Public speaking curriculum

You think it would be easier to have a public speaking curriculum in front of you every time you prepare a speech?

Research has shown that many people would rather die than to have to hold a speech in front of a gathering. Nowadays, being able to communicate and to convince your audience is very important.

And yet, not all of us are born with the skill of public speaking. The ability to coherently and convincingly speak in public has nothing to do with one’s intellect.

Before addressing a gathering, you have to carefully prepare your speech. You must know exactly what you are going to communicate. If necessary, research the facts before including them in your message. It is very important to arrange your ideas in a gradual and logical sequence, like there are in a public speaking curriculum.

After the content of the speech is prepared and assembled, try to rehearse what you are going to say in an environment where you feel comfortable:

This will help you get more control over your message and it will make you feel more confident.

You could even use a tape-recorder or a video tape and listen to yourself speak.

As your rehearse, try to observe, control and improve certain aspects which you or your audience may find dissatisfactory, such as your tone of voice, the rhythm and pauses, the gestures that you make or your facial expression.

It is very helpful to know your audience, in order to be able to mold your contents according to their needs. Make sure you know your speech’s weak and strong points, emphasizing the latter.

When appearing in front of an audience, it is important to make a good impression. Nobody wants to see a badly groomed person, so make sure that you dress right.

Wear clothes which are suitable to the occasion, even if you overdress. Looking good will make you feel more confident and this can only be in your favor. Act solemn or cheerful, according to the topic of your speech.

When a speaker is very nervous, it is usually very helpful to have a close person or friend in the audience.

At the beginning of your speech you can make eye contact with them.

Begin your speech confidently and outline the major points you intend to make.

It is extremely useful if the audience finds you a nice, intelligent and mature person, so leave aside any traces of arrogance.

Communication is important, so try to maintain some sort of connection with your audience. Make sure you don’t read, but talk, making eye contact from time to time with people in the audience.

It's not part of a public speaking curriculum, but a very useful tip for those who have trouble speaking in public is to not forget to breathe!

There are certain techniques for supported breathing which can help you avoid breathlessness, stress, anxiety while holding a public speech and even panic attacks. Most people are not familiar with this technique, which is why they suffer greatly due to overwhelming stress and nervousness.

A public speaking curriculum can be a real help for someone who has serious problems with speaking in front of a gathering.