1.1 Speaking in Public

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Text : Stephen E. Lucas, The Art of Public Speaking, McGraw Hill

• Public Speaking: is a way of making your ideas public- of sharing them with other people and of influencing other people. 
• It is a way to express your ideas and to have an impact on issues that matter in society.
• As a form of empowerment, it can –and often does- make a difference in things people care about very much.
• Public speaking is the first and foremost personal quality that everyone needs for their career development. (It will decide whether you can be hired or not, promoted or not).

Similarities between public speaking and conversation

Good conversation is the initial stage for public speaking.
1. Organizing your thoughts logically:              
         Ex: directing your friend to get to your house.

2. Tailoring your message to your audience:     
         Ex: Explaining about how pearls are formed to two different people.

3. Telling a story for maximum impact:
         Ex: telling a friend about a funny incident at last class.

4. Adapting to listener feedback:
     Ex: when your listener asks you to repeat the points and explain more clearly, giving feedback to your friends.

Differences between public speaking and conversation

1. Public speaking is more highly structured:

• Strict time limitation
• No interruptions by audiences' question or commentary
• Speaker’s should accomplish his or her purpose
• More planning & preparation than ordinary conversation.

2. Public speaking requires more formal language:

• Little space for slang, jargon & bad grammar in public speaking
• Bad language often creates the negative impact on speaker and his or her speaking too.
• Public speaking should be special and unique.

3. Public speaking requires a different method of delivery:

In conversation- quite talk, interject stock phrases (like, you know, adopt a casual posture, use vocal pauses “um, ah,)

Developing Confidence in speech class

1. Nervousness is normal 

Dealing with nervousness- positive nervousness.

• Acquire speaking experiences
• Prepare , prepare, prepare (Truly care speech topic)
• Think positively
• Use the power of visualization

Visualization: mental image in which a speaker vividly pictures himself of herself giving a successful presentation.

• Know that most nervousness is not visible
• Don’t expect perfection (Martin Luther King’s Speech – I have a dream)

Public speaking and Critical thinking

Public speaking often helps to improve critical thinking skill.
Critical Thinking: focused, organized thinking about such things as the logical relationship among ideas, the soundness of evidence, and the differences between fact and opinion.