The fear of public speaking has its term: glossophobia
If you are an English language learner who has ever had to give a speech or presentation in English, you may understand this fear.
It’s difficult enough to learn your native tongue, let alone a foreign one!
We will share five techniques in this article to help you prepare for inspiring, confident public speaking in English.
- Study Key English Phrases for Public Speaking
It’s terrifying to have to give a speech in a foreign language in front of a group of people. Aside from the usual concerns such as “What if I am too boring?” or “What if my mind goes blank,” you have an additional concern: the language barrier.
You have a set of tools to keep your speech on track if you memorize these key phrases. Use one of these phrases to add structure to your speech whenever you feel nervous. If you practice them thoroughly, retrieving them in critical situations will be effortless, and you will be amazed at how that smooth operation will boost your confidence.
Warm up by thanking the audience:
Starting a public talk is always difficult because the audience is not always completely focused. Some people may be distracted because they arrived late, while others may allow their minds to wander because they are unsure what to expect. Do not dive right into your content; instead, begin by capturing the audience’s full attention.
- Thank you all for coming today.
- I’m delighted to see you all today.
- It’s an honor to have you here for this presentation.
Introduce your topic or reason for speaking:
After thanking the audience, indicate that you will begin your speech with one of these phrases.
- Let me start with…
- To begin, I’d like to tell you about…
- Today I will present…
Interact with the audience: Even though it is your stage, you should not spend the entire time talking. Allow the audience to ask questions, provide feedback, and make comments. That’s a great way to keep them interested. Here are some phrases to allow for audience participation at specific points or throughout your speech:
- Is there anything else I should know before I go?
- I’d like to take a moment now to allow you to respond.
- If you have any questions, please raise your hand at any time during my presentation.
Finish the presentation by saying:
Before concluding your speech, remember to thank the audience once more. Use one of the following phrases:
- Thank you for your time and consideration.
- With that, I’d like to conclude my presentation.
- Thank you for your time.
- I’d like to conclude my presentation now.
- Thank you for coming, and please let me know if you have any further questions.
- Understand the Art of Storytelling
Why are we so excited for the next season of “Game of Thrones” or so moved by “The Hunger Games”?
It all comes down to the story. You will also need to learn the art of storytelling if you want to engage your audience. Even something as mundane as a quarterly performance review should include a narrative explaining how and why the numbers exist.
Of course, storytelling is not something that can be learned and mastered in a matter of hours, but we can help you understand a good story and apply the principles to your next public speaking event.
- Describe how you intend to resolve the issue.
- Describe the characters and the issue.
- Put a happy ending there.
3. Utilize pauses and stresses.
There are times when pausing is more effective than speaking. The breaks in your speech allow the audience to process your ideas and provide breaks for you. Sometimes they also assist in increasing or decreasing pressure.
Speakers in public, particularly comedians , frequently employ this strategy .
Try to pause in particular when:
- After identifying words and concepts.
- After noting something on a chart , graph or other visual during transitions between speech segments.
Another technique for giving your speech rhythm and improving your audience’s comprehension is word stress. On the other hand, stress can divert your audience if you ignore it or use it inappropriately .
Choose a motivational English speech to practice with, then mark the pauses and stressed words or syllables . Compare the original to a recording of you giving the same speech. I enjoy using stand-up comedy performances for this exercise because I think comedians are masters of pauses and stresses . Here is a YouTube playlist with a selection of well-liked standup specials for you to try out .
4. Understand body language in English
As was already mentioned, you must project confidence when speaking in front of an audience. Your physical posture may reveal more about your self-confidence and political views than your words ever could.However, the laws governing bodily contact vary from culture to culture. You might not be aware of the kinds of body language that will elicit a response from your audience if you did not grow up in an English-speaking environment .
5. practice makes perfect.
Giving speeches in English in public is the best way to hone your public speaking skills in English. You’ll learn what you have the most trouble with, whether it’s maintaining a confident demeanor, creating a gripping narrative, or something else. Additionally, you’ll learn the circumstances in which you might have lost your audience’s interest.
You ought to practice at home as well before performing in front of others. Give presentations as many times as you can at home in front of a mirror or a camera if you plan to do so. Watch your speech after you give it or while you are giving it.
Public speaking in English is a valuable skill to have, but it is not easy to master. However, by learning the techniques in this article, you will gain the tools and confidence you need to speak in front of a group of people in English the next time.
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