At the end of your speech, ask them what questions popped up in their mind. Were there any holes in your argument? Or did anything confuse them?

Step 4 Practice in front of the mirror and in the shower.

  • Practice in front of the mirror so you can see your body language. What gestures work where? How do you feel about the pauses and what do you do during them?
  • Practice in the shower because it's probably one of the few times during the day where you can mindlessly go over it. Does your mind blank on any part? If so, review it.
  • Practice while you’re doing other things as well, like driving, walking your dog, or mowing the lawn.

Step 5 Time it.

Delivering the Speech

Step 1 Think about your posture and body language.

  • Your speech conveys a certain amount of emotion, right? (Correct answer: Yes.) Take those moments and move with them. You use your hands every day to express emotion -- this speech is no different. You're still communicating to people, just on a bigger scale. Though the scale is different, the gestures remain the same.
  • For a great example of how to move on stage and use your hands while speaking, check out Bryan Stevenson's Ted Talk on Equal Justice.

Step 2 Use props.

  • This should be used carefully, though. Don't whip out a different prop every sentence. Stick to one really effective prop, like the brain. Telling a story about your dad's last burning building he ran into? Take out his burned firefighter helmet. Talking about the time you ran into Will Ferrell at your local Starbucks? Whip out your autographed grande, coffee-stained cup when you get to the part about how you fainted after asking. Use them sparingly, but effectively.

Step 3 Know when and how to use pictures.

  • Use graphs to illustrate your points, especially if they're hard to understand. Pictures can be more memorable than just being told factoid, regardless of how pivotal it may be.
  • Don't face the pictures when you're talking! You know what's on there -- keep delivering the speech to your audience, not the screen.

Step 4 Select people in your audience, don't scan.

  • Show emotion in your tone, too. Don't be afraid to chuckle a bit or show a bit of grief or frustration. You're human. Your audience is looking for a human connection, not a robot spitting words at them.

Step 6 Don't forget about pauses!

  • Take your speech and literally write in the pauses if it'll help you. Draw a big ol' slash through the text to indicate a break. Once you have it down, you'll be able to feel where the pauses will go.

Step 7 Conclude by restating your message and saying a simple,

  • Take a deep breath. You did it. Next time you'll be giving a speech on how to give speeches. What were you so nervous about in the first place?

Sample Speeches

how to give a speech as a teacher

Community Q&A

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Reader Videos

  • Take a deep breath, look confident, smile and walk onto the stage. Thanks Helpful 46 Not Helpful 2
  • Practice on tape and listen to yourself until you are used to your voice and delivery. Thanks Helpful 27 Not Helpful 4
  • Be prepared for questions. If you do not know the answer, there is no need to panic. Be honest and tell them upfront that you don't know but will find out. Do not invent answers. Thanks Helpful 27 Not Helpful 12

Things You'll Need

  • Source material
  • Notecard(s)
  • Tape recorder

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  • ↑ https://westsidetoastmasters.com/resources/powerspeak/ch03.html
  • ↑ http://www.rogerdarlington.me.uk/Speech.html
  • ↑ http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/16/public-speaking-speeches-communication-leadership-careers-advice.html
  • ↑ https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/282524
  • ↑ https://www.toastmasters.org/resources/public-speaking-tips/preparing-a-speech
  • ↑ https://www.forbes.com/2010/08/16/public-speaking-speeches-communication-leadership-careers-advice.html#5dc92b8410cf

About this article

Deb DiSandro

To give a good speech, try to practice it as much as possible beforehand, like in the shower, when you're running errands, or in front of a mirror, since you'll be more confident going in if you have it memorized. When you're delivering your speech, stand up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart so you look confident. You should also use your hands to naturally gesture throughout your speech instead of holding them at your sides. Also, make eye contact with random people in the audience, and avoid scanning the room or staring at the back wall. For more tips from our expert co-author, like how to write a speech, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Two women talking

Cat’s cover their material, I teach mine.  Shane Robinson’s presentation on Student Engagement at Teaching Camp

Chances are if you are here, you care about teaching. We have that in common. I believe that teaching is one of the highest privileges and I am passionate about engaging students.  Zepke and Leach in Active Learning in Higher Education define student engagement as “Students’ cognitive investment in, active participation in, and emotional commitment to their learning.” As teachers, it is our challenge to help students on their education journey. It is our job to engage them and help them find ways to be active participants in their learning.  This chapter is my collection of the best student engagement practices gathered through the years and my hope is that you will find something here that you can adapt to your class. 

BEFORE CLASS STARTS

The first contact is often an email with a syllabus attached.  After reading your email, students decide if they like you and if they like the class. You can help things along by sending out a welcome letter that sets a positive tone and tells them how your course will apply to their lives.  

Here are Examples of Welcome Emails from My Classes

Welcome to Advanced Public Speaking.  My name is Dr. Lynn Meade and I will be your guide through this incredible journey.  I’m looking forward to meeting each of you and learning about your story, your convictions, and your passions.  I will do my best to challenge you and guide you as you develop critical public speaking skills.  Most students are surprised that this class not only helps them with speaking skills but also with life skills—most importantly, critical thinking.  In addition, many students tell me that after taking this class they have higher self-confidence and self-esteem.

Prepare yourself.  I don’t do a lot of the talking—I let you do it.  You learn public speaking best by getting up in front of people and talking.  I will make sure that you have a lot of opportunities to do just that in this class!  We’ll start off the first day with a class overview and then it is on to the good stuff.  Let’s start to have some fun!

Welcome to Nonverbal Communication. This is going to be a great semester. I know that after having this class, you will never see the world the same again. Of all the classes that I teach, this one seems to stick with students in some of the most significant ways. I have students message me years after they graduate and tell me how this material has helped them in their careers.  I’ve even had some students tell me that they used what they learned from this class to get a job over more qualified candidates.

No matter what your major and no matter what you want to do in life, the material in this class can be used to make you better– better at relationships, better at your job, better with daily communication. This is more than just a class; this is an adventure.

CHECK THE EMOTIONAL TONE OF YOUR SYLLABUS

Pick up your syllabus, remember what it was like to be a student, and begin reading. What do you think of this teacher? Will you like this class? 

Here are a few ways teachers set the tone.

  • Psychological Scientist Jennifer Veilleux makes her syllabus look like a party invitation.
  • Psychology teacher and technology expert, Katherine Zawisza, formats her syllabus using sway. ( Take a look here to see what she presents to students. https://sway.office.com/lxvY0XIxkMc4BllB?ref=Link  )
  • At the University of Arkansas teaching camp, one teacher said they put “ easter eggs ” in the syllabus for students to catch.
  • I include positive quotes related to the class topic. (The University of Arkansas mascot is the razorback so I drew a little razorback to go with the quotes.)

A picture of a razorback with the caption "Speaking is transofrmational. Both the speaker and the listener are transformed. Your words matter--never take them lightly.

As you read each of these statements,  ask yourself what do you think of the teacher and what do you think of the class?

“Email is generally the best way to contact me. Please make sure to put the nature of your email on the SUBJECT line. In your email put your full name and your student’s ID. I will not recognize you by your email address. If there is nothing on the subject line, I will not open the email.” “My job in this course is not to tell you what to think but to help you think better on your own. Keep in mind that “for every complex problem, there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.” By stirring up the waters of easy and taken-for-granted explanations and showing how our world is but one of many possible socially constructed realities, sociology often makes what is familiar seem strange, and what is strange seem more familiar. In so doing, sociology helps us to see the world more clearly and with greater empathy for others. I hope you enjoy the journey, and I am honored to be your guide this quarter.”

When considering the emotional tone of your emails and your syllabus.  Ask yourself these questions:

  • What is the tone of your syllabus? angry? punitive? friendly? open?
  • Does your syllabus read like a legal contract full of rules and punishments?
  • Do your emails feel like they are from a teacher who cares?
  • Do you use-friendly and inviting language. Do you use “you” instead of “students?” For example, “You will learn to discover” as opposed to “students will discover.”

Setting the Emotional Tone

One of the ways that I set the tone on my syllabus is to include my teaching philosophy :

My Teaching Philosophy Why I Do What I Do and Why it Should Matter to You

  • I believe that teaching you is one of my greatest adventures. I LOVE to teach. Teaching is my hobby. It is not the job that I have to do –it is the hobby that I want to do.  Working with students is truly one of my greatest joys.   If you need help, please come and visit me. I consider it a privilege to work with you one-on-one to develop your full potential.
  • I believe that this class will make a difference in your life regardless of your major. This class will be relevant. Improving your public speaking skills will improve your confidence in many areas of your life.
  •  I believe in being student-centered.  I will teach the class with you in mind and will try to let you know not just what to do but also tell you why you should do it to help yourself grow as a speaker.
  • I believe that learning should be fun. I intend to make this class enjoyable. The more you smile in class, the more you smile when you think about public speaking.
  • I believe you should have your own ideas on things, but you should always ask why you believe the way you do. My goal is never to “lead you to Lynn” but rather to make you challenge your assumptions. I want you to dig deep and learn to find credible information on topics so that you can decide for yourself what you think and feel about a given subject. With that said, whatever you believe, I will play “devil’s advocate” to help you to think of all sides of an issue. If I do this right, you will never quite know what I really believe on an issue.
  • I believe in stories. I believe that by connecting content with stories, the information will be more relatable and more memorable. I won’t waste your time with random stories but rather challenge you to engage with concepts thru stories.

A man who is smiling

THE POWER OF PRESENCE

You set the mood for your class the moment you walk into the room. Look confident, be organized, engage students. When you walk into class, make eye contact, smile, and greet students.

Ask students questions where the answer focuses on the positive: “Are you working on anything exciting lately?” “What is the most interesting thing you have learned in one of your other classes?” Notice how these types of questions have the students call to mind positive things. I have found this particularly helpful on the day that students have a big assignment due. Sometimes they feel overwhelmed by the workload so I help them reframe the situation: “What is an interesting thing you learned when studying for this test that you would have overlooked otherwise?” “I know you had to watch a lot of speeches to find what you need to complete today’s assignment, what’s the most interesting speech you watched?” Both of these questions help them focus on the learning rather than the work.

In online classes, students want to feel your presence. Sending a weekly email or adding a little personal story to the weekly lesson helps them to connect with you. Students want to feel like you care about their well-being. Make sure as an online teacher that you connect with your students and you don’t just give them a list of things to do.

Presence In Online Course

There are many ways to be present in an online course. Some of my colleagues make weekly videos for their students, others use various programs to create video discussions. The goal here is not to do it someone else’s way, but rather to find what fits your personality, your topic, and your class.  Since I’m a storyteller, I tell stories.

I teach an online course in nonverbal communication. Every week, a folder opens up in the learning management system and my students complete the work in the folder. Every week. I write them a little personal story that relates in some way to the content for the week. According to student feedback, this makes them feel like they know me personally and it helps them connect the content to the “real world.” Here is an example of one of my weekly posts.

Welcome to the wonderful world of nonverbal communication. I’m sitting here watching my cat laying around and swishing her tail. It makes me wonder if she does that on purpose. I wonder if another cat would think it means something, or if it means nothing at all. I realize as I sit here, I keep pausing to think of the next word to type and I find myself bouncing my leg and sometimes even biting my lip a little. No one is here to see me do these things so it can’t possibly mean something to someone else. But if they were here….what would they think? Would I be communicating with them? 

We will start our journey by thinking about when nonverbal communication is biological and innate and when it is learned and why it matters. Last night, I was playing a game with my college-aged sons and their girlfriends. The game is called Exploding Kittens (I highly recommend it–no cats are actually harmed). I pointed at my youngest son who was leaned back in his chair with arms crossed and a certain head tilt and I whispered to my husband, “Who does he look like?” At that moment, he looked just like my husband’s younger brother. Funny thing is that my son hasn’t been around his uncle very much and yet there he was holding himself in some of the same ways. Could it be biological? 

I hope your mind is ready to question everything and wonder about every move that you and others make. I am glad you are here and I know that I have many interesting things to teach you, so let us begin. 

MANAGE THE DEAD AIR

Years ago, someone loaned me an old VHS tape that looked like it was made in the 1970s. In the video, a teacher walked into the class and shuffled file folders on the desk. The students looked up at the teacher in boredom. The teacher dug through a briefcase to find the chalk and lay it on the chalkboard. Students wiggled in their chairs in boredom. The teacher finally speaks to the class saying, “Raise your hand and say ‘here’ when your name is called.” The students slump in their chairs in boredom. The teacher opens a file folder and says, “Come up here and get your paper when I call your name.” The students slowly, one at a time, move to the front of the class to collect their papers, while the rest of the students lean back in boredom. When the teacher finally begins to lecture, the students are so disinterested and bored it appears as if the teacher will never be able to get them engaged.  The scene fades and a commentator asks, “What does the first of your class look like?”

If someone were to record the first of your class, what would it look like?

When I worked as a radio DJ, we had a phrase—”dead air kills.” That phrase meant if we had time on the air that wasn’t filled with talk or music, our listeners would change to another station. A good DJ learned to manage the moments between the content. This is also true of teaching, engaging students means that you manage those transitions. If you have “dead air” while you are shuffling through the calendar, trying to find something on the computer, or fussing with your slides, then students’ brains go dead–they symbolically change to another station. You can often visibly see the change because they grab for their phones and start scrolling while others take on a zombie-eyed glaze.  Have a plan to keep them engaged. When I am driving to school and when I am walking to my class, I visualize these transactions to help me create a seamless delivery when the time comes.

Here are a few ways that I manage “dead air” (I use different ones for different classes …not all of these at once).

  • I play music playing at the beginning of class that connects with the lesson.
  • I ask a student to come to the front and write on the whiteboard “Things to do this week. ” I work on organizing my slides and papers while the whole class mentions activities, outings, concerts, and museums that the volunteer writes on the board.
  • I have a list of discussion prompts to stir small talk. “Talk to your neighbors about where to get the best salsa in town.”
  • I have opening slides with logic puzzles they have to figure out. I then make my opening point with the puzzle.
  • I have prompts on the first slide that asks them to review a theory from the previous class with a classmate.
  • In my persuasion class, I have commercials playing at the first of class related to the day’s lesson.
  • I never pass out papers at the first of class. If they are working in groups or doing pair-share, I pass papers out then. Sometimes, I fold homework in half, put their names on the outside, and place them on a table. I stand by the table at the end of class (to make sure they only get their own paper) and then I greet them with a smile as they pick them up on the way out the door.
  • I have prompts on my slides about how to get into discussion groups and what to do while they are there so they can transition quickly.
  • On days that we will have activities in class, I email some instructions out the day before, so everyone knows what to do when they get to class.
  • If someone asks a question where the answer only relates to them and not to the group, I invite that person to speak with me after class instead of using up class time.

Thoughts on Attendance

There are thoughts on both sides about whether or not attendance should be required, and it is too big of a topic to debate here.  I do, however, want to make a few suggestions for those who want to take attendance. These are things that have worked for me and things that my colleagues do that works well for them. For example, I have a colleague, Kasey Walker,  who makes roll fun. Instead of saying “here” she has students answer the daily question; Students have to say their favorite dessert, which animal they are the most like, or what their favorite binge-worthy show is currently. I know several faculty members who use the clicker system for students to use every class to record attendance.

I am a big advocate of rewarding attendance but have had a recent conversion. I had a change of heart when I heard a friend say they didn’t like to award “butts in seat” but rather “minds at work.” After I considered this, I changed my method from checking roll to rewarding action. I teach a variety of classes from small interactive ones to large lecture ones, and I want to share with you some of the ways that I reward “minds at work.”

  In my smaller classes (20-30), I take attendance while students are doing a pair-share or group discussion which rewards them for working with others.  In some classes, I may have a one-minute paper where they write a reflection of what they learned that day that earns them discussion points. In my large classes (150 students), I do lectures on Monday and Wednesday, and they do group work on Friday related to the topic. A leader from each group submits a report who attended and what the group accomplished. In my larger classes, (150 students), I have a quiz programmed into the learning management system (Blackboard) that I open sometime during the class. The answer to the quiz will be something that was discussed in class. They earn one attendance point if they get the answer wrong and two points if they get it right. Anyone who missed class on days points were earned can write me a two paged paper on the topic discussed that day. Students like it because it if “fair.” It encourages participation while acknowledging that students have lives and they sometime have to miss class.  

START STRONG

I teach my speech students that all speeches should begin with a good hook. I strongly believe that this principle applies to lectures as well.

Here are a few ways that I “hook” students:

  • Bring in a news item that relates to the topic.
  • Ask a thought-provoking question.
  • Bring in an object and talk about it.
  • Have a game that is related to the topic.
  • Show a slide that makes students think.
  • Play a song and make them guess why it relates.
  • Do a myth buster series of questions on the topic.
  • Tell a story and then tell why it relates.
  • Have them review previous class concepts in pairs.

There is an entire chapter dedicated to how to creative ways to begin a speech. All of these strategies also work for how to start a college class. You can review that chapter here. 

