10 Public Speaking Tips for Teens
I am one of those rare people who enjoy public speaking. Being comfortable speaking in public is important for a successful academic career. When I get the opportunity to speak in public, in class, or in debate, I think of my audience as a “captive audience” - their butts are already in the seats, and they “have to” listen to me.
I have 10 tips for anyone who wants to improve their public speaking. Just follow these, and you too may come to enjoy public speaking.
- Remember that your audience wants 2 things from your speech - (1) to learn something (2) to be entertained
- Use humor to get through to your audience. If you can use self-deprecating humor, even better. Let your audience know that they can laugh with you or at you. It doesn’t matter as long as they are listening
- Make your speech like a mystery novel. Tell your audience that you won’t reveal the answer until the end. Let them know that you will reveal clues along the way. Your audience will be on the edge of their seat trying to figure out the answer before you tell them
- Use metaphors to describe complex concepts. Spend time before your speech thinking about how your message can be described in real life terms. For example, if you are describing the Entanglement Theory - rather than go into a long detailed description of quantum physics, you can instead tell a story about two Tango dancers. They first danced together in NY, they were always in perfect synch, on and off the stage. Then one of the dancers moved to LA, and still they moved in perfect synchronization. Spooky, huh?
- Involve the audience in your speech. Ask your audience questions. Even better, ask members of the audience to help you with a demonstration
- Use visual aids. PowerPoint is an obvious tool. Other tools include three dimensional models, posters, live demonstrations, and video. A picture is worth a thousand words, and a demonstration is worth ten-thousand words
- Remember that you are the expert on the topic. A lot of teens worry that they will look foolish. Since you are the expert, your audience isn’t likely to know more than you … and if you stumble over a few facts, you will probably be the only one to notice
- Smile. It will make you and the audience relax
- Just speak to one person at a time. Usually the people in the front two rows are the most engaged. Make eye contact, and talk to them in a conversational tone, shifting among 3 or 4 people for the duration of your speech
- Walk around during your speech. People often hide behind a podium, clutching the wood in their white knuckled grip. You will be much more relaxed if you move about the room or the stage. Just relax and talk naturally, soon you’ll forget that you are speaking in public and you’ll feel like you are having a conversation
These work for me, let me know if you have any other tips that work for you.
I totally agree with most of these. I do have to contest number nine, however, when you say ‘make eye contact’ with those in the front two rows. I agree that it may help those truly interested in your topic become more engaged and interested in what you have to say, but in situations where you are familiar with your audience, this may not be the best tactic. For instance, if your best friend that you’ve had since second grade is sitting in the front row, making eye contact with her is much riskier than with someone else, perhaps a bit further back. That risk is fairly simple; they could easily make you screw up. And those sitting in the back are probably not engaged…which means it is your job, as the speaker, to pull them in. One of the ways to do this is to make eye contact with those less interested in your topic.
I am currently taking a Communication class right now in school, and they are teaching us to not move around because they are afraid we will distract our audience with our movement. My problem is I want to move in order to relax a little more. Is there a happy medium where you move enough to make yourself more comfortable but yet you aren’t moving so much as to distract your audience?
Hi Bridget,
IMO - your teacher is wrong. Moving during a speech (not methodical pacing) is not only not distracting, it is natural and makes the audience feel more relaxed. Maybe you can use a visual that allows you to move away from the podium. Once you break free, you don’t have to go back.
Chloe