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16 Public Speaking Tips for Students

Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of "Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder" and "7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety." She has a Master's degree in psychology.

Aron Janssen, MD is board certified in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry and is the vice chair of child and adolescent psychiatry Northwestern University.

Public speaking tips for students aim to reduce anxiety that can interfere with giving presentations or speeches in class. These tips can also be helpful for those with social anxiety disorder (SAD)   who have difficulty speaking in front of a group or telling a story among friends.

Public Speaking Tips

If you have SAD and need to give a speech  in elementary school, high school, college, or university, it helps to be as prepared as possible . Beyond preparation, however, there are strategies that you can use to reduce anxiety and fight the urge to stay home with a fake illness.

Even great speakers practice their speeches beforehand. Practice out loud with a recording device or video camera and then watch yourself to see how you can improve. If you are feeling brave, practice in front of a friend or family member and ask for feedback.

• Talk about what you know : If possible, choose a topic for your speech or presentation that you know a lot about and love. Your passion for the topic will be felt by the audience, and you will feel less anxious knowing that you have a lot of experience to draw from when other students ask you questions.
• Concentrate on your message : When you focus on the task at hand, anxiety is less likely to get out of control. Concentrate on the main message of your speech or presentation and make it your goal to deliver that message to the other students in your class.
• Grab the audience's attention : Most of your fellow classmates will pay attention for at least the first 20 seconds; grab their attention during those early moments. Start with an interesting fact or a story that relates to your topic.
• Have one main message : Focus on one central theme and your classmates will learn more. Tie different parts of your talk to the main theme to support your overall message. Trying to cover too much ground can leave other students feeling overwhelmed.

Tell Stories

Stories catch the attention of other students and deliver a message in a more meaningful way than facts and figures. Whenever possible, use a story to illustrate a point in your talk.

Being prepared to speak in public can also be important if you have social anxiety disorder. Feeling confident and prepared to give your speech may help lessen your feelings of anxiety. Some of the things that you can do to prepare include:

• Visit the room : If you have access to the classroom where you will be speaking outside of class hours, take the time to visit in advance and get used to standing at the front of the room. Make arrangements for any audio-visual equipment and practice standing in the exact spot where you will deliver your speech.
• Rack up experience : Volunteer to speak in front of your class as often as possible. Be the first one to raise your hand when a question is asked. Your confidence will grow with every public speaking experience.
• Observe other speakers : Take the time to watch other speakers who are good at what they do. Practice imitating their style and confidence.
• Organize your talk : Every speech should have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Structure your talk so that the other students know what to expect.

Manage Your Anxiety

Taking steps to deal with your feelings of anxiety can also make public speaking easier. Some of the things that you can do:

• Tell someone about your anxiety : If you are speaking in front of a high school or college class, meet with your teacher or professor and describe your public speaking fears . If you're in elementary or high school, share your fears with your parents, a teacher, or a guidance counselor. Sometimes sharing how you feel can make it easier to overcome stage fright.
• Visualize confidence : Visualize yourself confidently delivering your speech. Imagine feeling free of anxiety and engaging the students in your class. Although this may seem like a stretch for you now, visualization is a powerful tool for changing the way that you feel. Elite athletes use this strategy to improve performance in competitions.
• Find a friendly face : If you are feeling anxious, find one of your friends in class (or someone who seems friendly) and imagine that you are speaking only to that person.

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Maintain Perspective

Remember that other students are on your side. Think about a time when you have been an audience member and the student delivering the speech or presentation was noticeably nervous. Did you think less of that student? More likely, you felt sympathetic and wanted to make that person more comfortable by smiling or nodding.

Remember—other students generally want you to succeed and feel comfortable. If for some reason the audience is not on your side or you experience bullying or social exclusion, be sure to discuss this with a parent, teacher, or guidance counselor.

Be Confident

Sometimes just knowing what makes a good speech can help you feel more confident. Focus on some of the following elements and practice them before you have to speak in public.

• Develop your own style : In addition to imitating good speakers, work on developing your own personal style as a public speaker. Integrate your own personality into your speaking style and you will feel more comfortable in front of the class. Telling personal stories that tie into your theme are a great way to let other students get to know you better.
• Avoid filler words : Words such as "basically", "well", and "um" don't add anything to your speech. Practice being silent when you feel the urge to use one of these words.
• Vary your tone, volume, and speed : Interesting speakers vary the pitch (high versus low), volume (loud versus soft), and speed (fast versus slow) of their words. Doing so keeps your classmates interested and engaged in what you say.
• Make the audience laugh : Laughter is a great way to relax both you and the other students in your class, and telling jokes can be a great icebreaker at the beginning of a speech. Practice the timing and delivery of your jokes beforehand and ask a friend for feedback. Be sure that they are appropriate for your class before you begin.
• Smile : If all else fails, smile. Your fellow classmates will perceive you like a warm speaker and be more receptive to what you have to say.

Don't Apologize

If you make a mistake, don't offer apologies. Chances are that your classmates didn't notice anyway. Unless you need to correct a fact or figure, there is no point dwelling on errors that probably only you noticed.

If you make a mistake because your hands or shaking, or something similar, try to make light of the situation by saying something like, "I wasn't this nervous when I woke up this morning!" This can help to break the tension of the moment.

A Word From Verywell

It's natural to feel frightened the first time you have to speak in front of your class. However, if you fear continues, interferes with your daily life and keeps you awake at night, it may be helpful to see someone about your anxiety.

Try talking to a parent, teacher, or counselor about how you have been feeling. If that doesn't get you anywhere, ask to make an appointment with your doctor. Severe public speaking anxiety is a true disorder that can improve with treatment .

Spence SH, Rapee RM. The etiology of social anxiety disorder: An evidence-based model . Behav Res Ther. 2016;86:50-67. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2016.06.007

By Arlin Cuncic, MA Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of "Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder" and "7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety." She has a Master's degree in psychology.

10 Tips for Improving Your Public Speaking Skills

Few are immune to the fear of public speaking. Marjorie North offers 10 tips for speakers to calm the nerves and deliverable memorable orations.

Marjorie North

Snakes? Fine. Flying? No problem. Public speaking? Yikes! Just thinking about public speaking — routinely described as one of the greatest (and most common) fears — can make your palms sweat. But there are many ways to tackle this anxiety and learn to deliver a memorable speech.

In part one of this series,  Mastering the Basics of Communication , I shared strategies to improve how you communicate. In part two, How to Communicate More Effectively in the Workplace , I examined how to apply these techniques as you interact with colleagues and supervisors in the workplace. For the third and final part of this series, I’m providing you with public speaking tips that will help reduce your anxiety, dispel myths, and improve your performance.

Here Are My 10 Tips for Public Speaking:

1. nervousness is normal. practice and prepare.

All people feel some physiological reactions like pounding hearts and trembling hands. Do not associate these feelings with the sense that you will perform poorly or make a fool of yourself. Some nerves are good. The adrenaline rush that makes you sweat also makes you more alert and ready to give your best performance.