CREATE CURIOSITY

Man scratching chin like he is thinking

I walked into class one day and my college teacher had the table covered with magazines, advertisements, cartoons, and books with passages underlined. He asked the class to look at what he had displayed and to figure out what they all had in common. We examined the materials, we talked amongst ourselves, and we figured it out–all items on the table made a reference to the Illiad or the Odyssey. We sat down in our seats and took out our notebooks. This was a class on college teaching, and we had been talking about how to relate to our students. Dr. Hammons asked us, “If you had never read the Illiad or the Odyssey , would you have understood what was funny about this cartoon? Would you have gotten the reference in the ad?” He went on to talk about how students are not all reading the same books, how they are not watching the same shows, nor listening to the same music, and how that makes it difficult for teachers to use cultural references in class that all students will understand. It has been over 20 years since I participated in that activity, and I still remember what we did and what it meant. Creating curiosity can be very powerful and very memorable. If you can create a hunger for your students to know the answer, you have their attention. Curiosity is important for cognitive development. Don’t always tell them the answer, let them struggle to figure it out from time to time. You can do this at the beginning of your class, or you can work it in throughout.

  • Why does your napkin stick to your glass?
  • How do we know if we are born to smile, or we do it because we learned it from our caregivers? Why does it matter?
  • Why did they have face shields in castles in Ireland?

PREVIEW THE TOPIC

Teacher writing on the board

Students learn best when they know what you will be talking about that day. We hope that they did the reading and that they read the schedule and the syllabus …but…  just in case they haven’t (wink, wink)… it is good to say, “Today we will be talking about …” Tell them not only WHAT they will learn but WHY it matters. Write the lesson topic and assignments on the board (or put them on your slide) AND tell them what you will be talking about AND why it matters.

Preview by Writing on the Board (or making a slide):

Today’s topic: Listening What is due : Blackboard quiz due tonight by midnight

What is next: Wed: Read research chapter before class Fri: Exam one—bring a scantron

Preview by Saying: “Today, we will talk about listening, I love this topic because it relates to everyone regardless of major. By improving your listening skills, you can make better grades, improve your relationships, and you can improve your chances in the workplace.”

SO WHAT, WHO CARES?

Students want to know why this topic relates to them. You should remind them daily that what they are learning can help them during their college experience and beyond. They are so much more motivated to learn when they think it matters.

TIPS FOR PRESENTATION SOFTWARE

I am convinced that slide shows are the greatest teaching tool and the worst thing that has happened to education. Let me explain. Projected slides are helpful to give students key terms to write down so they have organized notes. Projected slides can help focus the students’ attention and can show pictures of things to help them understand. The problem is that many teachers use them poorly. In my first semester of teaching, I put all my notes on my slides and then stood there and read them to the very bored students. My students complained that their hands were getting sore from all that writing and that I spoke faster than they could write.

I realized that this should not be a class in speed writing.  I realized that students who are rushing to write it all down aren’t taking the time to think about things. I realized that my slides should never be my teaching notes. I realized that if my slides had all the content, what was the point of me talking–I should just send them the slides and shut up.

I think we need to ask ourselves as teachers, “What do I want my students to learn today?” After we answer that, we determine the best way to get that information to them. Just because slides are an option, it doesn’t mean we have to use them every day and for every point. The idea here is to be purposeful with your slides.

Here are some general rules about slide usage: 

  • 6 x 6 (no more than six words down and six words across). Any more words and students spend all their time writing.
  • High contrast—dark backgrounds with light letters or light backgrounds with dark letters. It may look good on your computer at home, but it may not project well. Always go for maximum contrast.
  • 28 point or larger font size. (If you are using a small font, it may indicate you have too many words on your slides)
  • The plain font is easiest to read when projected: Arial, Tahoma.
  • Every time you use presentation software, you are modeling for your students what to do when they give class presentations. Look at your slides, are you modeling good behaviors?
  • Show a blank slide or use the blank button when you want the students to stop writing and listen to you.

Pictures on Slides

When I teach students how to use presentation slides, I show a funny picture of a politician that is screaming and holding a cat. Beside the picture is three sentences about the history of PowerPoint. I leave the slide up for a few minutes and then blank it. I ask students, “What did the words say?” Usually, they can’t tell me. Pictures can influence how the content is received. People retain more information when the picture on the slide supports the message they are hearing. John Medina, author of Brain Rules says, “We are incredible at remembering pictures. Hear a piece of information, and three days later you’ll remember 10% of it. Add a picture and you’ll remember 65%.” The key is to make sure the picture you are showing match the content of your slide. If you want to show a funny picture or cartoon, go for it, it can be very engaging. Just make sure the funny photo is on it is on its own slide and not a content slide. When you use pictures, always go for a creative commons license, and make sure to reference your photos. Most universities have strong academic honesty policies that require students to cite their sources and warn them against stealing other people’s work, we need to model integrity. 

Make all students feel included by diversifying your slides. If you use photos of people on your slides, be intentional and show people of different races, ages, and abilities.

There is an entire chapter dedicated to using Presentation Slides here. 

I’VE NOTICED THAT

Here is a wonderful trick to engage and motivate your students. Point out the good that they do. Point it out before class, email them a note, talk to them after class.  One of the greatest phrases is…”I’ve noticed that.”

“I’ve noticed that you seem to enjoy this subject.” “I’ve noticed that all your hard work is paying off and your speeches just keep getting better and better.” “I’ve noticed that you are the encourager of the class.” “I’ve noticed that this class can get a little silly but that it seems to always mix that with high grades.”

After exams, I always notice who made A’s on the exam. I send those students a quick email saying, “I’ve noticed that you made an “A.” Great job acing the exam. I know that other students would like to learn your study strategies. If you let me know how you studied, I can share with others so they can do well too.”  This is a win, win. Students love to be acknowledged in this way and they also like to tell you about their process. You can share that process with others to help them improve their study skills.

After the second exam, I send encouraging emails to any students who have at least a 10-point improvement. The subject reads, “Way to Improve!”

DISCUSSION TIPS

Students talking at a table

When students talk about the material, it gives them a chance to “own” the information. We can help students have productive discussions by helping them be prepared, making them be accountable, and create opportunities where they are given a chance to speak:

  • Be prepared . Make sure everyone has information on the topic. Sometimes students don’t discuss because they don’t have any knowledge of the subject. On days where students will be discussing topics, I have a reading quiz at the beginning of class to encourage them to read the material before class so they are prepared. In larger classes, I use the Learning Management System (in my case, Blackboard) to incentivize students to read. I have a quick content quiz programmed and it opens the first five minutes of class. In other classes, I require them to do independent research on the day’s topic (for a quiz grade.) For example, I might say, “On Wednesday, we will be learning about how to give a persuasive speech. To prepare for our discussion, each person should have read three articles for why we should legalize recreational marijuana and three articles against this topic. You must type out the major points for each side before coming to class. This will be worth ten points.” (Students are much more motivated to come to class discussions prepared when there is some type of accountability.)

2. Be given a chance to speak. Make sure everyone who wants to share has a chance to speak. Oftentimes, one person dominates the discussion. To correct this, you might say, “Set a phone timer and give each person two minutes to say their view on the topic. After everyone had said their two-minute opinion, the group can open this topic up for full discussion.” Encourage students to invite quiet members to join the conversation. Some students may have great ideas but won’t share them unless asked directly by their peers.

My favorite strategy is to appoint a leader whose job is to encourage participation. At the end of the session, the leaders send in a report summarizing the discussion.

3. Be accountable. You need to tell students the parameters and expectations of the discussion.

  • After ten minutes, I am going to ask each group to highlight the two main ideas that the group discussed.
  • After discussing, I want you to summarize your ideas in three sentences that you will share with the class.
  • At the end of class today, each group leader will submit a report about the learning outcomes from today’s discussion.

4. Debrief. Discussions, pair-share, and group work can be just busy work unless you allow students to debrief the activity and make connections. This can be done in several ways.

  • Students write a reflection paper on how what they did and how it connects to the material.
  • The teacher asks students what they learned. The teacher takes the feedback from students and elaborates to help them make connections.

THINK PAIR SHARE

Tell Them What You Expect

You need to remind your students of the expectations you have for discussions such as respecting different opinions and sharing the talk time. This information should be in your syllabus, and you should remind students of this as they begin discussions.

Jennifer Veilleux, who teachers Abnormal Psychology (and makes her syllabus look like a party invitation) says this on her syllabus:

Agreeing to take this course means agreeing to be respectful of your classmates and me, your instructor. No one likes a party guest who trashes the place or insults the other guests, and that is particularly true of this course. We will be discussing sensitive material which can be very y personal for some people, so rude jokes, insults, etc. will result in you being asked to leave class that day.

Katherine Zawisza, who teaching Philosophy Reasoning and Discover includes this on her syllabus:

We will be discussing many controversial and sensitive topics in this course as we assess arguments. While we all feel strongly about our views, it is important to be respectful and courteous to others with different views. Having said that I will not tolerate hateful or disrespectful speech in class. This class is an opportunity to provide thoughtful and well- founded arguments for our beliefs. I will expect you to be able to defend your views. We may not agree with the positions we assess and we do not have to, what we do need to do is assess evidence, provide reasoned arguments, and apply what we are learning. We all want to be right. This class should help you by providing as many tools as possible to get at the truth.

TO GET GOOD ANSWERS, ASK GOOD QUESTIONS

I’ve asked questions in class only to have everyone cast their eyes to the floor.  Silence. Since then, I have learned there is an art to asking questions and a skill to eliciting feedback. I’ve included several important factors that encourage student interaction.

1. Make students feel safe. Students are afraid of saying the wrong answer (for that matter so am I) so it is important you let them know it is OK to get it wrong. They will watch to see how you manage when others get it wrong to decide if you are critical and to see if other’s laugh. How you manage those early interactions will set the tone for the rest of the semester.  I often tell my students, “I’m not trying to ‘lead you to Lynn’ on this topic, I just want to stir the pot and hear what others think. On this topic, there really is no bad answer.” If the question does have a right or wrong answer, I might say, “Dave was brave enough to get things started, he’s not quite there, who is willing to add a little more information to nudge us closer?”

2. Don’t write stupid questions. I find that silence most often happens when I have badly written questions. To help me write better questions or to help them understand my question, I write them on the slides or the whiteboard. The act of doing that helps me refine my question, it helps everyone know exactly what I am asking, and it helps them take better notes.

  • The question, “What is listening?” doesn’t inspire discussion.
  • The question, “What are some signs that someone is not really listening?” gets a discussion started.
  • The question, “What are your pet peeves about those who pretend to listen?” really gets them discussing.

3. Model the answer. Sometimes, modeling the answer gives them the push they need. “If you were to ask me, what makes a great teacher, I would have in mind, my favorite teacher. I would think of Dr. Bigby who seemed to have so much passion for the subject that I couldn’t help but be engaged. What do you think makes a great teacher?” Note: This works especially well with online discussion forums. I always write out model answers the first two discussion assignments and then I get well-thought-out, detailed answers for the rest of the year.

4. Give them time to think. If you ask a question to the class, usually the class clown or the outspoken student answers. Some students have equally good or better answers but if they know someone will answer for them, they will never even take time to think. Say, “I want everyone to think about this question for a moment, and then I will ask for comments about it” or say, “Write down what three attributes you think make up a good relationship? I will give you a minute to write them down and then call on someone to share.” Asking them to write their answer or telling them you will call on someone encourages everyone to have an answer read and not just wait for the fast talker to answer.

5. Wait 30 seconds. If no one answers when you ask a question, stand there and wait. The silence is uncomfortable for you and for them so usually someone answers. I count to myself silently to help me be patient.  If no one answers, repeat the question and say, “I’ve been told that if I wait long enough someone will answer.” Usually, I have someone talking by the time I am done with my sentence. Finally, using the nonverbal hand gesture, come over here, pulls the answer from them. (No kidding, it works).

6. Sing until they answer. The worse I sing, the faster they answer. I’ve also been known to hum the jeopardy song until someone answers my question.

7. Encourage them to be brave by rewarding effort . Make it a safe place to risk being wrong. “I like that you were brave to answer and that you thought about it, you’ve got us thinking but you are not quite there. Who else can add another piece to this answer?” If they seem close enough, you might give them some leading material to get them to the right answer. Education is about the process of pushing yourself and this comes from being open-minded enough to test ideas. We want students to learn to be brave to test out their ideas.

8. Bribe them with gifts . I’ve been known to bring them fortune cookies and once I even bribed them with extra squash from my garden. Intermittent rewards work better than consistent ones. My colleague, Kasey Walker, buys rolls of tickets (like you get at a carnival) and gives them to students who answer her questions. They turn in their tickets for their discussion grade.

CREATIVE WAYS TO CALL ON STUDENTS

One of the classes that I teach is nonverbal communication. In that class, we look at how people take physical cues from others and from the environment when deciding to interact. For example, I’m more likely to call on a student who is making eye contact. I’m more likely to ask a student who looks engaged. Even though I try not to, I tend to call on the person who sits to my left about two rows back. I realize that certain individuals because of cultural or interpersonal challenges may not make eye contact so I am less likely to call on them.  I know these things, so I try to find better ways to call on students. Ways that are equal and fair.

  • Say, “Tom” at this point Tom looks up in fear. “Point to someone in class.” Once Tom points to Julie say, “Ok, Julie, Tom pointed to you because he thinks you have the answer, let’s see if he is right. If Julie has no answer, it goes back to Tom. This mixes up who gets called on and builds a fun camaraderie in the class.
  • Ask a student to pick a number from one to eighteen (assuming that’s how many students are in class). When they give you a number, look at your roll sheet and call on the person whose name corresponds.
  •  Write students’ names on paper or popsicle sticks. Draw one out and call on that name.
  • After a think-pair-share or group, discussion say, “Point to someone in the room who has a thought-provoking example.” Ask that person to share. (It makes them feel good that their friends think they had a good example.)
  • “I think we need the perspective of someone in yellow. If you are wearing yellow, please tell us what you think on this topic.”
  • Ask students to think of their favorite superhero/villain/ cartoon character and answer the question based on what superman would think of the topic. They have to raise their hand if they have a good superhero answer.
  • When I teach in a large auditorium, I run up the stairs and say, “I need an answer from someone in this row.”
  • University of Arkansas teacher Tina Howlett gives each student a candy or colored marker. She randomly calls out a color or candy name and that person answers. That person then gets to pick the next color.

DEALING WITH INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR

 Sometimes students are speaking out just to get a laugh from friends.  When that becomes disruptive, it is important to respect the students who are missing out on a good education for the sake of one obnoxious student. If I have a student who continues to be disruptive, I ask them to come and meet with me in my office. Meeting me in my office takes away the “audience” and it helps me get to the heart of the situation.

  • Can you tell me where you got that information?
  • What does the research say about that topic?
  • Could you connect what you just said to what we had to read for today’s class?
  • Sounds like a great conversation for another time.
  • Ouch, that kinda hurt my feelings. What did you mean by that?

Food for Thought from an article in the American Journal of Educational Research: “Instructional research suggests that there may be teacher “misbehaviors” that foster or invite student misbehavior…. ‘most frequently cited misbehavior types were sarcasm and putdowns, absent, strays from subject, unfair testing, and boring lectures.’”

A coffee cup and a book that says "Knowledge"

THE CURSE OF KNOWLEDGE

I’m so sorry. If you were my student the semester after I graduated from graduate school, I really need to apologize. I need to apologize for using my graduate student vocabulary in your freshman course.  I need to apologize for telling you about the detailed educational philosophy behind everything I did. I am so sorry I used the words “pedagogy” and “learning objectives” in the lectures about how to give a good speech.

In my defense, most new teachers do this especially ones right out of school. I can remember having an English teacher who was finishing up her dissertation–she baffled me with her brilliant vocabulary and impressed me with her cerebral lectures. I have no idea what she said, but at least she sounded smart while saying it.

We do this because of the curse of knowledge. Actor and communication expert, Alan Alda in his book, If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on my Face  says,

Once we know something, it’s hard to unknow it, to remember what it’s like to be a beginner. It keeps us from considering the listener. Using shorthand that is incomprehensible to the other person, or referring to a process they’re unfamiliar with, we lock them out, and we don’t even realize it because we can’t believe we are the only person who knows this stuff.

The problem is people are “unable to ignore the additional information they possess,” according to economists Camerer, Loewenstein, and Weber. These researchers questioned whether or not it was beneficial to know more when it came to sales. In short, their finding was that it is not beneficial. If you know too much information, it is hard not to use that information and too much information can be overwhelming. It is hard to remember what it was like before you had that knowledge. It is hard to put yourself in the mind of your audience who does not understand. Sometimes, knowledge is a curse.

Go to one of your friends and ask them to help you with a little experiment.  Ask them to “guess this song” and then tap out the tune to the “Star-Spangled Banner” with your finger. Did they guess it? Chances are they can’t. Try another common song like “happy birthday.” Chances are that as the tapper, you are going to get frustrated because it is so obvious and so easy to guess,  but most people just won’t get it.

