Personal And Public Speech Skills Essay, Research Paper

Throughout life we express ourselves through words. The way we present

ourselves through speech says a lot about our character. The way one speaks to others

can jeopardize the amount of respect and trust others have for them. From the way one

pronounces a word to their posture can affect the way an audience interprets what is being

said. Personally, I am not confident with my speaking skills at this point. I would like

my audience to fully comprehend the concepts or facts that I would present to them. In

order to do so I must improve my speaking skills

I believe that a problem most people, including myself, have when giving

speeches is facing an audience. Just looking out to an audience of a mere ten could get

your knees knocking. I know it is important not to let your audience know that you are

nervous because this could easily make them doubt what you are about to say. It is

impossible to speak at ease without knowing what you are talking about. I guess the only

way to ease this overwhelming anxiety when stepping up to the podium would be through

thorough preparation.

Sometimes when we get up to the podium we feel that the spotlight upon us is just

so unbearable that we tend to rush through our speeches. I know that this problem has

occurred for me many times. The reason I end up doing this is because I cannot wait to

get back to my seat. This is definitely a speech flaw that has to be touched up for me.

How can my audience comprehend a concept I am trying to get across to them if my

speech might as well be in a foreign language? The whole point of a speech is to get a

message across to an audience or a group of people. If you speed through a speech and

just mumble, you are not only wasting your own time but your audiences? as well.

When

giving a speech it is handy to have a list of key concepts with you that you want to get

across to your audience. Writing out your whole speech will not do. Writing out your

full speech may cause you to have your head buried in your notes for your entire

presentation. As a high school student you can get away with this, but in the real world

no one will trust you unless you look them in the eye when talking to them. I must admit

that it is very hard for me to look at people when I am giving a speech, but it is imperative

that I do so. I not only want my audience to understand what I am trying to say to them,

but I want them to believe me as well. Also, when you don?t face your audience they tend

to lose interest and start conversations or activities of their own. In order to gain the trust

and respect of your audience, it is absolutely necessary to look them in the eye when

speaking to them.

I hate it when people speak in monotone, but it happens to the best of us. It is so

boring to hear a speech that is given in a monotonous voice without any variety in their

tone. Speaking in monotone puts your audience to sleep. This can happen to anyone who

is reading their speech word for word. It has happened to me, and before I knew it my

speech was over and my applause was nothing close to enthusiastic. You cannot expect

your audience to be interested in your topic if you sound as if you?re not interested in it

yourself. I have to emphasize again that these kinds of situations can be avoided by

thorough preparation and lots of practice.

My behavior when others are speaking depends entirely on the speakers

themselves. If he/she is not excited about what they have to say, I won?t be either.

Usually I try my best to give speakers the same respect I wish to receive, but as I stated

earlier, my respect for what they have to say depends entirely on the presentation of their

speech.

This semester, in Personal and Public Speech, I would like to improve my

speaking skills. I would like to be confident when speaking in front of an audience, I

would like to receive the respect of my peers for what I have to say, I would like to learn

how to overcome anxiety and its effects on my speech when speaking in front of a large

group of people, and I would like to fairly earn the trust of my audience. I believe this

class is very important and pertains to future obstacles when entering the work force. I

am really looking forward to building up my confidence and improving my speaking

skills in this class.