The best way to overcome anxiety is to prepare, prepare, and prepare some more. Take the time to go over your notes several times. Once you have become comfortable with the material, practice — a lot. Videotape yourself, or get a friend to critique your performance.

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2. Know Your Audience. Your Speech Is About Them, Not You.

Before you begin to craft your message, consider who the message is intended for. Learn as much about your listeners as you can. This will help you determine your choice of words, level of information, organization pattern, and motivational statement.

3. Organize Your Material in the Most Effective Manner to Attain Your Purpose.

Create the framework for your speech. Write down the topic, general purpose, specific purpose, central idea, and main points. Make sure to grab the audience’s attention in the first 30 seconds.

4. Watch for Feedback and Adapt to It.

Keep the focus on the audience. Gauge their reactions, adjust your message, and stay flexible. Delivering a canned speech will guarantee that you lose the attention of or confuse even the most devoted listeners.

5. Let Your Personality Come Through.

Be yourself, don’t become a talking head — in any type of communication. You will establish better credibility if your personality shines through, and your audience will trust what you have to say if they can see you as a real person.

6. Use Humor, Tell Stories, and Use Effective Language.

Inject a funny anecdote in your presentation, and you will certainly grab your audience’s attention. Audiences generally like a personal touch in a speech. A story can provide that.

7. Don’t Read Unless You Have to. Work from an Outline.

Reading from a script or slide fractures the interpersonal connection. By maintaining eye contact with the audience, you keep the focus on yourself and your message. A brief outline can serve to jog your memory and keep you on task.

8. Use Your Voice and Hands Effectively. Omit Nervous Gestures.

Nonverbal communication carries most of the message. Good delivery does not call attention to itself, but instead conveys the speaker’s ideas clearly and without distraction.

9. Grab Attention at the Beginning, and Close with a Dynamic End.

Do you enjoy hearing a speech start with “Today I’m going to talk to you about X”? Most people don’t. Instead, use a startling statistic, an interesting anecdote, or concise quotation. Conclude your speech with a summary and a strong statement that your audience is sure to remember.

10. Use Audiovisual Aids Wisely.

Too many can break the direct connection to the audience, so use them sparingly. They should enhance or clarify your content, or capture and maintain your audience’s attention.

Practice Does Not Make Perfect

Good communication is never perfect, and nobody expects you to be perfect. However, putting in the requisite time to prepare will help you deliver a better speech. You may not be able to shake your nerves entirely, but you can learn to minimize them.

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About the Author

North is a consultant for political candidates, physicians, and lawyers, and runs a private practice specializing in public speaking, and executive communication skills. Previously, she was the clinical director in the department of speech and language pathology and audiology at Northeastern University.

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How to start a speech for students (Ultimate opening lines)

Hrideep barot.

• Public Speaking , Speech Topics , Speech Writing

Schools and their love for speeches is an affair we are all quite aware of. Now if you are looking to move beyond the mundane way of delivering speeches in school and are in search of some amazing speech openings for students, you are at the right place!

Speeches are the most common form of public speaking that is encouraged in schools . Be it for a competition, assignment, presentation, or even as a punishment (oops), speeches are everywhere in a student’s life.  

To get a quick idea on speech opening lines for students , don’t forget to check out our video on 3 speech opening lines for students!

But before we dive into understanding how to go about your speeches, it is important to first understand why educational institutes focus so much on speeches or public speaking in general that they begin introducing us to speeches as early as primary sections.

Why is speech encouraged in Primary school?

It is a common practice to give the students a little idea about giving speeches as early as primary school. Part of the reason is that these are the foundational years and form as a stepping stone for the students to get a little more used to public speaking as they move to higher classes .

A couple of ways students in primary schools may be asked to give speeches would be to introduce themselves or at competitions like fancy dress competitions.

What is the use of speech in high school?

In high school, as students gain more understanding about the world at large and develop their opinions, giving speeches is encouraged in school to help them navigate their thoughts to their peers. Further, speeches as a form of public speaking also help build the student’s soft skills .

A few ways giving speeches in high school can help in developing their soft skills are:

1. critical thinking.

Speeches aren’t about blurting out your ideas or opinions, rather it requires you to research and find evidence to back your point of view, or to think critically to deliver a speech that effectively reaches the other students.

2. Problem-solving

Speeches could be framed around a popular or controversial issue that the student wishes to provide their insight into. This would encourage them to come up with solutions. Apart from that, even coming up with a speech can be a task sometimes, and overcoming those challenges too can be counted in as a way of problem-solving

3. Time-management

With a huge number of students in high school, speeches are almost always time-bound. This also means that the students have to structure their speeches in a way that fits the time given, further inculcating time management skills in them.

4. Active listening

Speeches are not only about delivering or conveying your ideas or findings but also about listening carefully to what others have to say in terms of questions that may ask.

Why is speech required at college?

Speeches in college have an entirely different goal than the one that schools have.

In college, it isn’t always mandatory to give speeches or to participate in public speaking. However, a few reasons why giving speeches or public speaking is encouraged in colleges is because:

• It helps in developing communication and public speaking skills that can be very beneficial to their professional life later.
• Speeches may also be a way to meet new people and make new connections.
• It improves the student’s leadership skills. How? We have all heard how a good speaker carries with him or her the potential to influence and lead the crowd, and that is how practicing public speaking in college helps improve a student’s leadership skills.

When can students be asked to give a speech?

As we just discussed that the purpose of giving speeches changes as we progress in our school. However, there are a couple of situations where mostly all students are expected to present their speech. And they are:

Classroom/section speeches

Classroom or section speeches are the ones you give in front of your classmates or people from your age group. Generally, the presentation of assignments and competitions comes under this category.

Graduation Speech

Students may also be expected to present a graduation speech . However, the big difference here is that not everyone gets the opportunity to present a graduation speech or commencement address as it is known.

What type of speech is a graduation speech? Or what type of speech is a commencement speech?

Graduation speeches or commencement speeches are parting speeches wherein the focus is on reflecting on the good times in the institute and motivating others for their bright future ahead. Depending on the purpose as selected by the speaker, these speeches could be persuasive, informative, or entertaining in nature . 

How to start a speech as a student 

Giving speeches as a student, even if you have been doing it for the past few years can still end up being a little challenging.  But rather than giving you tons of tips on things you can focus on while coming up with your speech or speech openings for students, we have got one ultimate tip . If you follow that, you should ideally be able to reach your audience more effectively.

Ultimate tip when writing speeches or speech openings for students

Write how you speak, not how you write.

When I came across this tip, I was surprised too. Because is indeed true that we write very differently when we have to show the speech to someone in written form but if asked honestly, do we speak in such a highly polished, extra professional vocabulary?

The idea is not to write the speech or speech opening riddled with slang but rather in a way that you’d feel comfortable listening to and understanding easily had you been the listener.

So in short, prepare the speech with the listener in mind, not the reader .

What is a good opening line for a speech?

Most opening lines for speech in school begin with a good morning.  We usually follow it with greetings or addressing the audience and the guests.

Wondering how you greet everyone in a speech?