This is a mock-up of what a graduate student at Stanford did.  Elizabeth Newton first asked how likely it would be that the person listening would guess the tapped song. They predicted the odds were about 50 percent. The guessers got it right only 2.5% of the time. What seemed obvious to the tapper was not obvious to the listener. You can see where this is going.

When it comes to engaging students, we need to try to remember what it was like when we were in their shoes. Since I teach speech, I try to remember what it was like to be scared before a presentation. I tell the story of one of my worst presentations ever and how I felt. When I teach advanced theory classes, I try to remember what it was like the first time I had to read an article in an academic journal (it was miserable, and I thought “why would anyone ever write like this on purpose?”).  When I teach my students how to read articles, I try to remember my frustration. Yes, I need to teach my students advanced vocabulary, but I need to start with words they know to lead them to the advanced place.

FOSTER A GROWTH MINDSET

In her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Carol Dweck emphasizes the importance of fostering a growth mindset instead of a fixed mindset. A fixed mindset assumes that a person either can or can’t do something. A growth mindset assumes that with work, tenacity, and practice that people can get better.

I teach public speaking and students often come in with the attitude of…. “I can’t do public speaking” or “I’m bad at speaking.” Both are fixed mindsets. They emphasize that a person can’t change what they are.  We can help our students to embrace a growth mindset so they can allow themselves to grow and learn.  I tell my basic communication students several times during the semester, “I hope you mess up this semester.” They all look at me confused and astonished. “I hope you mess up so you have a great story to tell of the time that you really blew it and recovered. Success is not that you are perfect, success is that your recover well. Everyone makes mistakes, this is one of the ways we grow.”

Here are a few growth mindset quotes I want to share with you. These can be helpful to use with your students but they are here for you as well. You are not perfect and you don’t know everything about teaching, but you will continue to get better with practice. I hope you fail at least once so you too can learn to recover well.

 It’s not about being the best. It’s about being better than you were yesterday.  No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow your progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying. Tony Robbins  “If at first, you don’t succeed… you’re normal! Kid President  Be better than you were yesterday.  Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. Charles Swindoll  Courage is like a muscle. We strengthen it when we use it. Ruth Gordon  Sometimes what we call “failure” is really just that necessary struggle called learning.  May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears. Nelson Mandela  A comfort zone is a beautiful place but nothing ever grows there. John Assaraf  Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will. Suzy Kassem  You have not failed unless you have quit trying. Gordon B. Hinckley

Hey teacher, I’m talking to you. There is a chance that you have self-doubt if you are a new teacher or chances are if you are a seasoned teacher, you have made some teaching mistakes. Me too! I have made lots of mistakes. That is how we grow,  I just want you to know that this growth mindset section is for you too. We are not perfect yet, but with practice, we are getting better. Samuel Beckett says, ” Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” Let’s keep getting better and teaching our students to do the same.

Thoughts on Culture

In some cultures, it is considered disrespectful to ask questions. It implies that the teacher did not cover the material well enough for students to understand. You can help students by reinforcing that it is OK to ask questions. You might encourage them by saying, “You might be helping out a classmate by asking this.”

In some cultures, it is threatening for someone to write a message in red ink. For that reason, using a blue or black pen to grade can feel less threatening.

SAVE TIME PUTTING STUDENTS IN GROUPS WITH THESE LITTLE TRICKS

In elementary school, I was always the last one to be picked to be on the dodgeball team– it felt horrible! If we tell students to pick their teams, it often leads some students on the sidelines to feel excluded. It is a terrible feeling to be left out. It is horrible to be the one that no one wants. For that reason, I always assign partners and assign groups. I ask students to count off and then tell all the ones to get in a group in this corner and all the twos to get in a group at the front, etc. By telling them both their group number and where to go, the process is much smoother.

In my 150-student class, I use the Learning Management System, Blackboard, to automatically assign groups. I ask them to look online to see which group they are in before class. On the days they have group work, I have numbers posted all over the room and they have to go sit by their group number.

ASK STUDENTS HOW CLASS IS GOING

Somewhere near the halfway mark of class, you should ask your students how the class is going.  By asking in the middle of the semester, you are sending your students the message that you care about their opinions. It also gives you valuable feedback to know if you need to adjust your course. Ask students?

  • What has contributed to your learning?
  • What has inhibited your learning?
  • How has my teaching style helped you to learn?
  • What can I do better?
  • What is the most valuable thing you learned?

Girl looking at cell phone

HAVE THEM WRITE A ONE MINUTE PAPER

Near the end of your class, have students write on a piece of paper the most important thing they learned that day.  We learn what we retrieve and the more opportunities we offer students to retrieve the information by review and reflection, the more it becomes part of their long-term memory. One of my University of Arkansas colleagues asks: Write down one new idea you had today, one idea that was reinforced, and what will you do differently because of what you learned. Another teacher asks students to write about connections. How does what we learned connect with your family?  Your career? Other classes you are taking?

Some teachers will have students keep their one-minute papers and turn them in at the end of the semester while others will collect them each class.

One college teacher put it this way: “What’s in your doggie bag? What will you take home with you after class?”

TELL A STORY

The human mind seems exquisitely tuned to understand and remember stories— so much that psychologists sometimes refer to stories as ‘psychologically privileged,’  eaning that they are treated differently in memory than other types of material. Daniel Willingham,  Cognitive Psychologist

Every subject can be storied in some way. It could be the story of how the theory was discovered, the story of the first time you encountered the information, the story of how the topic is used in everyday life. Stories are easier to remember because it engages emotions as well as their sense of logic. If you tell a story in such a way that they see it in their mind’s eye, it can even activate their visual centers.

If you do tell a story, make sure your students get the connection. I listened to a group of students complain about one of the teachers who always went off on random tangents about irrelevant things. As luck would have it, I ran into that very teacher. She was telling me that her classes were going great and her students really liked her stories and how that she thought they were learning so much more because of it.  She thought her stories were obviously connected to the material, but the students thought she was just off-topic. Always make sure you make a clear point after your story. I actually have a slide that says, “What’s the point…” to make sure my students get the intended message.

FIRST TIME TEACHING? IF YES, THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS

If you are a first-time teacher, welcome aboard! So glad you are here. I have a few thoughts for you.

  • Consider the impact of how you dress. Students make initial decisions about how knowledgeable and how approachable you are based on how you are dressed.
  • Decide in advance what you want students to call you. Are you Lynn, Mrs. Meade, Dr. Meade, or Professor Meade? Let them know what to call you by putting your name on a slide or writing it on the board. When you send them an email, make sure you use that same name so they remember how you want to be addressed. If you are a teaching assistant who is close in age to your students, it can be helpful to go for the formal title, “Mr. Smith” instead of “Joe.”
  • Decide in advance your policy on phone usage. Have it on your syllabus and make it clear to them what it is that you expect.
  • If you are scared that students will ask you a question that you can’t answer, you are normal. All first-time teachers worry about this and most long-term teachers still worry about this.  When this happens, simply say, “That’s a great question, let me get back with you.”

THINGS I LEARNED THE HARD WAY

A frustrated looking woman

1. If you say, “You may leave when you are done,” everyone is suddenly done, and a mass exodus occurs.

2. If you change a deadline, many students are frustrated because they worked hard to meet the deadline. A few will be relieved, but others will resent you for making exceptions for the slackers.

3. Cancelling class early equals heartache down the line. If you let them out early one day, they will keep expecting you to do it again.

4. If students have presentations, let them draw speech numbers out of the hat and then let them work out any changes that need to be made. That puts everyone on equal footing. Students appreciate you being fair.

5. Not everyone expects “A’s” and giving “A’s” to those who didn’t work for it diminishes those who worked hard. Be clear about your expectations and make sure an “A” is something they earned.

6. You can always loosen up the rules, but students rarely tolerate it if you become stricter.

7. Avoiding students’ bad behavior does not make them go away.  Allowing them to take over your class is unfair to those who are there to learn.  Talk to students privately about their behavior. Never sacrifice the attentive students who want to learn for those who are just trying to distract.

8. Be sure that you create a place where students feel like they can openly share ideas. Keep reminding them you care. Mentioning it on your syllabus is not enough.

9. Use examples from different cultures and lifestyles. Make sure your slides include people of differing races, genders, and abilities.

10. On your tests, use names that reflect diversity. (I like to use my students’ names)

11. Never talk with a student about grades in the classroom. Always tell them to meet you in your office. It protects their privacy and shows the entire class that you are open to talking with them and that you respect their privacy. (When a student is upset because of their grade, they need to cool off.  Meeting in your office gives them time to cool off as well as takes away the audience if they are the type of a student who is performing for their friends.)

12. Before meeting a student about grades or policy issues, ask them to read the syllabus, read the assignment, and review the rubric. Tell them you want them to be ready to talk about specific items of concern.

Final Thoughts

When I go to teacher training or read educational books, I write tips on notecards. One idea per card. I have a giant stack of these that I pull out each year as I’m preparing my class. Many of the suggestions that are in this chapter are from my stack of cards. Tom Jensen, professor of marketing called teaching “the art of thievery” in that the best ideas are stolen from other teachers.  I have passed on my thievery, and it is my hope that you will steal some of these ideas, make them your own, use them to engage your students, and then pass them along.

BONUS FEATURES

You may be here because you are teaching public speaking or you may be here because this link was given to you to reference this as a stand-alone resource. Either way, this information can work for you.

This is a chapter in a public speaking textbook. A lot of what we learn in public speaking applies to teaching–in many ways, a lecture is a long speech. Here are a few chapters that may also be helpful for you as you prepare to teach.

Overcoming Communication Apprehension by Hacking Your Body

Overcoming Communication Apprehension by Hacking Your Brain

Delivery Advice: Do Not Imagine the Audience Naked! Managing Eye Contact, Movement, and Gestures

Why Your Voice it The Most Important Part of Your Speech

Don’t Ruin a Good Presentation with Terrible Slides

Alda, A. (2017). If I understood you, would I have this look on my face: My adventures in the art and science of relating and communicating. Random House.

Butler, A. C., & Roediger, H. L. III. (2007). Testing improves long-term retention in a simulated classroom setting. European Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 19 (4-5), 514–527.  https://doi.org/10.1080/09541440701326097

Drummond, T. A  brief summary of the best practices in college teaching: Intended to challenge the professional development of all teachers.  North Seattle Community College. https://www.clemson.edu/assessment/documents/best_practices_college_teaching_Drummond.pdf

Dweck, Carol S. (2008). Mindset : The new psychology of success. Ballantine Books.

Howlett, Tina (2018). Personal email. (Director of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Arkansas).

Koh, A.W.L., Lee, S.C., & Lim, S.W.H. (2018). The learning benefits of teaching: A retrieval practice hypothesis.  Applied Cognitive Psychology ,  32 , 401-410. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.3410

Perry, J. (2020). Campus conversations: Exercising temperance in an intemperate time. University of Arkansas presentation.

Kearney, P., Plax, T. G., Hays, E. R., & Ivey, M. J. (1991). College teacher misbehaviors: What students don’t like about what teachers say or do.  Communication Quarterly, 39 , 309-324

Kral, T.  (2018). Three-minute teaching tips at the University of Arkansas Teaching Camp. Mt. Magazine, Arkansas. August 2018.

Marsh, E., & Eslick, A. (2009).  Educational Horizons, 87 (4), 206-210. Retrieved February 3, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/42923769

Medina, J. (2018). Brain rules.  http://www.brainrules.net/vision

Teven, J.J.( 2001). The relationships among teacher characteristics and perceived caring. Communication Education, 50:  159–169.

Willingham, D. (2021) Why don’t students like school? A cognitive scientist answers questions about how the mind worked and what it means for the classroom. 2nd edition.  Jossey-Bass.

Zepke, N., & Leach, L. (2010). Improving student engagement: Ten proposals for action. Active Learning in Higher Education, 11 (3), 167-177.

Zull, J. E. (2002). The Art of Changing The Brain: Enriching The Practice of Teaching by Exploring The Biology of Learning.  SCHOLE: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, 24 (1), 181.

Public Speaking by Lynn Meade is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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How to write a good speech in 7 steps

By:  Susan Dugdale  

- an easily followed format for writing a great speech

Did you know writing a speech doesn't have be an anxious, nail biting experience?

Unsure? Don't be.

You may have lived with the idea you were never good with words for a long time. Or perhaps giving speeches at school brought you out in cold sweats.

However learning how to write a speech is relatively straight forward when you learn to write out loud.

And that's the journey I am offering to take you on: step by step.

To learn quickly, go slow

Take all the time you need. This speech format has 7 steps, each building on the next.

Walk, rather than run, your way through all of them. Don't be tempted to rush. Familiarize yourself with the ideas. Try them out.

I know there are well-advertised short cuts and promises of 'write a speech in 5 minutes'. However in reality they only truly work for somebody who already has the basic foundations of speech writing in place.

The foundation of good speech writing 

These steps are the backbone of sound speech preparation. Learn and follow them well at the outset and yes, given more experience and practice you could probably flick something together quickly. Like any skill, the more it's used, the easier it gets.

In the meantime...

Step 1: Begin with a speech overview or outline

Are you in a hurry? Without time to read a whole page? Grab ... The Quick How to Write a Speech Checklist And come back to get the details later.

  • WHO you are writing your speech for (your target audience)
  • WHY you are preparing this speech. What's the main purpose of your speech? Is it to inform or tell your audience about something? To teach them a new skill or demonstrate something? To persuade or to entertain? (See 4 types of speeches: informative, demonstrative, persuasive and special occasion or entertaining for more.) What do you want them to think, feel or do as a result of listening the speech?
  • WHAT your speech is going to be about (its topic) - You'll want to have thought through your main points and have ranked them in order of importance. And have sorted the supporting research you need to make those points effectively.
  • HOW much time you have for your speech eg. 3 minutes, 5 minutes... The amount of time you've been allocated dictates how much content you need. If you're unsure check this page: how many words per minute in a speech: a quick reference guide . You'll find estimates of the number of words required for 1 - 10 minute speeches by slow, medium and fast talkers.

Use an outline

The best way to make sure you deliver a perfect speech is to start by carefully completing a speech outline covering the essentials: WHO, WHY, WHAT and HOW.

Beginning to write without thinking your speech through is a bit like heading off on a journey not knowing why you're traveling or where you're going to end up. You can find yourself lost in a deep, dark, murky muddle of ideas very quickly!

Pulling together a speech overview or outline is a much safer option. It's the map you'll follow to get where you want to go.

Get a blank speech outline template to complete

Click the link to find out a whole lot more about preparing a speech outline . ☺ You'll also find a free printable blank speech outline template.  I recommend using it!

Understanding speech construction

Before you begin to write, using your completed outline as a guide, let's briefly look at what you're aiming to prepare.

  • an opening or introduction
  • the body where the bulk of the information is given
  • and an ending (or summary).

Imagine your speech as a sandwich

Image: gourmet sandwich with labels on the top (opening) and bottom (conclusion) slices of bread and filling, (body). Text: Key ingredients for a superb speech sandwich.

If you think of a speech as a sandwich you'll get the idea.

The opening and ending are the slices of bread holding the filling (the major points or the body of your speech) together.

You can build yourself a simple sandwich with one filling (one big idea) or you could go gourmet and add up to three or, even five. The choice is yours.

But whatever you choose to serve, as a good cook, you need to consider who is going to eat it! And that's your audience.

So let's find out who they are before we do anything else. 

Step 2: Know who you are talking to

Understanding your audience.

Did you know a  good speech is never written from the speaker's point of view?  ( If you need to know more about why check out this page on  building rapport .)

Begin with the most important idea/point on your outline.

Consider HOW you can explain (show, tell) that to your audience in the most effective way for them to easily understand it.   

Writing from the audience's point of view

how to give a speech as a teacher

To help you write from an audience point of view, it's a good idea to identify either a real person or the type of person who is most likely to be listening to you.

Make sure you select someone who represents the "majority" of the people who will be in your audience. That is they are neither struggling to comprehend you at the bottom of your scale or light-years ahead at the top.

Now imagine they are sitting next to you eagerly waiting to hear what you're going to say. Give them a name, for example, Joe, to help make them real.

Ask yourself

  • How do I need to tailor my information to meet Joe's needs? For example, do you tell personal stories to illustrate your main points? Absolutely! Yes. This is a very powerful technique. (Click storytelling in speeches to find out more.)
  • What type or level of language is right for Joe as well as my topic? For example if I use jargon (activity, industry or profession specific vocabulary) will it be understood?

Step 3: Writing as you speak

Writing oral language.

Write down what you want to say about your first main point as if you were talking directly to Joe.

If it helps, say it all out loud before you write it down and/or record it.

Use the information below as a guide

Infographic: The Characteristics of Spoken Language - 7 points of difference with examples.

(Click to download The Characteristics of Spoken Language  as a pdf.) 

You do not have to write absolutely everything you're going to say down * but you do need to write down, or outline, the sequence of ideas to ensure they are logical and easily followed.

Remember too, to explain or illustrate your point with examples from your research. 

