“Keep in mind that until you believe in yourself, your audience won’t take you seriously.” — Adeena
ENGLISH is my first language. It came naturally to me and by the time I was five, I could spout sentences that were advanced beyond my years.
However, I had never really thought much about it. To me, English was just a language – a means of communication that allowed me to play with my friends and talk my parents’ ears off.
My relationship with the language has come a long way since then, and it has blossomed in ways I never could have imagined.
As a kid, I was always able to convey my emotions through storytelling and reading books in character. But after I enrolled in primary school, I never really had the chance to develop my ability and put it to good use.
That was until the end of my third year, when my English language teacher asked me to join a public speaking competition. I was only required to memorise a script and I had a week to prepare for it.
Although I had never heard of public speaking, it seemed worth a try. Imagine my utter surprise when I won the competition. That was the start of my public speaking journey where I would go on to triumph in numerous tournaments, including storytelling and choral speaking.
Along the way, I picked up more vocabulary, and the ability to convey concepts effectively through emotion, and to modulate my vocal tones.
But it was in secondary school that I developed a passion for writing, even coming up with my own speeches for public speaking contests – in primary school, I had only been reading and acting out texts that my teachers had prepared.
Admittedly, the scripts I wrote weren’t very good as I lacked experience. With the passing of time and with more practice, my writing style developed significantly as I became aware of the power of words and had a growing appreciation for the language.
The proliferation of social media also had me discovering new kinds of platforms to expand my language use.
That was when I chanced upon spoken word poetry, which brought my love for the language to a whole new level.
The ultimate charm of spoken word poetry lies in the way that it allows us to not only channel the identities of others, but also develop our own.
It prompts us to consider our perspectives in the world and how we want to be perceived, while the exposure to fresh viewpoints moves us a step closer to appreciating the full complexity of our existence.
This platform has allowed me to discover the depths of my emotions, and transcribe them in creative ways to share with an audience.
Tips for public speaking
Speaking is a skill that is crucial in society, from communicating with friends to landing your desired job in an interview. Public speaking is just as important too. As a public speaker from the age of nine, I have a few tried-and-tested ways to improve my skills.
Here are my top five.
1 Familiarise, not memorise
Most of the time, our first instinct when we are anxious is to overprepare. There is, however, a distinct line between practising and memorising.
Speeches delivered from memory lack the passion and authenticity of those delivered by speakers who understand what they’re delivering. In other words, how can speakers interact and connect with an audience if they are preoccupied with remembering what comes next?
Any presentation should be engaging. You want the audience to really relate to and comprehend your message. Making a compelling presentation requires charm and a thorough comprehension of the material you are presenting. It is important that speakers take the time to research and understand their topics completely.
Try making bullet points of your content and practising your presentation thoroughly, rather than memorising it word for word. This includes knowing your body language, the words you use, and how you pace yourself.
Remember, rehearsing your presentation is simply a means of familiarising yourself with your content; keep it spontaneous.
2 Know your audience
In any presentation, the audience is your most important focus. Understanding your audience will help you determine what messages and materials are relevant to them and will assist you in selecting the appropriate tone for your message.
For example, when addressing children, you’d have to adapt to their understanding. This means changing how you usually describe things, and the words you use to do so. You also have to stand out by being entertaining if you want to sustain their attention.
So, before you speak anywhere, always take note of the location, age group, and general background of your audience. A good speaker should be able to adjust themselves to different situations and settings.
You can do that by adjusting how formal your presentation is, the complexity of your language, and even what jokes or references are relatable to your audience.
3 Keep it simple
Less is more – I’m sure you’ve heard that numerous times, but what exactly does it mean?
When speaking, we want what we say to be memorable. A good speech is not one that includes fancy or flowery language; it is one that stays in people’s minds. Oftentimes, having too much going on in a speech distracts the audience from the main points you are trying to get across.
Many of us tend to write and deliver long speeches because we believe doing so would show that we have put a lot of effort into it. In reality, this strategy could be perceived as taking the easy way out.
Editing, minimising and organising information is difficult. It ultimately comes down to making difficult decisions and evaluating priorities, both for ourselves and for our audience.
Simplicity isn’t always simple; it takes thought and effort. But when you truly take the time to ensure your audience understand what you are saying, the results will be worth it. Avoid using bombastic words that may prevent your audience from fully comprehending your points.
4 Volume speaks volumes
Does it really matter if you give a spectacular speech but then nobody can hear you?
Your audience needs to hear your voice in order for your message to have any impact on them. It seems straightforward, yet I’m surprised at how frequently I have to strain to hear a presenter well.
As speakers, we need to use our volume to our advantage. People pay attention to loud noises so learn to adapt your voice projection to suit the situation.
For example, when emphasising a specific phrase, say it loud and clear, and when telling a sad story, go slightly softer to create the mood.
Having full control over your voice projection helps immerse your audience in your presentation.
5 Be confident
Believe in yourself. It really is as simple as that. In public speaking, attitude and confidence are crucial.
To leave a lasting impact on an audience, one must be confident before them. Keep in mind that until you believe in yourself, your audience won’t take you seriously. Would you buy something from a salesman who isn’t even confident of his product?
Sure, confidence isn’t that easy to gain in real life, But confidence in speaking is separate from everyday confidence. Sometimes, even the best speakers are incapable of ordering their own food at a restaurant!
Everyone experiences nerves and pre-speech anxiety, but a speaker’s ability to overcome it is what truly differentiates a good speaker from a better one.
Some ways you can build your confidence include speaking in front of a mirror. Pay attention to your body language and gestures. Are your feet moving around a lot while you speak? Do you fidget?
Understand your weaknesses and work on them one at a time. Remember, becoming a good speaker takes time; it is not something that comes naturally. One bad speech does not make you a bad speaker.
Adeena, 16, a student in Melaka, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. For more information, go to facebook.com/niebrats.
Now that you have read the article, test your understanding by carrying out the following English language activities.
1 Is English your first language too? Using pictures and words from today’s copy of the Sunday Star newspaper, create a collage to show how you feel about your English language learning journey and how you intend to improve your mastery of the language. Then, with your activity partner, compare each other’s experience and goals.
2 Go through the five public speaking tips. How would you present the tips to your classmates orally within two minutes? Discuss with your partner. Then, practise delivering the tips together. When you are ready, record yourselves doing the oral presentation. How would you rate both your performance? Did you both apply the five tips when delivering the message?
The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme promotes the use of English language in primary and secondary schools nationwide. For Star-NiE enquiries, email starnie@thestar.com.my.