Here is a list of ways you can begin with a simple good morning:

• Good morning everyone presents here today. I’m delighted to present my views and understanding on a very delicate yet overlooked topic; Gender sensitization in the workplace.
• Good afternoon esteemed members of the jury, my friends and peers, and everyone present in the room today.
• Good morning to the faculty, the non-teaching staff, and the class of 2022!!

Now it is a good practice to begin your speech with your usual greetings. However, in this blog, we are trying to look beyond the usual.

It doesn’t mean that you will not be saying good morning or your basic greetings; the only difference is that you’ll not be opening your speech with it but addressing these basic formalities later in the speech.

How do you start a speech without saying good morning?

There are a couple of ways you can start a speech without saying good morning. Here are some of the ways we will take a look at in this blog:

• “Imagine” scenario
• “What if” scenario
• Rhetorical questions
• Statistics and figures
• Powerful statements

Quotes are phrases or things spoken by someone influential . Quotes as speech openings for students can not only help them go beyond the widely popular way of beginning any speech but will also help them establish credibility right in the very beginning!

Now if you have ever wondered,

How to start your speech with a quote?

Here are a couple of examples of using quotes as speech openings for students:

Lon Watters had said that “A school is a building with four walls, with tomorrow inside.” And it would be wrong if I said that I didn’t agree with every bit of what he said. As we come to an end of our journey with this school that has provided us with tons of opportunities to learn, grow, interact and make memories we sure will cherish forever…

“If you don’t have a plan for your life, somebody else does.” This is a quote given by Michael Hyatt and isn’t it something we have all been experiencing all these years of growing up as our parents or guardians make plans for us right from the way we dress to the school we go to and sometimes even the careers we choose. Good morning everyone, I am Myra, a student of XYZ school standing here to voice my opinion on “Factors that influence your career decisions.”

 2. “Imagine” Scenario

This happens to be a personal favorite of mine when it comes to speech openings for students. A very simple yet beautiful way to engage your audience right at the beginning of your speech while at the same time allowing them to relate to what you’ll be saying next is what the image” scenarios are all about.

Before we begin, I’d like you to take a moment and imagine walking through a trail. You see the lush greens and pretty sky above you, the most dynamic clouds following everyone you go. Try sniffing the smell of wet soil and a hint of flowery fragrance as you walk towards the edge of the hill expecting to take a glimpse of the utter beauty that these hours of walking would lead you to, but you find something else. You see something that sends chills down your spine. There are some strange men performing rituals right in the very heart of these dense greens. You wonder what it is all about until it hits you; you have just uncovered a cult.

For the next example, I’d like you to take a look at the video below and check for yourself how wonderfully the speaker (although not a student) has made use of the “imagine” scenario to share his tragic experience with his audience.

Imagine a big explosion as you climb through 3,000 ft. Imagine a plane full of smoke. Imagine an engine going clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack. It sounds scary. Well I had a unique seat that day. I was sitting in 1D.

3. “What If” Scenario

What if I told you that the best speech openings for students are actually the ones wherein they come up with an opening that best represents their style and comfort at delivering speeches, be it with a joke or a story?

Do you see what I did there?

That is an example of a “what if” scenario. It is similar to the imagination scenario we discussed above but the only difference here is that “what if” speech openings for students focus on providing an alternative idea to the audience while the imagined scenarios provide the audience an opportunity to relate to the speaker.

4. Rhetorical question

Rhetorical questions are questions the speaker includes in his/her/their speech that doesn’t necessarily require the audience to come up with an answer but are posed to get the audience thinking on the same.

Using rhetorical questions as speech openings for students can work wonders especially when you are looking for either a very quick speech opening or have very little time to deliver the speech.

An example of using rhetorical questions for speech opening is given below:

Talking about the new policy that makes it illegal to check the gender of the child before birth, do you think that it will curb the issue of female foeticide? Or will it simply take the activity underground?

The art of silence is phenomenal. Opening your speech in silence can help enhance your speech in two ways.

First, it will give the audience some time to settle in , post which you can expect to grab their dedicated attention. And secondly, silence would give you some time to understand the room and calm your pre-stage anxiousness .

6. Statistics and figures

Want to begin your speech on a hard-hitting and eye-opening note?

Show the numbers, the figures, and any statistics that serve your purpose for giving the speech.

It is very common to overlook the seriousness of any situation when you aren’t aware of the real extent of its seriousness. But when we have numbers in front of us, there is no more room for being in denial.

Examples of using Statistics or figures as speech openings for students

• According to the 2019 WWF report , on average, we consume about 1,769 microplastic particles every week. 1769 microplastic particles every single week, can you imagine that?
• 3.2 million teenagers between the age of 12-17 were depressed in the US as of 2017. Now you can only assume the number has increased over the past 5 years.

7. Powerful  Statements

Powerful statements are statements that try to break any common ideologies held by the public. Another example of a powerful statement is stating a fact or idea that isn’t openly spoken .

The video below is one such example of how the speaker tries to break a perception generally held by the people.

How often have we been told to include stories in our speech?

Almost every time isn’t it? So here we are to bombard you yet again by saying that stories are extremely fun and engaging forms of speech openings for students.

You can either share your experience or someone else’s story.

You can also refer to a Recent Conversation by starting your speech with something like “Just the other day as I was walking out of my Philosophy lecture, I asked Mr.Dee about his philosophy on life, and what he said was so eye-opening that I could not wait to share with all of you.”

An adorable example of how to begin a speech with a story is given below to help you get a clearer idea.

Examples of speech openings for students

Speech opening lines for public speaking competitions.

When it comes to public speaking competitions like elocutions, speech competitions, or even presentations, it is almost always recommended to begin with self-introduction . The reason is quite simple; there is a high chance that your audience might not know you .

But if you don’t want to begin with a self-introduction, you can start by using any of the alternatives we discussed earlier. Click here to go back and take another peek at it.

Speech Opening Lines for Self-introductions

Speech openings for self-introductions need to be simple, to the point yet descriptive.

Wait a minute? Wasn’t I contradicting myself in that line?

Yes, but that is how opening lines for self-introductions would ideally work. As people expect you to talk about yourself in depth in the rest of your speech, your opening lines would just be a teaser about yourself.

2 most important things to add in your self-introduction opening lines for students

• What do you do?

Other things that you can talk about in these opening lines include:

• Where are you from?
• What is your goal?
• What does your organization do?
• A little bit about your family

Examples of opening lines for students

Good morning, I am Reini. I recently graduated from BMU college and have since been working as a Design intern at Desgynopedia. 

Hello and good evening everyone. I am Nicole and this is my team, Alina, Tim, Harold, and Noman. We are in our senior year majoring in Organizational psychology. Today we would like to talk about the 5 main Psychological factors that impact any organization’s overall performance.

Hey, I am Nizan. I am a nerd for Political Science and Greek Philosophy and am currently majoring in the same. My love for the subjects is also the reason why I am here to present a topic I found very intriguing “The injustice behind socrates’ death.”

Funny speech opening lines for students

If you are giving a speech for a competition, one of the most fun ways of opening your speech could be to say “Good morning to the faculty, my friends, and (look at the opponents) others.”