( * Tip: If this is your first speech the safety net of having everything written down could be just what you need. It's easier to recover from a patch of jitters when you have a word by word manuscript than if you have either none, or a bare outline. Your call!)

Step 4: Checking tone and language

The focus of this step is re-working what you've done in Step 2 and 3.

You identified who you were talking to (Step 2) and in Step 3, wrote up your first main point.  Is it right? Have you made yourself clear?  Check it.

Graphic:cartoon drawing of a woman sitting in front of a laptop. Text:How to write a speech: checking tone and language.

How well you complete this step depends on how well you understand the needs of the people who are going to listen to your speech.

Please do not assume because you know what you're talking about the person (Joe) you've chosen to represent your audience will too. Joe is not a mind-reader!

How to check what you've prepared

  • Check the "tone" of your language . Is it right for the occasion, subject matter and your audience?
  • Check the length of your sentences. You need short sentences. If they're too long or complicated you risk losing your listeners.

Check for jargon too. These are industry, activity or group exclusive words.

For instance take the phrase: authentic learning . This comes from teaching and refers to connecting lessons to the daily life of students. Authentic learning is learning that is relevant and meaningful for students. If you're not a teacher you may not understand the phrase.

The use of any vocabulary requiring insider knowledge needs to be thought through from the audience perspective. Jargon can close people out.

  • Read what you've written out loud. If it flows naturally, in a logical manner, continue the process with your next main idea. If it doesn't, rework.

We use whole sentences and part ones, and we mix them up with asides or appeals e.g. "Did you get that? Of course you did. Right...Let's move it along. I was saying ..."

Click for more about the differences between spoken and written language .

And now repeat the process

Repeat this process for the remainder of your main ideas.

Because you've done the first one carefully, the rest should follow fairly easily.

Step 5: Use transitions

Providing links or transitions between main ideas.

Between each of your main ideas you need to provide a bridge or pathway for your audience. The clearer the pathway or bridge, the easier it is for them to make the transition from one idea to the next.

Graphic - girl walking across a bridge. Text - Using transitions to link ideas.

If your speech contains more than three main ideas and each is building on the last, then consider using a "catch-up" or summary as part of your transitions.

Is your speech being evaluated? Find out exactly what aspects you're being assessed on using this standard speech evaluation form

Link/transition examples

A link can be as simple as:

"We've explored one scenario for the ending of Block Buster 111, but let's consider another. This time..."

What follows this transition is the introduction of Main Idea Two.

Here's a summarizing link/transition example:

"We've ended Blockbuster 111 four ways so far. In the first, everybody died. In the second, everybody died BUT their ghosts remained to haunt the area. In the third, one villain died. His partner reformed and after a fight-out with the hero, they both strode off into the sunset, friends forever. In the fourth, the hero dies in a major battle but is reborn sometime in the future.

And now what about one more? What if nobody died? The fifth possibility..."

Go back through your main ideas checking the links. Remember Joe as you go. Try each transition or link out loud and really listen to yourself. Is it obvious? Easily followed?

Keep them if they are clear and concise.

For more about transitions (with examples) see Andrew Dlugan's excellent article, Speech Transitions: Magical words and Phrases .

Step 6: The end of your speech

The ideal ending is highly memorable . You want it to live on in the minds of your listeners long after your speech is finished. Often it combines a call to action with a summary of major points.

Comic Graphic: End with a bang

Example speech endings

Example 1: The desired outcome of a speech persuading people to vote for you in an upcoming election is that they get out there on voting day and do so. You can help that outcome along by calling them to register their support by signing a prepared pledge statement as they leave.

"We're agreed we want change. You can help us give it to you by signing this pledge statement as you leave. Be part of the change you want to see!

Example 2: The desired outcome is increased sales figures. The call to action is made urgent with the introduction of time specific incentives.

"You have three weeks from the time you leave this hall to make that dream family holiday in New Zealand yours. Can you do it? Will you do it? The kids will love it. Your wife will love it. Do it now!"

How to figure out the right call to action

A clue for working out what the most appropriate call to action might be, is to go back to your original purpose for giving the speech.

  • Was it to motivate or inspire?
  • Was it to persuade to a particular point of view?
  • Was it to share specialist information?
  • Was it to celebrate a person, a place, time or event?

Ask yourself what you want people to do as a result of having listened to your speech.

For more about ending speeches

Visit this page for more about how to end a speech effectively . You'll find two additional types of speech endings with examples.

Write and test

Write your ending and test it out loud. Try it out on a friend, or two. Is it good? Does it work?

Step 7: The introduction

Once you've got the filling (main ideas) the linking and the ending in place, it's time to focus on the introduction.

The introduction comes last as it's the most important part of your speech. This is the bit that either has people sitting up alert or slumped and waiting for you to end. It's the tone setter!

What makes a great speech opening?

Ideally you want an opening that makes listening to you the only thing the 'Joes' in the audience want to do.

You want them to forget they're hungry or that their chair is hard or that their bills need paying.

The way to do that is to capture their interest straight away. You do this with a "hook".

Hooks to catch your audience's attention

Hooks come in as many forms as there are speeches and audiences. Your task is work out what specific hook is needed to catch your audience.

Graphic: shoal of fish and two hooked fishing lines. Text: Hooking and holding attention

Go back to the purpose. Why are you giving this speech?

Once you have your answer, consider your call to action. What do you want the audience to do, and, or take away, as a result of listening to you?

Next think about the imaginary or real person you wrote for when you were focusing on your main ideas.

Choosing the best hook

  • Is it humor?
  • Would shock tactics work?
  • Is it a rhetorical question?
  • Is it formality or informality?
  • Is it an outline or overview of what you're going to cover, including the call to action?
  • Or is it a mix of all these elements?

A hook example

Here's an example from a fictional political speech. The speaker is lobbying for votes. His audience are predominately workers whose future's are not secure.

"How's your imagination this morning? Good? (Pause for response from audience) Great, I'm glad. Because we're going to put it to work starting right now.

I want you to see your future. What does it look like? Are you happy? Is everything as you want it to be? No? Let's change that. We could do it. And we could do it today.

At the end of this speech you're going to be given the opportunity to change your world, for a better one ...

No, I'm not a magician. Or a simpleton with big ideas and precious little commonsense. I'm an ordinary man, just like you. And I have a plan to share!"

And then our speaker is off into his main points supported by examples. The end, which he has already foreshadowed in his opening, is the call to vote for him.

Prepare several hooks

Experiment with several openings until you've found the one that serves your audience, your subject matter and your purpose best.

For many more examples of speech openings go to: how to write a speech introduction . You'll find 12 of the very best ways to start a speech.

how to give a speech as a teacher

That completes the initial seven steps towards writing your speech. If you've followed them all the way through, congratulations, you now have the text of your speech!

Although you might have the words, you're still a couple of steps away from being ready to deliver them. Both of them are essential if you want the very best outcome possible. They are below. Please take them.

Step 8: Checking content and timing

This step pulls everything together.

Check once, check twice, check three times & then once more!

Go through your speech really carefully.

On the first read through check you've got your main points in their correct order with supporting material, plus an effective introduction and ending.

On the second read through check the linking passages or transitions making sure they are clear and easily followed.

On the third reading check your sentence structure, language use and tone.

Double, triple check the timing

Now go though once more.

This time read it aloud slowly and time yourself.

If it's too long for the time allowance you've been given make the necessary cuts.

Start by looking at your examples rather than the main ideas themselves. If you've used several examples to illustrate one principal idea, cut the least important out.

Also look to see if you've repeated yourself unnecessarily or, gone off track. If it's not relevant, cut it.

Repeat the process, condensing until your speech fits the required length, preferably coming in just under your time limit.

You can also find out how approximately long it will take you to say the words you have by using this very handy words to minutes converter . It's an excellent tool, one I frequently use. While it can't give you a precise time, it does provide a reasonable estimate.

Graphic: Click to read example speeches of all sorts.

Step 9: Rehearsing your speech

And NOW you are finished with writing the speech, and are ready for REHEARSAL .

how to give a speech as a teacher

Please don't be tempted to skip this step. It is not an extra thrown in for good measure. It's essential.

The "not-so-secret" secret of successful speeches combines good writing with practice, practice and then, practicing some more.

Go to how to practice public speaking and you'll find rehearsal techniques and suggestions to boost your speech delivery from ordinary to extraordinary.

The Quick How to Write a Speech Checklist

Before you begin writing you need:.

  • Your speech OUTLINE with your main ideas ranked in the order you're going to present them. (If you haven't done one complete this 4 step sample speech outline . It will make the writing process much easier.)
  • Your RESEARCH
  • You also need to know WHO you're speaking to, the PURPOSE of the speech and HOW long you're speaking for

The basic format

  • the body where you present your main ideas

Split your time allowance so that you spend approximately 70% on the body and 15% each on the introduction and ending.

How to write the speech

  • Write your main ideas out incorporating your examples and research
  • Link them together making sure each flows in a smooth, logical progression
  • Write your ending, summarizing your main ideas briefly and end with a call for action
  • Write your introduction considering the 'hook' you're going to use to get your audience listening
  • An often quoted saying to explain the process is: Tell them what you're going to tell them (Introduction) Tell them (Body of your speech - the main ideas plus examples) Tell them what you told them (The ending)

TEST before presenting. Read aloud several times to check the flow of material, the suitability of language and the timing.

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  • 11 Tips for Giving a Great Speech

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Chances are you’ll be asked to give speeches or presentations in classes at school. If you get involved in volunteer groups, brief speeches to open events or thank participants are a must. Then there are the speeches at events such as weddings, as well as speeches that you might have to give in the workplace. That amounts to the average person being required to give quite a lot of speeches, even if they don’t get involved in an area such as politics where the ability to give a good speech becomes even more important. You might also have suffered through quite a number of bad speeches from other people – whether that’s at family events where the microphone squeaks the whole way through or a school presentation where the headteacher can’t quite make the jokes work. If you don’t want to inflict the same sort of experience on others, here are our top tips for giving a great speech.

1. Practise your microphone technique

Correct spacing is key - you want to be heard but don't want to end up deafening your audience!

2. Keep it short

Be strict with yourself when it comes to timing.

Particularly at something like a party or a wedding, no one will be unhappy if your speech runs a little short; it’ll just give them more time to investigate the canapés. If you are giving a speech for a class in school, and it’ll be assessed, you need to prioritise keeping it within the required time limits. But even under these circumstances, if you’ve been tasked – say – with giving a 10-15 minute speech, it’s usually better to come in nearer the 10 than the 15 minute mark. Put simply, even if your speech is terrible, your audience can probably tolerate it for 10 minutes. Much longer, and they’ll be struggling. This shouldn’t limit what you can cover; in the film Up , the whole of Carl and Ellie’s heartbreaking love story is told in under 12 minutes. Do you really need longer to make your points? Achieve brevity by writing out the speech you would give if you had all the time in the world, and then cut anything that seems extraneous or boring.

3. Consider what your audience wants to hear

If you are giving a speech in class because it’s your assignment, what your audience wants to hear is likely to be “the bell ringing for lunch”; you can’t help them there. But under other circumstances, consider what your audience wants to hear and what you want to say, and strive for there to be as much overlap as possible. In the context of a political speech, for instance, what you want to say might be why your party should receive votes; what your audience wants to hear is what your party would do for them, if they won power. Hopefully it should be possible to write a speech that meets both sets of needs, rather than focusing solely on whatever it is that you want to say and leaving your audience disappointed.

4. Pick a theme and stick to it

Beware: digressions ahead.

Here’s a goal for giving a speech: someone sitting near the back, who’s messing around on their phone for at least two-thirds of it and focusing mainly on how long it will be until lunch, should nonetheless be able to give a reasonably accurate answer to the question, “what was it about?” If you’re supposed to be giving a speech in defence of the nuclear deterrent, for example, both the topic and your position on it should be clearly identifiable. This means – to stick with the nuclear deterrent example – not talking for a while about jobs, and then the wider economy, and then the North-South divide, and then Scottish independence, and then Ukraine with a brief digression into South Ossetia before rounding off by squeaking out “and that’s why we should renew Trident!” seconds before you run out of time – no matter how relevant that cornucopia of topics may feel (and they are all relevant, albeit tenuously). It means that even if you do have to take a while to explain a more complex idea, you need to be concise, and bring it back to your theme as quickly as you can.

5. Speak slowly

Most people speak more quickly than they realise when they’re on stage, especially if they’re nervous. But no one will be able to follow your speech if you’re jabbering it out. Thankfully, this one is easy to fix with a little effort and practise. First of all, figure out how quickly you’re actually speaking: do a word count for your speech and then time yourself saying it. A fast speaker will speak at maybe 160 words per minute, a slow speaker at 100 wpm and an average speaker at 130 wpm. For a formal speech, you want to be speaking on the slow side. While this will vary by culture and environment, 120 wpm is a reasonable target to aim for; slow enough that everyone should be able to understand you, and fast enough that you hopefully won’t be sending them to sleep.

6. Tell a couple of jokes

A touch of humour won't go amiss, even if you're not a natural comedian.

This is a tricky tip because there are lots of pitfalls in the world of telling jokes. For instance, there’s the temptation to include an in-joke that three of your friends will understand and find hilarious, that is utterly baffling to everyone else in the room. Avoid this – if you include any jokes, witty references or anything along those lines, make sure they are accessible to everyone present. All the same, if you can manage a joke or two, it can be a useful way to break up a speech and retain the audience’s interest. A little self-deprecation (not too much!) or the use of classic joke formats such as “the scene was chaotic; it looked as if a bomb had hit and we didn’t know where to start on repairs – but that’s enough about the hen party…” work nicely even if you’re not very confident. Don’t turn it into a stand-up comedy sketch if you’re not a comedian, don’t wait for ages for laughter that’s not showing up, and don’t make jokes at the expense of anyone who you don’t know for sure can take it.

7. Don’t be afraid to repeat yourself if you need to

If you follow US or UK politics at all, you’ve probably heard some of these phrases recently: take back control, make America great again, long-term economic plan, son of a bus driver. Three of these have already led the party or people they’re associated with to electoral victory; the fourth remains to be seen. To take the ‘son of a bus driver’ as an example, this refers to Sadiq Khan, now Mayor of London. There can be hardly anyone in London who doesn’t know what their Mayor’s dad did for a living. Meanwhile, many of them probably can’t remember his rival Zac Goldsmith’s name, let alone anything he said during the campaign. The point is that repetition works. In pursuit of point 4, if you want people to remember your key theme, you’re going to have to say it more than once. Don’t assume that everyone will have paid attention to everything you’ve said, unless you’re in a classroom setting where they’ll get told off if they don’t.

8. Only use the visual aids you need

Scratch the notes and speak directly to your audience.

This tip applies to two things: PowerPoints and notes. If you can do without either (and your assignment allows it), then do. Every time you’re glancing over your notes or up at the screen, fiddling with the laptop to get the slide to move on, fighting with a video that isn’t working or struggling to read your own handwriting, is time that you’re not spending engaging with your audience. A well-written, clear speech delivered without notes is always going to be better than someone awkwardly reading aloud the bullet points on their PowerPoint slides. If you must do a presentation – for instance, because there are photos that need to be included – have as little text on it as possible, preferably none. That way, if there are people at the back who can’t really see the screen through the sea of heads in front of them, they’ll still be able to follow what you’re saying.

9. Get a friend to check for awkward mannerisms

Mannerisms that are entirely fine in normal life become awkward and strange when you’re speaking in public. Perhaps you’re inclined to fiddle with your hair or your cuffs, you rock back and forth on the balls of your feet, or you have a habit of reaching your hand to your cheek when you’re talking. No one would notice in everyday conversation, but when you’re on a stage, it’ll become all they’ll see. Some of this is easily avoidable – for instance, if you have long hair that you’re inclined to twirl or otherwise fiddle with, tie it up. For other mannerisms, get the critical friend who helped you sort out your microphone technique to tell you what they are, and do your best to suppress the more annoying ones.

10. Look around the room

Overly intense eye-contact can easily feel intimidating.

Talking about eye contact usually has the effect of making normal eye contact a lot harder, and so does giving a speech. All of a sudden, you’re up on stage, and you have no idea what a normal way to look at a group of people is. Some speakers deal with this by picking a point in the middle distance and speaking to it; others by picking a particular person near to the back and addressing their entire speech at them. This is obviously no fun for that person, who probably spends the whole thing feeling extremely uncomfortable, but it’s not too weird for everyone else. Better still, though, if you can manage it, is to look slowly and steadily around the room, trying to make eye contact with a decent range of people, before returning to the middle distance for a while, rinse and repeat. This needs to be slow and steady, or you give the impression that you’ve just smelled smoke and are casting about for a fire exit before the stampede beings.

