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Here are a few hints about talking to a group of people. For more pointers, consult the Advanced Public Speaking Institute.
Look at the audience.
Have you ever been to a lecture where the speaker looked at the chalkboard, the ceiling, the floor, and the walls, but not at the audience? Communication is supposed to be a two-way process. At a minimum, you should make eye contact with various members of the audience to see if they are following you.
Ask questions.
A good way to capture the audience's attention is to ask a question. If you feel confident in your ability to speak extemporaneously, wait for an answer (which may not be the answer you expect). Wait a long time. It typically takes thirty seconds for the auditors to formulate their thoughts, to recognize that you really want an answer, and to muster the courage to speak.
Speak slowly and loudly. Remember William Strunk's famous advice: "If you don't know how to pronounce a word, say it loud!"
Vary your tone of voice. Parents put infants to sleep by crooning to them in a sing-song voice. You can have the same effect on your audience if you speak in a monotone.
If you are not a native speaker of English, do not feel embarrassed about your accent when you give an oral presentation. Feel proud that by communicating in a second language, you are exhibiting a talent that many of your auditors lack; and remember the joke that Europeans tell:
Question: If a person who speaks three languages is called "trilingual", and a person who speaks two languages is called "bilingual", what do you call a person who speaks only one language?
Answer: An American.
The Math 696 course
pages were last modified April 5, 2005. | | | Speaking Tips |