Other funny opening line examples:

• I almost bunked school today until I realized that this speech carries marks and I sure don’t want to be in a class with our juniors. Just imagine! Who could do that?
• Hello and good morning to everyone, except the ones who are well prepared for their speeches today.
• Hello everyone, I’m excited to present my speech on XYZ’s topic today. I mean come on, what could be better than waking up at 7 am on a Monday morning to give a speech?
• Today I’ll be talking about XYZ because I was told to!

Best Speech Opening Lines by students

1. chase dahl.

In one of the funniest speech opening lines by students, Chase Dahl opens up by saying “You know I have never understood how imagining the audience naked was supposed to make you less nervous. Honestly, I’m just uncomfortable right now.”

2. Kyle Martin (The King’s Academy)

Yet another Valedictorian speech that has caught our eye is the one given by Kyle Martin. The reason we would suggest you take a look into the opening lines of his speech is so that you can take notes on how beautifully he has described the efforts taken by every department of the institute as he tries to thank them for their efforts.

Presentation Opening Lines

Presentation speeches are a little different compared to your usual speeches and the major reason for that is because now you have access to visuals or your PPT.

Besides some of the ways already discussed above, you can begin the presentation by pointing out a particular slide. You can show your audience a graph, table, pictures, or any other creative and eye-catching ideas that can also turn out to be an amazing presentation opening.

How to start a presentation speech example for students

A few common ways you can open your speech are:

• Hello everyone, I am Miya. I would first like to thank you all for your time.
• For those who don’t know me, my name is Nazia, and if you do know me, hello again!
• Good afternoon to all you wonderful people present here. I am Ryan and as you can see on screen, today I’ll be speaking on “The hazards of drinking from plastic bottles.”

For more examples of opening lines check out 50 Speech Opening Lines .

You might also like to know:

How to start a speech for the student council.

Speeches for student council are usually persuasive. They are your pitch to convince your fellow students to vote for you and help you get the position you are looking for.

So ideally, you should start by addressing everyone in the room . Then make a point to introduce yourself. Once you have introduced yourself, remind the audience why you are speaking which means let them know the position you are campaigning for. Bring up at least 1-2 issues that the students are most concerned about and tell them how if elected you’ll provide solutions to their issues.

Try to end it on a high note and don’t forget to add your campaign slogan .

You can also begin by stating your campaign slogan .

Yet another way to begin your speech for the student council is by challenging your opponent’s point of view or campaign . However, this would work only f you have a better strategy or solutions to the issues raised by your opponents.

Lastly, do something that no one expects from you . Let me share a story here to help you understand this point better. During one of the student council speeches, one candidate asked the audience to stand up, move a step in the front then go back to their seats and settle down. Following this, she said, “My parents told me if I could move the audience, I’d win.” And so she did win!

What is a speech class?

A speech class in high school or college is usually a short course or 1-semester course wherein the student is expected to improve on their public speaking skills along with critical thinking and active listening skills.

It essentially enhances their oral communication skills.

This also reminds me to introduce you to our courses that help enhance your public speaking and communication skills. If you are interested, head to Frantically Speaking .

But if your appetite for learning more about opening speeches isn’t satiated yet, we suggest you go check out our Video on the Powerful speech opening lines.

To Conclude

There are tons of ways to get creative with speech openings for students. From saying a simple good morning to adding stories, quotes, statistics, rhetorical questions, and even silence!

Get creative with your speech openings. As we always say, there are no right or wrong ways of public speaking as such, only a way that suits perfectly for you is the one that is right for you.

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20 Public Speaking Tips for Students

Public speaking is a task that strikes fear into many. We have formulated 20 public Speaking tips for Students because,  whether we like it or not, it is an important part of work life for the vast majority. In a recent talk we presented to a local year group of students, when asked how many had parents who had to deliver presentations for work.  100% raised their hands. 

Getting to grips with this early on is key to becoming more comfortable and confident.  When you are at college in a learning environment, this is the best time to start developing this important job ready skill. 

What tips can we offer for you to get the ball rolling?  Here are 20 Public Speaking tips for Students.  Some are for when you are actually in front of an audience, but many of the tips we have, will help you to be more confident and better prepared to be an effective speaker.

Public Speaking Tip 1 – Always Give It A Go

Our first Public Speaking Tip for students is to take every opportunity.

At College and University opportunities come up frequently to give talks to present your studies, thesis or research. 

Last year I spoke with a business entrepreneur and inventor who said he had chosen his subjects at University on the basis of how little he may have to speak in public.  On leaving University he ran a relatively successful construction supply business.  More recently though, he has invented a new product and business to boot, however he has not developed the skills necessary to successfully lift the business off the ground.  His biggest struggle is presenting his product and speaking in front of potential investors and buyers.  

Life skills like public speaking are so important.  Like with all skills, the younger you develop them and the more frequently you perform them, the easier they become.  You will be more comfortable performing these skills in front of others.  For most people, nothing is easy straight away. 

Tip 2 – Think Before You Speak

I’m sure you have heard that saying a million times, hopefully less as you get older! 

This tip has a slightly different angle.  Usually when you hear that phrase, it’s from a parent or teacher, and they have said it because you’ve just said something stupid.  However, this is not for that purpose.    

What do you need to think about?  Think about your speech in everyday life, before you even get to give a presentation.

Think about things like:

How complex is your vocabulary?  Do you have patterns in your everyday speech?  Do you repeat certain words or phrases? What is your Grammar like? Do you use a lot of slang etc….

Public speaking, although practised and planned often reflects your day to day speech.  So, think about how you talk on a day to day.  If you repeat certain words…. ‘you know’ ‘like’ ‘really’, ‘uh’ ‘er’ etc… then what will your listener think?  These things stand out during a presentation. 

Your friends of your peer group may have the same speech mannerisms, so you may not detect these habits easily if they are a pattern in your speech.  Those who are older than you will undoubtedly notice and possibly have a little giggle at your expense.  If that happens in a Job interview or important presentation, this could have slightly more serious ramifications. 

Pay attention to how you speak.  Picking up on bad patterns in your everyday speech is a great tip to help you to become a more polished speaker.

Tip 3 – Power Pose

Posture is an important part of confidence.  The whole shoulders back, chest out and chin up.  It seems silly to think that your posture can affect how you feel, but studies show it really does.

Try this:  Walk down a street and hold your head high. Walk purposefully and in a way that you feel would project confidence.  Repeat a positive mantra in your mind.  Just something simple about feeling confident and calm.  See how that impacts how you feel. 

Doing the same when public speaking will greatly enhance your confidence.   You may initially feel it’s just a front, an act, and it may be.  You will probably still be a little nervous, however, it will be to a lesser degree.  Another positive is, your audience will not know it is a front, and they will have more confidence in you as a speaker.

Tip 4 – Smile

When you smile, you not only look happier but you LOOK more confident too.  The great bonus is though, that it also makes you FEEL more confident. 

Appropriate smiling whilst presenting will help you to overcome your public speaking jitters. 