11. Don’t be scared of a good reaction

If your speech is genuinely engaging, funny, inspiring or any of the other things you might hope it would be, your audience will react to it. There might be laughter, or applause, or even a bit of cheering depending on the setting. This can be daunting because when you’re practising your speech in front of your bedroom mirror, there’s no way to prepare for it. And it’s where even the best speakers can go wrong, by launching straight into what they were going to say next without waiting for the laughter or applause to stop, or by looking painfully awkward while it’s going on. It’s a pitfall that’s mostly solved by being aware it might happen. If your audience is applauding you or otherwise reacting well, it’s OK to smile, look up, wait for them to stop and then keep going with your speech – it’s as simple as that. You could even throw in a “thank you” before you continue in the knowledge that it’s all going well. Image credits: microphones ; audience ; boy with microphone ; clock ; winding road ; enjoy a joke ; sticky notes ; 

how to give a speech as a teacher

Frantically Speaking

How to Write a Teachers’ Day Speech: A Guide for Students and Teachers

Hitiksha jain.

  • Speech Writing

How to give a speech for teachers' day- a guide for students and teachers

A teachers’ day speech is a special occasion speech. It is a speech where you acknowledge your teachers, gurus or mentors for being an absolute human guide and encouraging you to dream. On this special day, you express your gratitude towards them, it can be in the form of a speech or stage performances.

‘When one teaches, two learn.’  Robert Heinlein

Teachers’ Day is that one event which not only excites the students, but the teachers as well. It is an important day for the students, as it gives them a chance to recognize the efforts put in by their teachers to ensure that they get proper education and ethics in life. Likewise, the teachers also await the Teachers’ Day celebration, as their efforts get acknowledged and honoured by their students.

But why is it important to celebrate Teachers’ Day?

Teaching is considered to be the most sacred and noble professions of all, as teachers are the ones to craft the other professions. 

Teachers have the ability to change the students’ life for the better. Teaching is a tough job; however, it is that one job where you can make the optimum impact on another person’s life.

However, we often tend to forget the importance teachers have in our lives. So, on this day you make them realize how important they are in your life along with this you appreciate their existence, their efforts and their guidance.

How to appreciate your teachers or students in your teachers' day speech

Not only students, but teachers also express their views to the students because their profession is nothing without their students. 

If you are looking for tips on how you can draft a heart touching speech for teachers’ day, don’t worry we’ve got some suggestions for you (teacher or student).

But remember, the only key to give a heartwarming speech is Authenticity.

importance of being authentic or genuine in your teachers' day speech

Tips to Remember Before you Draft your Teachers’ Day Speech:

1)  appreciate, do not exaggerate.

When you give a speech on occasions like teachers’ day, it demands you to be authentic while sharing your experiences or showing gratitude. Being authentic will help you make your speech pure and impressive at the same time. 

Try to articulate your feelings in the simplest form which will make your speech sound genuine. 

Exaggeration in a speech might make you lose your credibility, making it sound unreal. 

In case of students giving a speech for their teachers, you can appreciate their efforts, praise them, or the way in which they helped you garner knowledge, improve your skills, grow confidence as well as to help you choose the right path to success. 

In short, when thinking about the best way to thank your teacher/s, consider what exceptional they did or above their call of duty? How did they inspire you or change your thinking? Did they inspire some new academic avocation or activity? What skills will you hold dear in future?

You are basically trying to acknowledge the efforts that your teachers have put in. So try and make your acknowledgement sound genuine and speak from your heart and not just for the sake of saying it.

In case of teachers giving a speech on teachers’ day, you can talk more on the lines of how your students have been motivating you or how happy you are to see their efforts to do better everyday, for instance, showing their interests in the extracurricular activities or competitions. 

Pro tip- Do not overdo it, for instance over praising your teachers or students, the listeners will understand it is not coming from your heart. 

2) Dedicate your Thoughts

The speaker should be expressive about one’s emotions. Your speech is dedicated to the event of Teachers’ day, so everything you speak has to support the event.

For students giving a speech on teachers’ day, the speaker can dedicate the speech mainly to acknowledge his teachers, communicate gratitude towards them and applaud them for being a beacon of light in their lives. 

For teachers giving a speech on teachers’ day, you can talk more about why it is celebrated, the importance of a teacher in a student’s life, what motivates you to be a teacher.

3) The PURPOSE should be at the Heart of your Speech

One thing you need to bear in your mind is the purpose of your speech. Purpose means, why is the speech drafted or for what are you drafting the speech. 

For instance, in case of students , the speech is drafted for your teachers in order to pay them a tribute or acknowledge their efforts.

Similarly, in case of teachers , your speech is drafted for the students as well the fellow teachers, so your purpose of talking would be the joy you experience while teaching or guiding your students or expressing your gratitude for the efforts the students have taken to make your day special.

Therefore, your speech needs to revolve much around teachers’ day, so that you don’t deviate from the purpose of your speech.

4) Duration of the Speech 

The goal of any speaker is to make his speech memorable and at the same time the one which has a long-lasting impact.

While drafting your speech, try to keep it short and sweet, as it is more likely to hold your audiences’ attention. It also forces you to say what you mean and nothing more. Meaning, you will cover only those points that are central to your message or speech.

Stick to your topic and then draft your speech accordingly – use as few words as possible and limited anecdotes to retain your audiences’ attention without sacrificing the essential information. 

Make sure the points you want to make come out clearly.

We’ve written an article on How to Deliver a 1 Minute Speech: Tips, Examples, Topics & More . Check it out to get some tips on how you can deliver a short speech.

After keeping in mind these few suggestions, the next step would be to organize your content, so that your speech flows smoothly.

Here’s an article on How to make your speech flow smoothly . You can review this article to get a better understanding regarding the same.

In order to give a clear and a structured speech, your speech needs to be divided into three parts, mainly- Introduction, Body and Conclusion.

How to Organize your Teachers’ Day Speech?

1) introduction.

An introduction can be best considered as the foundation of your speech. Just as you can’t build a building without forming its base, you cannot build your speech until and unless you don’t introduce your topic.

Introducing your topic will help you gain the audiences’ attention because you’re revealing the purpose of you standing in front of them.

The goal is to start your speech with impact and to do this, you can start by telling a story or a quote, or by asking an interesting question.

Here’s an article that we’ve written on various storytelling approaches that you can consider for your next speech.

You can start your speech with, say like a story or a quote and then connect it to the occasion of Teachers’ day or teachers in general. 

For instance, a student can start his speech with a hypothetical situation, supposing a life without a teacher and then connect it to being thankful for having them in your life as torch bearers. 

A teacher can start her speech by expressing her gratitude towards the program that has been organized for them along with a few lines regarding why is teachers’ day celebrated

To start your speech with a bang, you can review the article that we wrote on 15 powerful speech opening lines and how to create your own.

After choosing an impactful opening remark, the next part would be the body of your speech.

Oftentimes, more importance is given to the opening and closing remarks and everything in between is considered to be filler. This should not be the case because the body of a speech is where you offer the evidence or data to support your main message.

Taking the previous example in case of students , you can actually start expressing your gratitude towards them, recognize their efforts, explain their importance in your life, and much more.

In case of teachers , you can build your speech on the basis of how your students motivate you or how you feel about teaching as a profession, or what joy you experience while teaching.

3) Conclusion

The conclusion of your speech should restate your main message. 

You basically summarize the main points of your speech which will help you to create a long-lasting impression in the minds of your audience. 

You can end your speech in much the same way you began- with a story, quotation, or a question. 

In case of students ending their Teachers’ day speech, you can thank your teachers for being an essential part of your journey.

In case of teachers ending their Teachers’ day speech, they can provide a bunch of advice to their students. 

We have a few suggestions or tips on Ways to end your speech with maximum impact .

To make this simple, here are some points that you can cover while drafting your speech.

4 Points Students can cover in their Teachers’ Day Speech : 

  • Teacher’s importance in your life
  • Acknowledge their efforts that they have put in for you
  • You can highlight the significance of teachers’ day
  • Express your gratitude towards them

sample speech for a student giving a speech for teachers' day

Sample Speech by Students for their Teachers

Education without teachers is like a body without a soul.  “A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination and instill a love of learning” , says Brad Henry. Let’s pick the first keyword over here – ‘HOPE’. A teacher is capable of returning the lost light in a student’s life. Therefore, teachers are the torch bearers who show us the path of success and walk us through the entire path until we achieve something. Today we all have gathered here to celebrate the presence of those unsung heroes without whom no profession would have existed, our teachers. It is said that parents give birth to a child, but it is the Teacher who makes sure that the child is not only raised as a tough individual, but also as an ideal citizen. We students have sometimes made it so difficult for a teacher to survive, especially if we personally find a subject boring, but it is the teacher who has made us learn a lesson which is To Never Give Up. Even if we are disrespectful, intolerant, and sometimes cross all our limits of being bearable, she still continues to motivate us.  What a teacher writes on the blackboard of life can never be erased. The values, the skills and the life lessons taught by them are something we all will hold dear in our lives. You are the reason behind our dreams and our farsightedness. You have prepared us to become the fittest and the finest individuals. Without your presence we wouldn’t have learnt how to dream. Thank you for guiding us when we were wrong and being on your toes to get the best out of us, we all are very grateful to have you all as our teachers. I would like to conclude my speech through a short poem called Teachers by Kevin William Huff that summarizes the role of a teacher in a student’s life. Teachers Inspire a love of knowledge and truth As you light the path which leads our youth For our future brightens with each lesson your teach Each smile you lengthen Each goal you help reach For the dawn of each poet, each philosopher and king Begins with a teacher And the wisdom they bring

Download the Teacher’s day Sample Speech by a Student here.

6 Points Teachers can cover in their Teachers’ Day Speech: 

  • Appreciate the efforts your students have put in to organize the event
  • Express your joy or why you like teaching 
  • How students motivate you to teach
  • Why do we celebrate teachers’ day
  • What do you feel about teaching as a profession
  • Few advices to the students for their future endeavours

Sample speech for teachers giving a speech for teachers' day

Sample Speech by Teachers for their Students

“There’s no word in the language I revere more than teacher. My heart sings when a kid refers to me as his teacher, and it always has. I’ve honored myself and the entire family of man by becoming a teacher.”  —Pat Conroy, Author It is said that Teachers have got their designation because of the existence of students, who are taught lessons for life. Welcoming the Principal, my fellow teachers and my dear students. It gives me immense pleasure to thank each and every student present here for putting up such a lovely program. We teachers feel highly privileged to have students like you all, so I would like to dedicate this day to all our students. Teaching for me is one of those careers, where you learn something new every day as well as impart knowledge and skills to train individuals and make them ready to face the real world. We really appreciate all the support that you’ve been giving us over the years and continuously reminding us about the value of our work and our potential to impact your lives for the greater good. In short, your support helps us remain mindful of our ultimate purpose and hold on to the passion that fuels our fire.  This special day reminds me of my own gurus and their impact on my life. I remember one of my teachers telling me this, “Beyond the undone and unseen lies the unachieved.” Meaning, to do something that nobody has done or seen and that’s when you will achieve what nobody has. To achieve something extraordinary you need to conquer the 3 D’s- Desire, Determination and Discipline.  Desire means being passionate about something you love.  Determination refers to being dedicated towards something that you are passionate about. Discipline refers to practicing what you are determined about. As teachers, we strongly believe it is our key responsibility to dig in the foundation to construct pillars of great strength. And I truly appreciate the efforts all the teachers have been putting in so as to achieve this. Before I sign off for the day I would like to give you all a piece of advice. Each one of you is different, each one of you has a different caliber, challenge yourself and chase your dreams. There will be a time in your life when you might fail, but don’t give up. Your success lies without your level of patience. Do great for the society and help everyone possible. Never take your profession on your head because at first, you have to be a good human before becoming a good professional. Hence, I proudly say teaching for me is sacred and I revere teaching as a profession.

Download the Teacher’s day Sample Speech by a Teacher here.

Final Thoughts

Teachers play a major role in shaping the minds of the students. They inspire, motivate, influence, and encourage the students to think differently as well as they instill values and ethics in them.

Hence, students should not hesitate in paying a tribute to their teachers. A speech is the best way to convey your thoughts and appreciate their selfless efforts, as words hold immense power in them.

You can consider these tips and speech samples while drafting your speech in order to make your speech a remarkable one.

The success of any speech comes in when you try to speak from your heart and express what you feel in its truest sense.

Hitiksha Jain

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What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

  • Carmine Gallo

how to give a speech as a teacher

Five tips to set yourself apart.

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

how to give a speech as a teacher

  • Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman  (St. Martin’s Press).

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How to Teach Students to OWN that Speech

April 9, 2017 by Jeanne Wolz 5 Comments

I don’t remember gleaning much from going up and giving speeches during school, other than that I hated it.  I know it’s the same for my students.  Literally the ONLY thing I remember from my 8th grade social studies class was the nausea I felt as I walked up to give a speech one day.  This traditional method of one-chance speech-giving is not only traumatic, but it’s not effective.  

Before I talk about how I changed the way I teach speeches, I need to tell a little story about how I learned to give speeches in high school.  In high school, a few friends and I became passionate about raising awareness about depression and suicide in our school.  It was a serious problem in our high school, and we were able to convince the powers that be to let us present to the entire student body, each grade level a different day, one class period at a time.  I remember giving my speech 8 times each day that we did this, and by the end, I absolutely rocked that thing.  Each time I gave my speech, I memorized it better, honed my content and delivery, and cut out parts that did not go over well.  

Many of us, especially secondary teachers, do this same process on a daily basis with our lessons.  We teach the same lesson to multiple class periods–our poor first hour getting our first run at it, and our last hour receiving the polished product of practice.  We know that repetitive practice makes our teaching better.

Why, then, is the traditional way to teach speeches a one-shot deal?  Why do we force students to go up in front of a room full of eyes boring into them, tell them we’re grading them on their performance, and expect them to get something meaningful out of it?  We can do a better job teaching speeches.

 My memories of speeches in high school, as well as my teaching experience, was my inspiration in developing the gallery walk speech marathon lesson plan.  I have done it every year I’ve taught, and without fail, it has moved mountains in terms of student anxiety and quality of speeches. You can adapt this lesson plan for any sort of performance-based activity: speeches, poetry slams , presentations, or interviews.  I’ve even used it to help students write fiction–which I will be writing about soon.

Basic Idea of Gallery Walk Speech Marathon Plan:

Students will give their speeches to each other and receive feedback in a “speed-dating” format.  They sit in a circle and half the students rotate each round.  For each round, partners take turns giving their speech, while the other partner listens and marks feedback.  By the end of the class, every student can have practiced their speech 4-5 times in front of just one person, and had a chance to respond to feedback.

Why it benefits students:

  • It gets students to practice their speech multiple times in front of a real audience, without the intimidation of ALL their classmates watching.
  • Students internalize the speech checklist and standards we’re working on.
  • Students anxiety reduces DRASTICALLY–and I know this from their reflections, which I talk about below.
  • I get way better speeches out of students.
  • I have a chance to give feedback before the big speech day.
  • Students can watch their own growth over the class period.
  • Students that do not come in prepared walk away at the end of class with their speech “written.”  I force all students to participate, regardless of preparation (and this is a MUCH less traumatic way to do that than in front of the whole class). I LOVE THIS. After a few weeks of preparing in class, students can come up with some things to say on the fly, even if they hadn’t written any of it down before class like they were supposed to.  I’ll even give these students notecards after a couple rounds so they can write down points they came up with while they were winging it.  This also makes it so that they have to feel the pain of un-preparedness, rather than throw up their hands and get out of it, but also gives them a last-second chance to prepare and feel comfortable to do it in front of the class and learn something.  Win-win.

Gallery Walk Speech Marathon Lesson Plan

how to give a speech as a teacher

  • Also, print out some speech feedback/reflection sheets for kids.
  • Have a power point visual for gallery walk instructions .  

Directions:

  • I have kids complete the first question of the reflection before class starts–it’s about how nervous they are about speeches.
  • Explain each feedback category on sheet.
  • Afterward, go through each feedback category and ask students to hold up their fingers to represent the rating they gave you–invite the lowest grade to explain their answer, and be humble–this can be so powerful with kids.  It’s important for kids to witness how to take feedback graciously and thoughtfully.
  • Explain that outside-circle students (I have them raise their hands so they tune in) will always stay put.
  • Explain that inside-circle students (have them raise their hands again) will be the ones that rotate.
  • First, students switch papers.
  • Inside circle people stand up, give speech.
  • Outside circle: mark feedback on THEIR PARTNER’S sheet.
  • Once done, outside circle give one positive and one thing to work on.
  • I will then say SWITCH. They switch roles and repeat.
  • At the end of this round, I say, “Stop. Give papers back. Stand up. Point clockwise to the seat you will go to (I check they know where they’re going), now ROTATE.”
  • Tip: Since there are a lot of moving parts for this lesson, I make sure that they go through the motions once without giving the speeches as I explain. It tends to go MUCH more smoothly if I do and I save a lot of re-explaining.
  • As they are going, I watch partnerships carefully.  I will go over to partnerships and give real-time coaching, and look for things that students are struggling with across the board. It’s like a writing workshop for speech-giving!
  • Half-way through, I give a mid-check lesson about what I notice people are doing well and one thing they should improve upon.
  • At the end of class, I have them look at their feedback sheet and reflect on how they improved–which you can see on the second page of the feedback sheet here.  I have them think about how the process helped them, and how they’d like to prepare for future speeches, knowing what they know now.