When you stand up and take the podium, or the front of the class, take a moment to give a smile to your audience.  You’ll get some instant positive feedback and a subconscious confidence boost.

Tip 5 – Read

Reading is a vital skill.  It is also  an important element for practicing to become a great speaker.  So reading features a few times in our 20 Public Speaking Tips for Students.

Reading is a great way to improve your vocabulary.  Depending of course on what you read!! So make it a habit of reading regularly.

Having a depth of vocabulary means when you are on the spot and under pressure you will have more scope to get yourself out of trouble, and find a suitable word.  

This ability allows you to be extemporaneous and easy to listen to.

Tip 6 – Read Aloud

Of course, reading is great, but reading out loud is even better. 

When you read out loud you are essentially training yourself with all the vocal skills and abilities you need to be a good clear public speaker.   Diction, Projection, Enunciation, Clarity etc…

If you have a tendency to get a little tongue tied, reading aloud frequently can help you to be more able to control your speech organs and enunciate better, even under more pressure.

If you have good diction and the audience can understand you clearly then what you present will have more effect than if you were unclear and stumbling over words.  

You can practice with tough wordy material to really push yourself.

Tip 7 – Don’t Fight Your Feelings

It is incredibly British to hide how you feel.  But emotions will connect you to your audience.

You will also have a greater motivational force when your audience are moved by how you feel about your topic. Whether it be excitement, passion or even distress.  Depending on the situation and objective, showing the right emotion can really move your audience.

Here’s a little exercise for this.

Sorry, it involves reading again…  Chose a piece of literature, a good story.  Read aloud to a friend or family member.  Try to convey not just the story, but also the emotion of the characters and the feelings you imagine the author would want you to feel.  Your best audience are sometimes children, you can start with some children’s stories, and see how captivated they are by your reading.

If you can express your thoughts with both clarity and feeling you have a winning combination for public speaking.

Tip 8 – Get Comfortable

If you have to give a presentation, make sure you prepare what you’ll wear. 

You need to accomplish 2 objectives. 

1. Feel good about how you look.  Wear something you like, this will aide your confidence levels.

2. No overheating.  When you get nervous you warm up, get clammy and experience a number of other symptoms at times.  All normal stuff, but if you wear something that is tight around the neck or feels extra warm this can add to the symptoms, and the more you are aware of your rise in temp the more uncomfortable and nervous you’ll become.

Tip 9 – Know Your Topic

It’s all well and good thinking you have the gift of the gab, but what is your content like?  

Are you presenting superficial information that your audience will already know?  Are you working with up to date facts? Having a good understanding of your topic will ensure you can speak with authority without being vague.

Knowing your topic also means that you can speak freely without having to rely too heavily on notes.  When you can speak without too many notes your audience will have more confidence in you.

Tip 10 – Practice

So half way through our 20 Public Speaking Tips for Students and we have a very important one now.

Public speaking should be you, but smoother.  The more you practise the more likely this will happen.

I n everyday speech you may not feel like you can get your thoughts out coherently at times.  Imagine you had a run through before every conversation you have. You could pause time and practice your responses a few times before the real-life response. I’m sure you would be a lot more concise and articulate. 

When you have a presentation, this is the case.  You may have a complex topic to speak about.  You may have more to say in one go than you would in a normal conversation.  That’s why practicing is so important.  It allows you to be you….. but a little more polished. 

Practicing aloud will also give you a good idea of what sounds ok… outside your head.

Tip 11 – It’s Not All About You

Most of the common reasons why people do not like public speaking revolve around themselves.

I can’t do this, I can’t do that, I’m not good at this, What if I do this…..

Remember – It is not all about you.  How about taking a different approach!  Rather than being egocentric, look out. 

Focus on what you want to say.  Think about the people you will speak to and why they will benefit from what you have prepared. The less you think about yourself the more comfortable you’ll be. 

Every time you feel those nerves of anticipation build, think more about your topic or your audience needs than how you feel.  The audience are more important than you.

Without an audience, you’ll just be talking to yourself. We all know what that means!

Tip 12 – Stories

Stories are a great way to capture the imagination.  A good story with a moral or link to the rest of your material will help to engage, captivate and ensure your audience get the point easily.

We all love a good tale, so never be afraid to get one in. 

A word of caution though, no one likes a pointless endeavour.  Sticking a long winded meandering story which doesn’t go anywhere or prove anything, will more likely irritate than entertain.  Make sure the stories used have an objective.

Tip 13 – First Impressions – Good Introductions

There are 2 areas in a presentation you want to be smooth. You will have to practice these more than the main body of your talk.  Out of the 20 public speaking tips, these are the most important pre-presentation points to bare in mind.

The first is the introduction. 

You’ve only got a few seconds to make a first impression, so get off to a good start. 

Don’t spend a long time, if at all, introducing yourself, or your topic.  A poor intro can sometimes be hard to come back from.

Start with an interesting story, statement, play on words or question. Make them curious or interested.  Once you have won their interest you can then sink into your content.  Hopefully seamlessly tying in from your story or question…… whatever you used to grab their attention.

Tip 14 – A Strong Finish

The 2 nd area you want to ensure goes well is the end.  Your conclusion is the other thing that needs to be more rehearsed. 

Can you tie back into your intro, go full circle? 

Include a strong call to action.  Make sure your audience know why they have just listened to you, and what you want them to do with the information they’ve just heard. 

What is said last is often remembered the longest, so make your final words count.

Tip 15 – Know your Audience

Another important tip for public speakers is to know who you are speaking to. 

If you have an idea of who will make up your audience, you will be able tailor what you say to them.  What is their depth of knowledge?  Do you need to make it more complex, or, do you need to dumb it down a little?

Knowing the make-up of your audience will help when planning what you will say and what you will need to include.

Tip 16 – Eye Contact

Keeping good eye contact throughout any presentation will have a few benefits. 

Firstly, you get a good gauge of how your audience is reacting.  When you see how your audience reacts you can tailor what you say to suit.  If they looked perplexed you can explain a little more.  If they look shocked, you can clarify.  If they look bored then you can change it up, or involve them more.  It will mean you can serve your audience better.  It will feel more like a conversation than a lecture.

Another benefit is that when you get positive feedback from your audience it can make you feel more comfortable and confident. 

Also, when you have good eye contact with your audience you generate a relationship of trust.  People don’t generally trust someone who struggles to look them in the eye. 

Eye contact builds trust, and helps you to respond to your audience

Tip 17 – Gestures and Facial Expressions

Your words are just a small portion of your communication.  Gestures are a natural part of communication. 

It’s not just what you do with your hands though.  What you do with your body and face will also say a lot too. 

You don’t want your gestures to be unnatural and forced, which is a real possibility when in an unnatural situation like public speaking.  You see this a lot with politicians, forced monotonous and unmeaningful gestures, possibly trained into their style.

Pay attention to what you do day-to-day.  A little bit like your speech in Tip2 of our 20 public speaking tips for students. 

What is normal for you?  How would you express yourself, what faces would you pull, where and how would you gesture in a normal friendly conversation?  Then carry that over, so you behave in a natural manner whilst at the podium.

Tip 18 – Self Belief

‘Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t….. you’re right.’

This is where either being cultured or having children pays off!  Priceless quotes!

That quote from Boss Baby or Henry Ford (depending on whether you’re cultured or have children)  is very true.  The story we tell our selves will have a massive impact on what we are able to accomplish.  Tell yourself you can do it and you will be able to. 

You may need to keep telling yourself, be your own propaganda minister.  The more you tell yourself something, the more you’ll believe it. 

Tip 19 – How To Use Notes

The notes you use when speaking will either help you or hinder you.  

If your notes are too extensive you will inevitably rely on them too heavily and will more likely end up reading your presentation.  This is true whether on PowerPoint or prompt cards.  You will lose your appeal and effectiveness if your eyes are diverted for too long during your presentation. 

On the other end of the spectrum will you go solo?  No notes! 

This is fine depending on ability, if you don’t have notes it may make you more nervous about forgetting something.  If you do forget something, it could throw you whilst you’re presenting. 

Work to your strengths and ensure you  only have what you need, but not too much.

Tip 20 – Pace Yourself

Our last tip of our 20 Public Speaking Tips for Students.

Often when a person gets nervous, they speed up.  How can you keep a good pace that is easy and enjoyable to listen to? 

Make sure you take time to breathe. Slow down and enunciate words properly especially when important points are being made.  Allow each sentence time to sink into the listeners mind and take a breath. 

Effective pace is not all about being slow and deliberate all the time, this will stifle your presentation and make it sound weird.

There will also be times when picking up the pace will have impact, like expressing conviction, passion or excitement.  But this level of sustained pace will also irritate if not controlled. 

Modulating your pace effectively makes for a natural delivery.

Take it one Tip at a time

There we have our 20 Public Speaking Tips for Students. This all sounds like an awful lot to remember.  Ultimately Tip.1 is the most important.  The more you do, the more comfortable you will become.  

Like with any skills, having a good coach can vastly help to get you where you want to be a lot quicker.  Coaching in a supported environment together with friends in the same boat can make for some fun learning too. 

Keynote Speaker Ltd offer some great discounted coaching options for students, If you would like to organise a day course or half day course for a group of your peers then just click here to get in touch.

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• 11 Public Speaking Tips

11 Public Speaking Tips: How to Relax, Focus, and Shine at Your Next Presentation

It could be delivering a presentation at work, giving a heartfelt toast at your friend's wedding, or talking to your child's class on career day. No matter how serious or celebratory the occasion, most people experience some public speaking jitters. In fact, researchers continually report that public speaking is one of the top social anxieties. Whatever the event you're speaking at, delivering a speech that is clear, engaging, and gets your point across is key.

Here are 11 public speaking tips to help you excel the next time you have to speak in front of an audience.

1. Write It Out

Create an outline of your speech to organize the content. Even if it's going to be a quick one- or two-minute speech, writing a focus for the beginning, middle, and end can help you hone in on key ideas you want to convey.

If you can write out the whole speech, do it. You may end up improvising certain parts anyway, but the more you can prepare, the more seamless your speech will be. Susan Cain, author of the book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking , writes that speech preparation is especially helpful for introverts since you’ll gain a better understanding of how you'll come across — which can increase your confidence.

2. Start Strong

Grab your audience’s attention early. You can do this by starting your speech with a surprising statistic, a joke, or an interesting anecdote. The YPO , a nonprofit global leadership community of chief executives, offers some examples of attention-grabbing speech openers:

• Use a well-known or thought-provoking quote that is relevant to your speech.
• Ask a “what if” question to draw in your audience.
• Get on stage and … wait. The silent pause can draw all eyes toward you.
• Create a one-two punch opener by combining multiple techniques. For example, open with a surprising statistic, then follow that up with a few seconds of silence.

3. Be Yourself

If you get anxious about public speaking, it could be tempting to try to emulate more famous public speakers or even fall back on just reading your speech or notecards. The lack of authenticity will come through.

Instead, Toastmasters International recommends keeping the tone conversational while embracing your own unique style. That means avoiding using overly complicated words when possible and using your written speech as a starting point, not as something you recite.

And if you make a mistake while speaking? Don’t worry and don’t apologize. The audience is rooting for you, so just pick up where you left off and forge ahead.

4. Practice

Practice goes hand in hand with the first three tips. How your speech comes across out loud compared to how it reads in your head can be very different. Practicing a speech enables you to:

• Work out pacing and pauses for optimal impact.
• Make sure you're able to clearly and confidently pronounce your speech.
• Feel more comfortable with the message you're delivering.
• Test drive your opening, especially if you’re going to tell a joke.

Practice in front of a mirror and in front of a friend if possible. If you need to memorize your speech, break it down into chunks and work on memorizing one part at a time. Chunking is a cognitive principle that states information is more easily stored when it is broken down into pieces. For speeches that are several minutes long, use chunking to tackle one section at a time, then weave them together in your preparation.

5. Pace Yourself

In public speaking, pace is the speed at which you speak. Talk too fast and the audience may not be able to understand you or grasp the topic. Speak too slowly and they can become bored or frustrated. The trick, according to Toastmasters , is to vary your pace. For example, speak quickly to convey urgency, or speak slowly to build tension.

You could find yourself speaking quickly even though you didn’t plan to do so. Sometimes speakers do this out of nervousness. To help slow yourself down, try speaking in a loud voice and over-articulate. Both will force you to slow down. Additionally, you can write pauses into your notes to remind yourself to take a breath and vary your pace.

6. Dress for Success

While you can't necessarily control every detail of a speech, you can control how you look. Dress in comfortable clothes that make you feel good about yourself. This helps you feel confident.

That isn’t to say you should dress down. The BBC talked to professionals in human relations and career coaching about clothing in the workplace, and the consensus was that you should observe what others usually wear in the workplace, and then put your personal spin on it. This exudes a sense of belonging while also helping you to stand out just enough to be recognized as a leader.

7. Prepare for the Worst

It might sound counterintuitive, but imagining the worst-case scenario that could happen during your speech could help calm you down. In an article for Mayo Clinic , Craig N. Sawchuk, PhD, LP, suggests that when you’re afraid of something, you may overestimate how bad it will be.

Instead, Sawchuk says, think about the worst that could possibly happen, and then think about your best possible response. Doing this has the effect of minimizing fear, which can increase your poise come speech time.

8. Tour the Space Beforehand

Don't let a surprising venue layout derail your speech. A setup involving a podium (or lack of one), platform, or stage may seem new and jarring if it's drastically different from where you practiced.

Before a speech, walk around the venue if you can. Touch the podium. If you are going to be holding a microphone, hold it and walk around with it before the speech. Look out into the first few rows so you have an idea of where to look as you're delivering the speech.

9. Get the Audience Invested

If you want to keep your audience hanging on every word, get them to be active participants in your speech.

One way to do this may be to ask for some type of physical movement, such as a show of hands if people identify with something. You can even ask for people to shout out answers to a question or ask an audience member to join you on stage as part of the presentation. Just make sure that, whatever you do, it fits the subject and tone of the speech.