I hope this helps your students hone their speech-craft, and helps save you some head-ache.  If you try it, leave a comment to let us know how it goes.  And if you have other ways of helping students get through speeches, we’d also love to hear from you!

You may also be interested in:

Want to see this lesson plan in action?

One Week Slam Poetry Mini-Unit--designed to be stand-alone OR inserted into your current poetry unit. Perfect to add interest, energy, and meaning into your students' poetry experience.

Want even MORE slam poetry lessons?  This  Slam Poetry Unit Plan  includes a full 3 weeks of lessons similar to this one, taking students through drafting and revising multiple poems with a student-planned performance at the end.  It uses a variation of this lesson plan to help students prepare for their performance at the end.

Good for ANY type of writing you have your students do, this is a lesson plan with handouts, slides, and even tips for how to help students hone their peer conferences for each other.

You’d probably also like this  Peer Conference/Feedback lesson plan .  It’s good to use for ANY type of writing and designed to lift both student’s academic conversations and writing.  Swoon.

50 ideas for publishing student writing at the end of a unit.

20 Ways to Help Reluctant Writers in your Classroom –a list of ways you can make your classroom more friendly to students reluctant to write, as well as trouble-shooting ideas for students who refuse to write.

Teaching Writing Pinterest Board –My spot to collect all the most useful resources I can find for teaching writing–if you like this post, you’re sure to like this collection.

ELA Resources Pinterest Board –A collation of engaging, best practice resources for ELA teachers.

My Teachers Pay Teachers Store –I’ve taught writing to grades 6-8, 10, and 12, so that’s my store’s specialty!

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how to give a speech as a teacher

I was wondering, how have you adapted this lesson plan for slam poetry? What criteria do you have students evaluate for that? How would you do this if some students worked in groups and others worked by themselves? How many days before the actual presentation dates do you do this plan?

Thank you! 🙂

Hi Heather, Great questions.

For slam poetry, I would have a day or two before this where we would study great slam poem videos and make a class anchor chart on good slam poem performance techniques. Then, I give kids time to make notes on their poem about what they’d like to do at different parts (gestures with their hands, talking fast or slow, pauses, etc.). I would definitely model making these annotations on my own poem before having them do it. Then, on the day of performing, I follow this plan pretty closely, just demonstrating my own poem in front of them (if you don’t have your own poem, you could demonstrate with one that’s already written).

For criteria–entirely up to you and your students. You could make it based on what kids noticed the slam poets doing, which I’ve done before, or write the criteria for them (eye contact was consistent, gestures helped meaning, volume and pace were varied, volume and pace were understandable, etc.). For performance criteria, I try to just make it based on performance, and leave content for later.

Great question about groups. You could still have them follow this plan, but don’t switch each round–just have inside circle perform, rotate, perform, rotate–then when they’ve done it so many times, have them spread around the circle and have outside circle perform, rotate, perform, rotate. That way you could just have the groups act as individuals when they’re spectators. If that makes sense? You would probably have a few kids “off-duty” each round, but you could have them make notes/plan for their own poem while they’re off-duty–which has been really effective for me in the past.

I usually do this the day before presentations, that way it’s fresh and they’re well-practiced.

Good luck! Let me know if you have any other questions. I hope it goes well for you and your students 🙂 Reply

I’m curious if you ever used video platform similar to Vosaic Connect ( https://vosaic.com/products/vosaic-connect ) to get/provide feedback using the feedback sheet layered on top of a video of the student. Just an idea.

I was wondering, do you use the same feedback sheet for all the types of speeches you have your students give/assess?

Also, how long does this lesson last? I teach 51-minute periods every day.

Thanks, Kelsi Clark

Thank you for pointing out that students anxiety reduces drastically when they are involved with speech coaching. I think my son may need some help when it comes to his speech> I’ll have to look into programs that I can get him into. http://www.speechlanguageliteracy.com/

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How to Write an Unforgettable Teacher Appreciation Speech

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Today we are showing you how to write a teacher appreciation speech that’ll show your all the teachers how meaningful they are.

Giving a teacher appreciation speech.

Expressing gratitude towards wonderful teachers is not just a formality, but a meaningful gesture that can leave a lasting impact.

A well written appreciation speech has the power to inspire, uplift, and acknowledge the incredible work that educators do every day and show them how much each teacher deserves tremendous love.

Teachers play a vital role in shaping the lives of their students, instilling knowledge, values, and a passion for learning.

Here we dive into the art of writing a teacher appreciation speech that goes beyond mere words to truly resonate with its audience.

We will explore the significance of honoring teachers, the heartfelt emotions involved, and the importance of expressing gratitude sincerely.

Whether you are a student, a parent, or a colleague looking to convey your appreciation, crafting a thoughtful speech can convey your deep respect and admiration for the dedication and hard work of teachers.

After all, teachers are what make school such a special place. School would be just a hollow building without all the deeds amazing teachers do everyday.

A speech is a great idea for teacher’s appreciation week .

Looking for more great teacher appreciation ideas ? We’ve got lots of great teacher appreciation printables and teacher appreciation craft ideas too!

Table of Contents

Understanding the Role of Teachers in Society

Crafting a heartfelt teacher appreciation speech, structuring an inspiring teacher appreciation speech, delivering the speech with confidence and sincerity, acknowledging the impact of teacher appreciation, teacher appreciation speech example.

Teachers hold a pivotal role in shaping the future of society through their impact on students’ lives. They go beyond imparting knowledge, influencing values, skills, and character development. Let’s delve into the multifaceted role of teachers in our society.

Here are some things to consider before writing your speech.

Impact of Teachers on Students’ Lives

Teachers are more than just educators; they are mentors, role models, and supporters. Their influence extends far beyond the classroom, shaping the beliefs, attitudes, and aspirations of their students.

Teachers instill a sense of curiosity, critical thinking, and a thirst for knowledge that can last a lifetime. They play a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of leaders, innovators, and change-makers.

The relationships teachers build with their students can have a profound impact on their personal and academic growth. Teachers not only teach academic subjects but also impart life lessons, instilling values like empathy, resilience, and perseverance.

They help students discover their strengths, overcome challenges, and realize their full potential. The guidance and encouragement provided by teachers can set students on a path to success and fulfillment.

Challenges Faced by Teachers

Despite their vital role, teachers encounter numerous challenges in their profession. From heavy workloads and limited resources to diverse student needs and societal pressures, teachers navigate a complex landscape every day.

The demands of modern education, including standardized testing, curriculum changes, and technology integration, add to the challenges teachers face.

Moreover, teachers often deal with issues beyond academics, such as student behavior problems, mental health concerns, and societal inequalities.

The emotional labor involved in supporting students’ social and emotional well-being can be draining. Despite these challenges, teachers remain dedicated to their students’ growth and well-being, often going above and beyond their job descriptions.

Appreciation for teachers is crucial not only to boost their morale but also to acknowledge the hard work, passion, and dedication they bring to their profession.

Recognizing the challenges teachers face and expressing gratitude for their contributions can inspire them to continue making a positive impact on students’ lives.

In a society where teachers play such a significant role in shaping the future generations, it is essential to value and appreciate their efforts, recognizing the impact they have on individuals, communities, and the world at large.

Sharing a heartfelt teacher appreciation speech is a meaningful way to express gratitude and admiration for the educators who impact our lives.

Reflecting on personal experiences with teachers and how they have influenced us can add a personal touch to the speech, making it more genuine and memorable.

Personal Reflections on Teacher’s Influence

Begin by reflecting on specific moments when the teacher made a difference in your life.

Recall instances where their guidance, support, or encouragement influenced your personal growth and academic journey.

Share anecdotes that highlight the positive impact the teacher had on you, allowing the audience to understand the depth of your appreciation.

Expressing Specific Appreciation

Expressing gratitude with specific examples can make your speech more impactful. Mention particular qualities or actions of the teacher that you admire and appreciate.

Whether it’s their dedication to helping students, their innovative teaching methods, or their unwavering support, sharing concrete examples can demonstrate the profound impact they have had on you and others.

Adding Personal Touches to the Speech

Adding personal touches to your teacher appreciation speech can make it more heartfelt and memorable. Consider using resources like teacher appreciation poems and teach appreciation quotes to add a creative and touching flair to your message.

These elements can beautifully complement your anecdotes, illustrating the profound bond between teachers and their students.

You can also incorporate personal experiences or lessons learned from the teacher that have shaped your growth and perspective. Personalizing the speech shows thoughtfulness and gratitude, making the teacher feel truly valued and appreciated.

Crafting a teacher appreciation speech that resonates with your audience requires careful structuring to ensure your message is impactful and memorable. Here’s how you can structure your speech to inspire and honor your teachers.

Setting the Tone

The introduction of your teacher appreciation speech sets the tone for the entire address. It serves as the hook that captures the audience’s attention and piques their interest. Consider starting with a personal anecdote, a thought-provoking quote, or a heartfelt thank you to immediately engage your listeners. A captivating introduction not only grabs attention but also sets the stage for the heartfelt appreciation you’re about to express.

Sharing Appreciation Stories

In the body of your speech, sharing personal anecdotes and appreciation stories can profoundly impact your audience. Reflect on specific moments when a teacher’s guidance or support made a difference in your life or the lives of others.

By weaving these stories into your speech, you humanize your message and illustrate the positive influence teachers have. Personal narratives create a connection with your audience and showcase the genuine appreciation you have for your teachers.

You can get ideas in our guide for writing teacher appreciation letter or examples for thank-you notes from parents , which can provide a personal touch and demonstrate the collective appreciation of the community.

Sharing specific instances where teachers have made a significant difference can make your speech more relatable and heartfelt.

Inspiring Closing Remarks

Concluding your teacher appreciation speech with impactful closing remarks leaves a lasting impression on your audience. Use this final opportunity to reinforce your gratitude, summarize key points, and leave the audience inspired.

Consider ending with a with an inspiring message, possibly echoing the sentiments found in thank-you messages from students , leaving a lasting impression of heartfelt appreciation.

Crafting an inspiring teacher appreciation speech involves structuring your message thoughtfully, from the attention-grabbing introduction to the heartfelt conclusion.

By setting the right tone, sharing personal stories, and ending with impactful closing remarks, you can create a speech that honors and celebrates the teachers who have made a difference.

Delivering a teacher appreciation speech with confidence and sincerity is a critical aspect of making a lasting impact on your audience. Here are some tips to help you practice, maintain eye contact, and deliver your speech with genuine emotion:

Tips on Practicing the Speech

  • Practice Makes Perfect : Rehearse your speech multiple times to familiarize yourself with the content and flow.
  • Record Yourself : Recording your practice sessions allows you to identify areas for improvement, such as pacing and tone.
  • Seek Feedback : Ask friends or family to listen to your speech and provide constructive feedback for refinement.
  • Visualize Success : Picture yourself delivering the speech confidently and envision a positive response from your audience.

Maintaining Eye Contact

  • Connect with Your Audience : Maintain eye contact with different individuals in the room to establish a personal connection and convey sincerity.
  • Engage with Emotion : Use eye contact to express genuine gratitude and appreciation for the teachers you are addressing.
  • Practice In Front of a Mirror : Practice making eye contact with your reflection to build confidence in maintaining eye contact during the actual speech.

Delivering with Genuine Emotion

  • Speak from the Heart : Infuse your speech with personal anecdotes and heartfelt sentiments to evoke genuine emotion.
  • Express Gratitude : Verbally express your appreciation for the teachers’ dedication and impact on your life and education.
  • Stay True to Your Emotions : Avoid sounding rehearsed by staying authentic and allowing your emotions to shine through in your delivery.

By following these tips, you can deliver your speech for teachers with the confidence and sincerity that will truly inspire and touch the hearts of your audience.

Expressing gratitude towards teachers not only brightens their day but also plays a significant role in shaping their teaching journey. Let’s delve into how gratitude impacts teachers and ways to continue appreciating them beyond a speech.

How Gratitude Impacts Teachers

Gratitude acts as a driving force for teachers, fueling their passion and dedication towards their students. When teachers feel appreciated, it boosts their morale, leading to increased job satisfaction and motivation to excel in their roles.

The simple act of acknowledging their hard work and commitment can have a profound impact on their overall well-being.

It reinforces a sense of value and recognition, creating a positive environment where teachers feel supported and encouraged to continue making a difference in the lives of their students.

Continuing the Appreciation Beyond the Speech

While a thank you speech is a wonderful gesture, it’s essential to continue showing gratitude consistently.

Simple actions such as writing a heartfelt note, volunteering to help with classroom tasks, or participating in school events can go a long way in recognizing and supporting teachers.

Building a culture of appreciation not only benefits individual teachers but also fosters a sense of community within the school.

By consistently showing appreciation and support, we can empower teachers to thrive and inspire future generations with their dedication and passion.

Here’s an example of a great teacher appreciation speech.

Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed colleagues, and most importantly, our honored teachers,

As we gather in this moment of gratitude, we find ourselves reflecting on the invaluable impact you’ve made on our lives. Your dedication extends far beyond the walls of any classroom, reaching deep into the hearts and minds of those you teach. Today, I wish to celebrate you with words that mirror our collective admiration, starting with a poem that echoes our sentiments:

“In the garden of life, teachers plant seeds of knowledge that grow forever. With gentle hands and a nurturing heart, they cultivate dreams, inspire curiosity, and awaken the soul to the endless possibilities that await.”

This poem, though simple, captures the essence of what you do every day. You are the gardeners of human potential, nurturing budding minds with the richness of education and the warmth of your dedication.

In the spirit of expressing our deepest thanks, let me share a quote that resonates profoundly with the essence of your contribution: “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” Your impact is immeasurable, not confined by the here and now but extending into the infinite reach of future generations. Your words, your lessons, and your care forge the legacy of your influence, a legacy that transcends time and space.

Every day, you paint the world with the colors of wisdom and truth, guiding us with patience and understanding, and illuminating the path of learning with the light of your knowledge. Your commitment to education is not just a profession but a profound calling, a dedication to shaping the architects of tomorrow and the guardians of a brighter future.

Through your eyes, we have glimpsed the wonders of the world, and through your words, we have been inspired to pursue our dreams with courage and confidence. You have shown us that the quest for knowledge is not a race to be won but a journey to be savored, filled with endless curiosity and boundless possibilities.

As we stand here in admiration of your unwavering dedication, let us acknowledge that the true essence of teaching is not to fill minds with data but to ignite the spark of understanding and the flame of passion. You have mastered this art with grace, imparting lessons that endure far beyond the final bell.

In closing, let this moment be a testament to our heartfelt appreciation for the countless ways you enrich our lives. Your influence shapes not just the intellect but the very spirit of those you teach, igniting a fire of learning that burns brightly within us all.

Thank you, dear teachers, for every moment, every lesson, and every memory. Your legacy is not just in the minds you’ve enlightened but in the lives you’ve inspired. We are all better for having known you, and our gratitude is as boundless as the knowledge you share.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

Crafting a heartfelt teacher appreciation speech is not only a gesture of gratitude but also a powerful way to inspire and uplift those who dedicate their lives to education.

Emphasizing the importance of recognizing the hard work and dedication of teachers, we have explored how to structure a speech that resonates with sincerity and admiration.

Remember, simplicity and authenticity are key when expressing your gratitude. Let your words flow naturally, focusing on the impact your teacher has had on your life and the lives of others.

Take the time to reflect on the qualities that make your teacher special and be sure to convey your appreciation with genuine emotion.

By harnessing the power of gratitude in your speech, you have the opportunity to create a lasting impression that will inspire both your teacher and your audience.

So go ahead, write your own teacher appreciation speech and let your words be a beacon of gratitude and inspiration.

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Speech on My Teacher

Your teacher is a guiding light, shaping your mind and character. They inspire, challenge, and encourage you to reach for the stars.

Think about your favorite teacher. What makes them special? This topic explores the significant role of teachers in our lives.

1-minute Speech on My Teacher

Ladies and gentlemen, today I want to talk to you about a very special person, my teacher. My teacher is not just an educator, but also a guide, a mentor, and a friend. They have a heart full of understanding and a mind bursting with knowledge that they are eager to share with us.

Every day, they stand in front of us, ready to impart wisdom. They teach us about numbers, words, science, and history. But that’s not all. They also teach us about life. They show us how to deal with problems, make good choices, and be better persons. They help us understand the world around us and our place in it.

My teacher is patient. They understand that we all learn at our own pace. If we make mistakes, they don’t scold us. Instead, they show us how to learn from these mistakes. They know that making mistakes is just a part of learning and growing.

With their kind words and helpful advice, my teacher inspires us. They encourage us to dream big, work hard, and never give up. They believe in us, even when we have doubts about ourselves. With their guidance, we learn to believe in ourselves, too.

My teacher is not just a teacher. They are a guiding light that helps us navigate through our learning journey. They are a hero, working tirelessly to make sure we grow into the best versions of ourselves. We may not always say it, but we are grateful for everything they do for us.