10. Make Eye Contact

While it may seem easier to look at the back of the room instead of at your audience, there are a couple of reasons to make eye contact instead.

According to the National Speakers Association , you want to make a connection with your audience. If you’re staring off and away from them while speaking, the connection is never made. Instead, move your eyes across the audience, stopping on individual people every so often.

Looking at your audience will also allow you to gauge the reception to your speech. This can help you figure out when to switch gears or wrap a certain point.

11. Ask for Feedback

Get better at public speaking by asking your audience for feedback. Depending on the setting, this can be done formally (such as a quick email survey at work) or informally (by asking people you trust what they thought of your speech).

Don't get overwhelmed by feedback. Identify the areas you know you can improve, and make small changes in each speech. If you are serious about perfecting your speaking skills, join a group such as Toastmasters International, which gives you the opportunity to practice public speaking and get feedback in a supportive setting.

Become a Better Public Speaker

At some point in your life, you're going to have to speak in front of a group. It's not always easy, but with preparation, practice, and a realistic view of the task at hand, you can approach your next public speaking engagement with confidence and a meaningful message.

If earning a degree is also part of your life goals, learn more about the online degree programs at Purdue Global . An accredited institution, we offer more than 175 online programs at the certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate levels, and our online format is tailored to meet the needs of working adults. Request more information today.

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Guiding Students to Be Comfortable With Public Speaking

Small steps can help high school students feel less anxious about speaking in front of an audience.

“According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.”  — Jerry Seinfeld

Public speaking is a legitimate fear for many people. I’m not afraid of public speaking, but I am afraid of snakes. If someone forced me into a room with snakes to pass a course, I would be terrified, and I would fail. This is how some students feel about public speaking.

Also, consider that students don’t want to feel judged. They don’t want to appear dumb, weak, or afraid in front of their classmates. Requiring students to speak in front of each other is asking a lot.

As an English and theater teacher for more than 13 years, I’ve helped many students become more confident with public speaking. I’ve also seen other teachers struggle with helping students grow in their confidence. Often, the issue is that they’re either not scaffolding the public speaking experience for the student (they’re just throwing the student alone in front of the classroom) or they’re scaffolding the experience, but they’re making the steps too big or rushing the process. Here I’ll explain the techniques I use in my high school English and theater classrooms that I’ve had success with over the years.

First, before we can even begin to expect students to speak publicly, we must first build a strong classroom community. The feeling of safety and community is vital because students need to feel safe and supported before they’ll take risks. You need to build the foundation for a strong community in your classroom before beginning the next steps.

Scaffolding

How you scaffold the public speaking experience will make all the difference. Students may need to do these exercises more than once, and it isn’t a linear process. This is where the artistry of teaching comes in, as well as the community-building you’ve worked on.

Start with group presentations from the students’ desks. These can be fairly large groups to start (four to six students). The projects don’t have to be big, formal assignments. In fact, this works great with a quick check-in of a discussion.

In the beginning, don’t require everyone to speak. That’s right—the first step doesn’t even include speaking. Having everyone looking at them (even in a group) is a first baby step for some students.

For the next step, do the same as above but now in front of the room. Being in front of the room is intimidating, and students will feel safer if they’re in a group and don’t have to speak yet.

You may want to have the group present a poster, with the person who doesn’t yet feel comfortable speaking holding it up. This provides a sense of security. Also, having a podium between the students and the audience makes a big difference in comfort level.

Repeat the above steps, but slowly make the groups smaller and/or have them speak a little bit more each time. Students can also do these steps from their desks first and then move up to standing in front of the class. You’ll have to figure out with your students which areas to change and how quickly—again, the artistry of teaching.

Factors in Students’ Success

Over the course of the year, make sure you plan out these experiences and think about where each individual student is in their journey to public speaking confidence. This will change as the year goes on, and not always in a straight line. Students will have other experiences outside of your classroom that will either build or damage their progress. They might have a great experience in another classroom or an after-school activity that propels them forward, or you may have to take a step backward with a student because they’ve had a negative experience somewhere else. It’s vital to regularly check in with your students. This can be a quick conversation, a secret hand signal that says how they are doing that day, or a poll.

Think about learning how to drive a car. People most likely don’t start out driving on the highways. New drivers work on smaller side streets or in parking lots until they feel comfortable enough and ready to move on to something more challenging and intimidating. Even then, the next step may not be the highway.

Keep these tips in mind when thinking about how to create important, purposeful, and thoughtful experiences with public speaking. Taking these smaller steps will be an investment that will set your students up for success in the long term.

10 Ways to Improve Your Public Speaking Skills – Tips for Teens

June 5, 2023

If public speaking causes your palms to sweat or your voice to quaver, you’re not the only one. Simply adding to a student-led discussion used to make my heart pound so loudly I couldn’t hear my thoughts. Standing in front of the class made my face turn bright red. I wasn’t alone in feeling this way, yet most people can’t avoid public speaking altogether. High school courses often require project presentations, and some classes require oral debates. Extracurriculars, too, often require various forms of speechmaking. The team captain of the diving team will inspire teammates with a rousing pep-talk, not a mumbling one. A shy student perfectly equipped for the role of class secretary may have trouble getting elected without giving a convincing speech. Later on, college courses can require students to give an hour-long thesis presentation. All of these tasks will drive teens to attempt to improve their public speaking skills.

Confident public speaking will come in handy at all stages of life, whether you’re interviewing for a job, making a toast at your brother’s wedding, or accepting an Oscar. Luckily, public speaking isn’t an innate gift that only a select few are born with. Think of public speaking as a craft you can hone, or a sport you can train for, using simple, effective techniques. As a high school student, you can begin by mastering these 10 public speaking skills.

10 Ways to Improve Your Public Speaking Skills

1) know your subject.

To get familiar with your subject, begin by practicing your speech alone. While this may sound counterintuitive, speaking aloud to yourself will allow you to memorize your material without worrying about presentation. You may notice what needs to be added and deleted. You’ll see if the structure of your speech works, if the beginning sounds inviting, and if the ending finishes on a strong note.

As you practice and revise your speech, you will naturally memorize it. Then you can improvise. The ability to improvise comes in handy if your audience asks questions, or if another type of disruption occurs. Improvising also allows for paraphrasing, which makes for more natural-sounding language in the moment, as compared to the formal way a text gets written.

2) Rehearse in Front of Others

Once you know your topic inside out, practice in front of a friend or family member. This person (someone you trust) will help you identify weak or confusing points. They may tell you where they got bored, or where they disagreed. While helping you strengthen your argument, they’ll also give you a heightened sense of self-awareness. This self-awareness will make you more sensitive to your delivery. You may notice strange ticks you don’t normally have, like wild hand gestures, or extra “ums” inflecting your speech.

Additionally, this micro-audience will give you an indication of your own level of comfortability. If one person makes you feel nervous, you’ll pay extra attention to combatting stage fright.

3) Time Yourself

Public speaking assignments will involve an allotted time in which you’re asked to make your speech. This may be anything from five minutes to a half hour. Timing yourself while rehearsing will give you an idea of how long your speech will take, and whether you need to shorten or lengthen it. Timing yourself also allows you to focus on another aspect of public speaking—pacing.