In conclusion, my teacher is a true blessing. They are shaping not just our minds, but also our hearts. And for that, we thank them.

Ladies and gentlemen, let’s give a big round of applause for my teacher, and all teachers around the world.

Also check:

  • 10-lines on My Teacher

2-minute Speech on My Teacher

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, today I will talk about a very important person in my life, my teacher.

My teacher is like a candle. She burns herself to give us light. She wakes up early in the morning, prepares her lessons, and comes to school with a bright smile. She is always ready to help us, guide us, and support us in our studies.

My teacher is like a gardener. She helps us grow. She waters us with knowledge, removes the weeds of ignorance, and adds the fertilizer of wisdom. She takes care of us like fragile plants in a nursery. She helps us to grow strong, to stand tall, and to bloom into beautiful flowers of success.

My teacher is like a sculptor. She shapes our mind and character. She chisels away our rough edges, smoothens our rough spots, and polishes our skills. She helps us to become the best version of ourselves. She makes us into beautiful works of art, ready to be displayed in the gallery of life.

My teacher is like a lighthouse. She guides us through the stormy seas of life. She shows us the right path, warns us of the dangers ahead, and helps us to reach our destination safely. She is our beacon of hope, our source of light, and our guiding star.

My teacher is like a book. She is full of knowledge, wisdom, and experience. She opens her pages to us, shares her stories with us, and teaches us valuable lessons. She enriches our mind, expands our horizon, and broadens our perspective.

In short, my teacher is my hero. She is my role model, my mentor, and my guide. She has a great impact on my life. She influences my thoughts, shapes my character, and guides my actions. She inspires me to dream big, work hard, and achieve my goals.

I am grateful to my teacher. I am thankful for her hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. I am obliged for her guidance, support, and encouragement. I am indebted to her for her invaluable lessons, priceless advice, and precious time.

I respect my teacher. I admire her knowledge, appreciate her patience, and applaud her efforts. I acknowledge her role, recognize her contribution, and honor her service. I cherish her wisdom, value her guidance, and treasure her teachings.

In conclusion, my teacher is my guiding star, my source of inspiration, and my beacon of hope. She is my mentor, my guide, and my friend. She is my hero, my role model, and my idol. She is my teacher, and I am proud to be her student. Thank you, my teacher, for everything you do for us. Your teachings will always be a part of us, guiding us through life.

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How to Make a Good Speech for School

Last Updated: February 26, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,265,355 times.

A good speech in school will earn you the admiration of your teachers and peers alike. You probably won't deliver the kind of speech you hear in the movies, but that's a good thing: people will enjoy your original take much more. From getting an idea to conquering stage fright, here are the steps to take if you want to make your final speech a memorable, exciting success.

Sample Speeches

how to give a speech as a teacher

Writing the Speech

Step 1 Choose a topic or theme.

  • If you're not sure which theme to choose, write down or summarize a few stories and statements you could include in your speech. Pick the ones you like best and see if there's a unifying theme to tie them together.
  • See What to Do and What Not to Do for more advice on themes.

Step 2 Pick a tone that makes you comfortable.

  • Don't interrupt one point with a clause, or section set aside by commas or parentheses. Instead of saying "Our tennis and basketball teams, which we all know won the regional championships two years ago, need increased funding to compete," say "Our tennis and basketball teams both won the regional championships two years ago. Now we need to increase their funding to compete with other schools."
  • You can reference your school's slang once or twice to get a laugh, but don't overdo it, especially if there are parents in the audience.

Step 4 Write down original stories and messages.

  • Find a broad message that your whole audience can connect to their own life, but still deals with a specific idea. For instance: "Become an even better version of the hero who inspired you." (But don't steal your "original" idea from this website!)
  • Your stories can be specific incidents in your life or from history, but you should connect them to a more general idea. For instance, you could tell a story about your sibling's hospital visit, then go on to talk about overcoming fear and hardship in general.
  • If you like what you're writing but it doesn't fit the theme you had planned, it's fine to adjust your topic or switch it entirely. Switch back and forth between writing stories and brainstorming a theme if you keep getting stuck.

Step 5 Find a gripping way to begin your speech.

  • Surprise your audience by diving right into a tough story. "When I was ten years old, I lost my father."
  • Make your audience laugh by telling a joke, especially one that everyone in the room will get. "Hello everyone. Let's have a round of applause for the guy who installed air conditioning."
  • Start with a grand, thought-provoking statement. "Our galaxy contains billions of earth-like planets, and we're only just beginning to discover them."
  • Most likely, someone else will introduce you, and many of your classmates know you already. Unless you're asked specifically to introduce yourself, you can get right to the good stuff.

Step 6 Make the theme clear.

  • To use an example from earlier, if your theme is "Become an even better version of the hero who inspired you," you could begin your speech with two or three sentence about your hero, then say "You all have heroes who inspire you, but you don't have to just follow them. You can become even greater than the people you look up to."

Step 7 Move from one idea to the next in a natural order.

  • Include phrases such as "Now I'd like to talk about..." and "But we should also remember..." when moving on to your next idea.

Step 8 End with a memorable statement that captures your speech.

  • Build up to a big ending, then crack a joke to wrap up a funny speech. "And I know when you walk to the ballot box tomorrow, you'll be ready to do the right thing. Protect the interests of yourself and your school by washing your hands afterward. Do you know how many people touch that thing?"
  • If you're giving a commencement speech, leave people feeling excited or awed about the future. This is a big moment and you have the power to help them realize it. "Years from now, you will be the father or mother your kid looks up to. The writer who changes the way we think. The inventor who creates new ways to live. Come up to the stage and start becoming heroes!"

Step 9 Edit and polish it as much as possible.

  • Have a teacher, family member, or trusted friend check it over for grammar mistakes and offer feedback. Spelling isn't as important, since you'll be speaking out loud.

Step 10 Consider visual aids.

  • If your topic involves a lot of numbers, plan to write them on the board so your audience can remember them

Step 11 Turn the speech into note cards, then practice!

  • Your notes are there to remind you what to say next and of important facts. "Move on to bear wrestling story (guy's name is Paul Bunyan)" is the level of detail you need.

Practicing and Delivering the Speech

Step 1 Think about movement and materials.

  • Practice giving your speech in as situation as similar to your actual speech as possible.
  • In general, you should stay fairly still while giving a speech. Small hand gestures and occasionally moving to a new spot are fine, especially if they help you feel and appear confident

Step 2 Practice speaking loudly and clearly.

  • If you speech is too long, you absolutely need to cut some material out of it or shorten the longer stories or ideas. If you're giving a commencement speech, aim for a 10 or 15 minute maximum. An election speech should be no more than a few minutes, and your teacher should be able to tell you the time limit for a class assignment speech.

Step 4 Talk slowly and pause between ideas.

  • If you can't stop rushing, work out how long you should spend on each section and write the number of minutes at the top of each index card or paragraph. Practice near a clock so you can check whether you're on pace.

Step 5 Deliver your speech to a mirror until you can do it without reading.

  • Use slightly different words each time once you have the main ideas down. Try not to get caught up on exact memorization; using a new phrase to communicate the written idea makes your speech sound more natural.

Step 6 Pay attention to other details once you become comfortable with the content.

  • Practice varying your facial expression if your face looks fixed and mechanical.
  • Try to vary the tone of your voice as well. Don't make it sound like you're reciting every word from memory; pretend you're speaking in ordinary conversation.

Step 7 Practice in front of a test audience.

  • Try to make eye contact with different members of your audience throughout the speech. Don't stare at any one person for too long.
  • Resist the temptation to hide by standing near a corner or large object.
  • Don't fidget, tap your foot, or make other nervous gestures. Try slowly walking back and forth across the stage to get rid of your nervous energy.

Step 8 Use their feedback to practice more.

  • Dressing nicely will increase your confidence and gain respect and attention from your audience.

What to Do and What Not to Do

Step 1 Choose an appropriate theme (for an election speech).

  • Memories your class shares and personal memories that many people will connect to, such as your first day at the school.
  • Overcoming obstacles. Talk about how your classmates overcame problems related to academics, finances, and health, and how proud everyone is that they're standing here.
  • The diversity of your classmates and celebrating the rich variety of experiences, personalities, and interests at your school. Describe some of the many ways people will go on to do good in the world.

Step 3 Use techniques to make your speech more memorable.

  • Address your audience directly. Ask them questions to get them thinking, although you shouldn't expect an answer.
  • Use groups of three. The human brain loves repetition, and especially trios. Start three sentences with the same phrase, speaking louder each sentence.
  • Use emotive language. Try to provoke a strong emotional response in your audience, not present a list of facts to them.

Step 4 Thank specific people, but don't go on too long.

  • Don't tell stories that only a few friends will understand. Even references that your whole class will get should be used sparingly if there are parents in the room as well.

Step 6 Avoid clichés.

  • Go change the world!
  • Today is not the last day of your education, but the first.
  • The future belongs to you.
  • If elected, I will be the voice of the students.
  • It's time for change!

Step 7 Don't insult or offend anyone.

  • If you're giving a high school commencement speech, remember that not everyone in your class will be attending college. Don't joke about your education letting you avoid a "bad" profession; chances are good there's a parent who has that job out in the audience.=

Common Questions: Tips for Writing & Rehearsing a Speech

How do you start a speech for school?

Start by introducing yourself and thanking the audience. You can kick off the speech with a relevant “what if” question that gets the audience thinking and expand on it. Or try starting with a strong statement or quote related to your topic, then follow it up with an impactful question to answer in your speech. [14] X Research source

Where do I start when I'm writing a speech?

Start by sitting down and brainstorming to get your creative juices flowing. What is the focus of your speech? Who is your audience? Why is your speech important? Once you have some notes down, start refining your ideas until you get to one main point or theme that you’ll base your speech on. [15] X Research source

What parts should I include in a speech to make it the most effective?

Create a speech that has a clear introduction for your main point or thesis statement. Then, include and expand on 2-3 main points to make up the body of your speech. To conclude, summarize and restate your thesis to include your key points, and then make your closing statement. [16] X Research source

How do I get better at giving a speech I've written?

Read the speech out loud several times to get a feel for it. Record or take video of yourself giving the speech to find any weak spots and adjust anything that feels awkward or choppy. Ask friends or family to watch you rehearse and give you honest feedback. Then, just keep practicing until you've nailed it. [17] X Research source

  • Look at everyone in the audience, not just one person. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Make sure you don't offend or embarrass your audience. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Before you start, pick a spot on the wall to focus on. Throughout the speech, keep looking at that spot after each sentence. This shows to your audience and teacher that you can make eye contact! Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

how to give a speech as a teacher

Things You'll Need

  • Writing tool
  • Index cards

You Might Also Like

Prepare and Give a Speech

  • ↑ [v161163_b01].12 November 2019.
  • ↑ https://finley-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/doe/sws/schools/f/finley-h/localcontent/how_to_write_a_speech.pdf
  • ↑ https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/articles/for-the-novice-six-simple-steps-to-writing-a-fantastic-speech
  • ↑ https://www.unr.edu/writing-speaking-center/student-resources/writing-speaking-resources/speech-introductions
  • ↑ [v161163_b01]. 12 November 2019.
  • ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zv7fqp3/articles/z4w96v4
  • ↑ https://classroom.synonym.com/write-good-speech-school-4859.html
  • ↑ https://www.unr.edu/writing-speaking-center/student-resources/writing-speaking-resources/speech-delivery
  • ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-start-off-a-speech
  • ↑ https://open.maricopa.edu/com225/chapter/selecting-a-topic-brainstorming-your-ideas/
  • ↑ https://www.amherst.edu/academiclife/support/writingcenter/public-speaking/resources-for-public-speaking/speech-structure
  • ↑ https://open.maricopa.edu/com225/chapter/practicing-your-speech/

About This Article

Patrick Muñoz

To make a good speech for school, choose a theme or topic to focus your speech on so it's easier to write. When you're writing your speech, stick with simple language so your audience understands and doesn't get bored. Also, try to start your speech with a joke, story, or shocking fact that will immediately grab their attention. Remember to talk directly to your audience by asking rhetorical questions and making references they'll understand. End your speech with something memorable, like an inspirational quote or a call to action. To learn more about how to practice and memorize your speech before you present it, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Anchoring Script for Welcoming Guests in the Function

Whenever you have a function at your school, college, or university, the most important people who will make the function beautiful are the guests you invite. The guests can make your program charming and interesting for the audience, so they need to feel that they are special. Hence, how to warmly welcome them and introduce them to the audience. Let’s look at some good anchoring script for welcoming guests in the function.

Anchoring Script for Welcoming Guests in the Function

Welcome Script 01.  Good morning/evening/afternoon to all dignitaries, guests, and delegates with great joy and immense exultation. I feel privileged to extend my warm welcome to all presented here for the celebration of Emerge [write the year here]. It has become a regular aspect and part of (insert name of your academy). Academical program to organize this emerging symposium which precedes college day function since_________.

Now, I invite Guests to today’s function with a request to come on to position and occupy the distinguished chair.

I invite (insert name of the guest) the chairperson of the__________to please come on to the stage. Two girls will go and comfort the chairperson.

We need not say about the chairperson. The whole campus is vibrating and echoes her prominence.

She taught her a humble career as a humble teacher and she rose to the position of a professor still without minding her health she showed a keen interest in the educative process.

Please give a warm welcome to__________. I request________ to offer her bouquet.

Welcome Script 02.  I am profusely elated to take this opportunity to introduce our chief guest of the day_________, the director of the________. (Add his/ her biography here)

On behalf of the management, I thank him for providing his gracious presence to join us today to enhance our joy.

Welcome Script 03.  We feel honored to have with us the honorable Chief Guest.  His Excellency Mr.________, – Sir you hardly need any introduction, you have made all of us proud of your distinguished work in numerous capacities. You are one of the most celebrated foreign service dignitaries.

Guests of Honor : Mr.________, the Pro-Vice Chairman of the School, the man of distinct vision and a fountainhead of illuminating ideas, an idol of knowledge and experience and inspiration to all of us.

how to give a speech as a teacher

Welcome Script 04.  I welcome________ honorable chief guest Mr./Ms._________. Director_______. Dearn academics_______. Vice Prinicipal_________. faculty members and participants.

I would like to request vice principal_________ sir to present flowers to the director__________. Thank you very much, sir.

I would like to request director__________ sir to present flowers to Respected chief guest________ sir. Thank you very much, sir.

Welcome Script 05.   I humbly invite_________ (also add the position here). Now I request_______ to offer bouquet to_______.

In addition, I cordially invite Mr./Ms.________ the principal of the college to occupy his honorable chair on the stage. Now I request______ to offer bouquet to_______.

Welcome Script 06. Good [morning/afternoon/evening] ladies and gentlemen! It is with immense pleasure that I extend a warm welcome to each and every one of you gathered here today. We are truly privileged to have a distinguished personality amongst us, someone whose presence adds immense value to our event.

Without further ado, let me introduce our esteemed chief guest for the day, [Name], the [designation] of [Organization/Institution]. [Name] is an individual of remarkable achievements and a source of inspiration for many. [Briefly mention key accomplishments and contributions].

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to [Name] for gracing us with their presence today. Your presence has elevated the significance of this occasion, and we are truly honored to have you here.

I would also like to acknowledge the presence of our Guest of Honor, [Name], the Pro-Vice Chairman of [School/Institution]. [Name] is a person of extraordinary vision, a beacon of knowledge, and a source of inspiration for all of us. His dedication and commitment to [mention any specific contributions] have truly set a benchmark for excellence.

Once again, a warm welcome to our chief guest, [Name], and our esteemed Guests of Honor, [Name]. We are looking forward to an enlightening and memorable event ahead. Thank you.

  • Best ideas on how to arrange and organize school or college functions
  • How to Start a Welcome Speech in English with a Sample

Expressions to invite the guests onto the stage:

How to Develop Your Personal Credibility in Public Speaking

  • I consider it a great honor to welcome Mr./Ms/Sri/Smt/Dr./Prof  _______________ onto the stage.
  • May I Invite the chief guest Mr./Ms/Sir/Smt/Dr./Prof  __________________ on the stage?
  • The next dignitary to honor us with his/her presence is. Mr./Ms/Sir/Smt/Dr./Prof __________.
  • I am glad to invite Mr./Ms/Sir/Smt/Dr./Prof_______________________ On to the stage.
  • It will now be the turn of _____________________ to come onto the stage.
  • I request Mr./Ms/Sir/Smt/Dr./Prof_________________________ to grace the stage.
  • Next, we look forward to the presence of ___________________ on the stage.
  • It is my privilege to invite Mr./Ms/Sir/Smt/Dr./Prof ____________________ onto the stage.
  • With equal pleasure invite______________ on to the stage.

Anchoring Script for Cultural Event Function

  • How to Introduce and Honor Chief Guest in a Function
  • How to Give Welcome Remarks in English

The comparing script for welcoming guests mentioned above will make your guest feel special and comfortable.

Was the article helpful? Feel free to write your views about the article in the comment box below. Moreover, if you need any kind of script don’t hesitate to contact us or write in the comment box.

If you need the complete and more relevant scripts to host different kinds of functions and events. Please check the following E-book which is covered with 150+ titles and scripts.

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how to give a speech as a teacher

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Indian Republic Day is on 26th January and the anchoring script will be published until that time.

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how to give a speech as a teacher

How to Write and Deliver a Memorable Graduation Speech: Tips, Examples, and Techniques

  • The Speaker Lab
  • March 7, 2024

Table of Contents

The goal of any graduation speech is to find words that capture the essence of years spent learning and growing. Today, we’ll guide you through that process and help you craft a memorable graduation speech . You’ll learn to weave gratitude with shared experiences, and balance humor with wisdom. We’ll even help you find quotes that strike a chord and deliver them in a way that resonates.

But that’s not all! Dive into proven strategies for public speaking, managing stage fright, and drawing inspiration from iconic commencement speeches. Discover how personal growth stories add depth to your message and explore themes that leave a lasting impact on your peers as they step forward into new beginnings.

Crafting Your Graduation Speech: A Step-by-Step Guide

When it comes to marking the end of your high school or university journey, a graduation speech can capture the essence of this pivotal moment. But how do you start such an important address?

Opening with Impact

The first words of your graduation speech are crucial. They set the stage for what’s to come and grab your audience’s attention. Think about starting strong by sharing a personal anecdote that ties into the broader experience of your class or drawing from Steve Jobs’ Stanford University commencement speech , where he began with, “Today I want to tell you three stories from my life.” This technique instantly piques interest because it promises narratives that have shaped who you are.

An impactful opening also acknowledges shared experiences. Perhaps you could reflect on how moments in classrooms turned strangers into lifelong friends. Or for university commencements, consider touching upon those late-night study sessions that tested perseverance but ultimately led to academic achievements worth celebrating today.

Building the Body of Your Graduation Speech

In crafting the body content, intertwine lessons learned throughout high school years or during university courses with aspirations for what lies ahead. For instance, share how overcoming obstacles like balancing extracurricular activities and academics taught valuable time management skills.

To add depth, incorporate quotes from luminaries like Oprah Winfrey or draw parallels between classroom learnings and real-world applications. Dive deeper by discussing milestones achieved together as a graduating class and recognizing the hard work everyone put in to make it to this monumental occasion.

Concluding with Inspiration

Your conclusion should leave fellow graduates feeling inspired while helping them celebrate high school memories one last time—or honor those unforgettable college years if addressing higher education grads.

Closing remarks could include heartfelt gratitude towards teachers’ support and parental guidance. You might even crack a joke or two. It’s these personalized touches paired with universal truths that resonate most deeply as students step forward into new chapters post-graduation.

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Delivery Techniques for Confident Speaking

Standing in front of a crowd can turn even the most composed student into a bundle of nerves. But fear not, with some smart strategies, you’ll be able to channel your inner orator and deliver your graduation speech with confidence.

Practicing Your Graduation Speech

Becoming familiar with every word of your speech is key. Rehearse it out loud until the words feel like second nature. This practice does more than just help you remember what comes next; it lets you find the natural rhythm and pace of your delivery. Consider recording yourself to catch any quirks or stumbling blocks—you might be surprised at how much this helps refine your presentation.

A trick often overlooked is practicing in different environments. If possible, stand on the actual stage where you will deliver your commencement address. Familiarity breeds comfort, making that once daunting podium seem like an old friend when graduation day arrives.

Overcoming Nervousness and Stage Fright

Nervousness is normal but doesn’t let it dictate your performance. Before stepping up to speak, take deep breaths to steady yourself—a calm body encourages a calm mind. An effective method for easing anxiety is visualization. Imagine delivering each line perfectly and receiving an enthusiastic response from listeners—envisioning success can make it so.

Maintaining Eye Contact

The power of eye contact cannot be overstated. It connects speaker and listener on a personal level that amplifies engagement significantly. Scan across different sections of the audience periodically without lingering too long on any one individual.

Incorporate these techniques diligently when preparing for the big day. In doing so, they become part of muscle memory and help build confidence. With confidence and plenty of practice on your side, your graduation speech is sure to conclude to applause leaving you to celebrate yet another milestone achieved.

Analyzing Renowned Graduation Speeches for Inspiration

When crafting a commencement speech, it’s often helpful to look at the giants whose words have echoed through auditoriums and across campuses. Steve Jobs’ Stanford University Commencement Speech is a classic example of weaving life lessons into an address that connects deeply with graduates. Similarly, Oprah Winfrey’s Harvard University Commencement Address showed how stumbling blocks can become stepping stones if we learn from them.

Steve Jobs’ Storytelling Mastery

Jobs had a knack for turning personal anecdotes into universal truths. In his Stanford address, he shared three stories from his own life without sounding self-indulgent. These stories worked because each one carried a broader message relevant to every graduate: finding what you love, dealing with loss, and facing death head-on. Jobs famously urged students to “stay hungry, stay foolish,” encouraging them not just to pursue success but remain curious about life despite challenges. This advice is especially poignant for today’s graduating class.

Like Jobs, you too can craft narratives around moments that speak volumes about perseverance and passion.

Oprah’s Unflinching Honesty

Much like her television persona suggests, Oprah did not shy away from discussing her setbacks in front of Harvard’s graduating class. Instead, she confidently laid bare the challenges faced by anyone who dares greatly because failure is part of achieving greatness. As she reminded students, “It doesn’t matter how far you might rise… At some point you are bound to stumble.”

In doing so she forged an instant connection with listeners grappling with their fears about what the future holds post-graduation. It was a powerful reminder that even icons like Oprah are not immune to trials but emerge stronger through them.

The power behind these speeches lies not just in their content but also in their delivery. These speakers mastered the art of speaking confidently before crowds, maintaining eye contact, and conveying authenticity—techniques any speaker should aspire to replicate on graduation day.

Themes and Messages That Resonate with Graduates

Facing a sea of caps and gowns, the right words can turn a graduation ceremony from mundane to memorable. When crafting your commencement speech, focusing on themes like overcoming obstacles and perseverance connects deeply with graduates who have hurdled high school or college challenges.

Overcoming Obstacles

Talking about stumbling blocks is not just relatable; it’s inspirational. Think Steve Jobs at Stanford University or Oprah Winfrey at Harvard—both shared personal tales of setbacks turned into comebacks. Beyond simply telling their stories, they showed how those hurdles were stepping stones to success.

Weave your narrative around the potholes you’ve navigated during your high school years. This doesn’t mean airing every bit of dirty laundry, just highlighting that one significant moment where everything seemed against you yet failed to defeat you.

The Power of Perseverance

Perseverance is more than sticking to something—it’s pushing forward when every fiber wants to quit. It resonates because everyone, including your fellow graduates, has felt that urge to give up but chose to persevere instead.

Incorporate this theme by using vivid examples that mirror collective experiences—the all-nighters before exams or balancing sports stars ambitions with academics—to illustrate perseverance isn’t just an idea but lived reality for many students.

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Life Lessons Shared During Graduation Speeches

In addition to sharing content that fellow graduates will find relatable and inspirational, you should also consider sharing life lessons with your audience. Whether young or old, everyone has a unique perspective on life and sharing your wisdom can steer graduates toward a fulfilling path.

The Power of Kindness

Making a positive impact doesn’t require grand gestures; sometimes it’s found in small acts of kindness or an innovative idea that simplifies lives. This message sticks because everyone wants their work to mean something—to know they’ve left footprints on society’s vast canvas.

True Grit and Tenacity

Embracing failure and resilience is another powerful theme echoed by commencement speakers across podiums. Let’s face it; not all endeavors lead straight to success. But as Oprah Winfrey once said during her Harvard University commencement address, “It doesn’t matter how far you might rise… At some point, you are bound to stumble.” Her words remind us: How we pick ourselves up matters more than how we fall.

Making a Positive Impact

A graduating class stands poised on tomorrow’s threshold ready to mold history—and speeches should fuel this transformative fire within them. Memorable graduation speeches show individuals that ovation-worthy achievements are possible if you believe your actions count.

As you prepare your graduation speech, consider including one of these life lessons or one of your own. Don’t be afraid to share your hard-won insights to your fellow graduates—you just might inspire them to make history.

Celebrating Achievements and Acknowledging Contributions

Graduation is not just a ceremony. It’s a tribute to the academic achievements and extracurricular activities that have shaped students into who they are. The acknowledgment of teacher support and parental guidance also plays a pivotal role in these speeches, as they’re the scaffolding upon which student successes are built.

Academic Achievements, Extracurricular Activities

Acknowledging academic prowess goes beyond GPA scores or honor societies; it’s about highlighting unique intellectual journeys. Similarly, shining a light on extracurricular triumphs—be it sports stars setting records or artists winning competitions—adds depth to your speech. Remembering these moments isn’t merely recounting victories but celebrating the relentless spirit of your fellow graduates.

Diving deeper into personal anecdotes helps you connect with peers by reminding them of their growth through challenges faced together—from late-night study sessions to championship games. It’s these stories that make graduation memories stick with classmates long after commencement ends.

Teacher Support, Parental Guidance

The unsung heroes behind every graduate deserve their moment in your address too. Teachers’ dedication can turn classrooms into launch pads for dreams, while parents’ unwavering belief often fuels aspirations during tumultuous times like the pandemic.

In weaving tales of mentorship from teachers or wisdom imparted by parents, you remind everyone that success is rarely a solo act—it’s supported by many hands and hearts along the way. Celebrate this collective effort because each person has contributed uniquely to shaping graduating classes across America, including yours.

Common Issues in Writing and Delivering Graduation Speeches

Staring at a blank page as the clock ticks down to graduation day can rattle even the most seasoned speech writers. Overcoming writer’s block is about finding your message stick—the core idea that you want to leave with your peers. Remember, this isn’t just any talk; it’s one that marks a significant transition for both you and your audience.

Overcoming Writer’s Block

Finding yourself stumped on how to write a speech ? Don’t sweat it. Start by jotting down memories from school years or powerful life lessons that resonate. Think of Steve Jobs’ Stanford University commencement speech where he shared personal stories, which became an inspirational backbone for many other speeches.

If inspiration doesn’t strike immediately, step away from the computer. Take a walk and reflect on high school experiences or browse through commencement speeches archives—like Lin-Manuel Miranda’s address at the University of Pennsylvania. They might spark ideas you hadn’t considered yet.

Navigating Technical Troubles

A great speech can stumble over technical hiccups. To avoid glitches, check all equipment beforehand—a simple but crucial task often overlooked due to nerves or excitement about graduating class celebrations.

Prior rehearsals will also let you handle these issues like a pro should they pop up during delivery. Make sure any videos or slides complement rather than overshadow what you’re saying. After all, graduates aren’t there for bells and whistles—they’re there for meaningful words.

Handling Stage Fright

Your knees may shake thinking delivering in front of proud parents and peers—it’s no small feat, after all. Before you step on stage, visual your success until it feels more real and attainable.

And don’t forget to watch your body language. During your speech, maintain eye contact—not stare-downs—to connect genuinely with fellow students. And if anxiety creeps up despite practice sessions? Take deep breaths to steady yourself and keep going. You’ve handled high school—you can handle this.

FAQs on Writing and Delivering a Graduation Speech

What do i say in my graduation speech.

Share heartfelt stories, acknowledge support from others, and inspire your classmates to chase their dreams boldly.

How do you write a 3 minute graduation speech?

Keep it tight: hit the high notes with gratitude, shared memories, a dash of humor, and wrap up with punchy inspiration.

How do I start a graduation speech?

Kick off with thanks. Give props to family and mentors. Set the stage for reflecting on past adventures together.

What is the most important message of a graduation speech?

The core should spark hope—urge peers to leap into tomorrow equipped with lessons learned during these formative years.

Master your moment with a graduation speech that turns heads and warms hearts. Remember the power of gratitude and connect with your audience through stories, those shared adventures that bind you to your classmates. Don’t be afraid to add a few jokes and quotes to your speech either, as well as personal growth stories to inspire.

When you hit the stage, stand tall, make eye contact, and speak from your heart—the podium’s yours. If butterflies invade, breathe deep and know everyone’s rooting for you. Writer’s block didn’t stop you and neither will this.

Your graduation speech is not just words—it’s a battle cry for your graduating class as you prepare to conquer what lies ahead!

  • Last Updated: March 5, 2024

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IMAGES

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COMMENTS

  1. 10 Tips for Improving Your Public Speaking Skills

    Do you enjoy hearing a speech start with "Today I'm going to talk to you about X"? Most people don't. Instead, use a startling statistic, an interesting anecdote, or concise quotation. Conclude your speech with a summary and a strong statement that your audience is sure to remember. 10. Use Audiovisual Aids Wisely.

  2. How to Give a Speech: 10 Tips for Powerful Public Speaking

    4. Take Deep Breaths: Before and during the speech, take a few deep breaths as this will help calm nerves and make sure your breathing is regulated throughout the duration of your presentation. 5. Speak Slowly: It is common to feel anxious while giving a speech and try to rush through it too quickly.

  3. 16 Public Speaking Tips for Students

    Practice being silent when you feel the urge to use one of these words. Vary your tone, volume, and speed: Interesting speakers vary the pitch (high versus low), volume (loud versus soft), and speed (fast versus slow) of their words. Doing so keeps your classmates interested and engaged in what you say.

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    7. Conclude by restating your message and saying a simple, "Thank you." You've gone through the speech, no one's died, and now it's time for your conclusion. Keep it to the point, lock eyes with the audience, thank them, smile, and get off the stage. Take a deep breath.

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    It happens to everyone. Instead, pause for one to two seconds to look at your notecards. Before you begin speaking, take a deep breath, smile at your audience, and count backward from 5. If you need to, read the first few lines off of your notecards until you can regain your rhythm and composure.

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    Tell them (Body of your speech - the main ideas plus examples) Tell them what you told them (The ending) TEST before presenting. Read aloud several times to check the flow of material, the suitability of language and the timing. Return to top. A step by step guide for writing a great speech.

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    Written: Have them practice writing new vocabulary words in sentences. Oral: Have them say out loud new concepts. Have them discuss with their peers in groups. Visual: Use graphs, pictures, sentence strips, and any way to make learning visual (not just notes on a SMART Board.)

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    If you don't want to inflict the same sort of experience on others, here are our top tips for giving a great speech. 1. Practise your microphone technique. Correct spacing is key - you want to be heard but don't want to end up deafening your audience! Nothing ruins a speech more than bad microphone technique.

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    This will clear your system and get you ready to breathe properly during the speech. Stand confidently in a relaxed and upright posture, with your feet shoulder-width apart. This will trick your brain into thinking that you're confident and make it easier to give the speech. 2. Smile at the audience.

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    Ask for a glass of water. If your speech is lengthy, then you will need some water to moisten your throat. 7. Look in a mirror before you go onstage. Check both the front and the back of your outfit and make sure that your hair is neat and that your makeup, if you're wearing any, is not smudged. Part 5.

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    3) Conclusion. The conclusion of your speech should restate your main message. You basically summarize the main points of your speech which will help you to create a long-lasting impression in the minds of your audience. You can end your speech in much the same way you began- with a story, quotation, or a question.

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    Rotation: Explain that outside-circle students (I have them raise their hands so they tune in) will always stay put. Explain that inside-circle students (have them raise their hands again) will be the ones that rotate. Rounds: First, students switch papers. 2 minutes: Inside circle people stand up, give speech.

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    2-minute Speech on My Teacher. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, today I will talk about a very important person in my life, my teacher. My teacher is like a candle. She burns herself to give us light. She wakes up early in the morning, prepares her lessons, and comes to school with a bright smile.

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    7. Practice in front of a test audience. Gather together your family members or friends and ask them to listen to your practice. You'll probably feel nervous, but the practice will make you more confident for the actual speech. Try to make eye contact with different members of your audience throughout the speech.

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    She taught her a humble career as a humble teacher and she rose to the position of a professor still without minding her health she showed a keen interest in the educative process. Please give a warm welcome to_____. I request_____ to offer her bouquet. Welcome Script 02.

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    Grade level: 6-12. Student learning objective. Getting students to understand the components that make up a great speech and identify these traits in famous addresses. Preparation. Teachers should familiarize themselves with at least three famous speeches from a variety of sources. Presidential addresses like the Gettysburg Address are a good ...

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    It's a simple technique, and it makes a powerful difference. So when you review a draft of your speech, look for how you can use "you" as often as possible. Practice: Practice makes perfect, my friend. Practice your speech several times before the graduation ceremony to get comfortable with your message and delivery.

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    Conclusion. Master your moment with a graduation speech that turns heads and warms hearts. Remember the power of gratitude and connect with your audience through stories, those shared adventures that bind you to your classmates. Don't be afraid to add a few jokes and quotes to your speech either, as well as personal growth stories to inspire.

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    It is always recommended to start your speech with a greeting like "good morning" or "good afternoon" depending on the time. You can also greet the audience using the phrase "good morning to all teachers and my dearest friends". After that, you can add a quote to get the audience's attention. Quotes can be anything related to ...