Most students speed up while speaking to an audience, due to nerves. If your speech is shorter than you thought, you may not need to add more content but rather slow down your pace. Time yourself a second time, and pay particular attention to the pauses you add. Give yourself time to take a deep breath between paragraphs. Every couple of sentences, pause to glance up at your imaginary audience. When you give the real speech, these built-in breaks will allow your audience to follow your argument better.

How to Improve Public Speaking Skills (Continued)

4) videotape yourself.

Videotape yourself after you’ve timed yourself. While you can do both at the same time on a smartphone, I recommend doing these steps consecutively, because they target different goals. Videotaping yourself will help see your body language from an outside perspective. Nervous habits can appear in many forms: twirling hair, bopping your head, looking off to the side, biting your lips, squeezing your hands into fists… Once you’ve identified your particular ticks, relax your shoulders. Stand up straight, and take a deep breath.

Now, give your speech again. Monitor yourself to see if you have the urge to move, and when you do, do it purposefully. Great speakers rarely hold still. However, they incorporate movement into their speech in a way that looks controlled and natural. These deliberate gestures draw the audience in. Try taking a step forward. Open your arms to about shoulder-width, palms up, then clasp your hands again. Pause and smile.

5) Improve One Aspect at a Time

At this point, we’ve discussed four key tips on public speaking for teens. The next tip involves learning how to incorporate these tips into your practice until each becomes natural. The trick? Work on each tip separately. The main reason why public speaking intimidates so many of us is that we simply have too much to think about. Words, body language, pacing, humor, bright lights, more words, raised hands—it all becomes too much.

Instead, practice mastering each component of public speaking separately. Once one aspect becomes natural to you, move on to the next. While doing this, you’ll be able to identify your weak points more accurately and know what to spend extra time working on.

6) Get Inspired

For a deeper dive into developing public speaking skills, take cues from experts. Consider attending a local event where someone is speaking. For a more creative venue, see a comedy show or a theatre performance. Note what you like—and what you don’t like. (Not all public speakers are persuasive ones.) What gestures would you feel comfortable borrowing? What makes the audience listen closely, or laugh?

For public speaking examples closer to home, search the internet for inspiring talks. TED Talks include a whole range of topics and lengths. For example, I find this talk on the power of introverts particularly compelling. Despite being a self-identified introvert, the speaker, Susan Cain, pulls off a warm, witty speech about the strength of quiet people, proving that the best public speakers don’t have to be loud or outgoing. Another speaker, Adora Svitak, was only twelve when she gave this speech on what adults can learn from kids .

7) Switch It Up

Another way to get comfortable with public speaking involves distancing yourself from your material. I don’t mean to forget about your speech, but rather, broaden your repertoire. Recite a rhyming poem or a tongue twister. Read aloud from your history textbook in a different accent. These activities will make students more aware of things like rhythm, pitch, intonation, and clarity. In fact, joining the school drama club will certainly help improve public speaking for teens. Sometimes it’s easier to speak with conviction when the words aren’t yours. Taking on the persona of a fictional character can bring a shy student out of their shell, and make the act of public speaking fun.

8) Make Notecards

Memorizing your speech doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use notecards. Having a set of talking points can help you stay on track, in the event that your mind goes blank in front of your audience. Try to keep the cards simple. For example, each card can represent one paragraph and contain keywords, to jog your memory. These cards can also hold hard-to-remember facts and figures.

For teens who feel especially nervous about public speaking, the notecards can also serve as a prop to simply hold on to, to keep from fidgeting. If you watched the TED Talk by Adora Svitak, you’ll see that the paper she holds certainly does not diminish her delivery, nor make her look less prepared.

On the topic of props, let’s consider PowerPoint presentations. Like notecards, these slides should remain minimal. If presented with both written and spoken words, most audience members will subconsciously choose to read, and begin to tune out your speech. Instead, rely on images—pictures, diagrams, and charts. Relevant images will aid visual learners and grab the audience’s attention, enhancing your speech, rather than distracting from it.

9) Be Yourself

Obviously, this is easier said than done. Most of us don’t go around holding forth on a subject without allowing others to jump in. So how can you be yourself while making a public speech? Consider incorporating a personal story. In Susan Cain’s TED Talk, she begins by describing her first time at summer camp. The personal anecdote creates a connection between Cain and her audience.

However, sometimes personal stories aren’t appropriate in academic speeches. In this case, consider adding your personality. This may be a touch of humor or a certain style to the delivery. Cain pauses after making certain statements, indicating there’s irony in the situations she describes. Adora Svitak, on the other hand, has a particular diction to her public speaking, which brings out her precocious personality.

10) Consider Your Audience

When writing a paper, you’re often told to consider your audience. So too must you consider your audience when delivering a speech. Think about the amount of knowledge your classmates will have on the subject, and adjust your speech accordingly. Likewise, pay attention to the audience’s comprehension as you go. If you’ve memorized your speech and practiced making eye contact, you’ll be able to pause and ask if anyone needs clarification without getting derailed. Eye contact can also help your audience feel more involved on a subconscious level.

If the setting allows, consider inviting your audience to participate more actively. Depending on the level of formality, you may be able to call on a classmate for an opinion or answer. Small interactions engage an audience and make everyone more invested in close listening. Finally, consider leaving a few minutes for a question and answer period at the end of your speech. This can lead to clarity and insightful conversations.

How to Improve Public Speaking Skills – Additional Resources

For more on public speaking skills and other related links, consider checking out the following blogs and resources:

• Toastmasters’ Video Library
• “High School Success”
• Top Feeders Law
• Top Colleges Communication
• College Success
• High School Success

Kaylen Baker

With a BA in Literary Studies from Middlebury College, an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University, and a Master’s in Translation from Université Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis, Kaylen has been working with students on their writing for over five years. Previously, Kaylen taught a fiction course for high school students as part of Columbia Artists/Teachers, and served as an English Language Assistant for the French National Department of Education. Kaylen is an experienced writer/translator whose work has been featured in Los Angeles Review, Hybrid, San Francisco Bay Guardian, France Today, and Honolulu Weekly, among others.

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I am sweating and shivering at the same time. I start my speech, and immediately my mouth goes dry. I make it through my whole introduction... then my brain freezes. I stand before the class for a few more seconds in awkward silence, then quickly return to my desk, teary-eyed and ashamed.

Sorry, you caught me reliving my first presentation in high school speech class. This was not my first public speaking slipup, nor has it been my last. I have plenty of embarrassing presentation stories, and not all of them are my own. Even the most experienced and outgoing of us can struggle with public speaking. Take this blunder from producer and director, Michael Bay, for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4rMy1iA268

While public speaking can be tough, even for the professionals, it is nearly impossible to avoid. Whether it is interviewing for a job or internship or simply sharing your ideas for a group project, speaking skills are necessary for success. Luckily, I have some advice.

I will let you in on how I went from panicking in high school to surviving project critiques in my Graphic Design classes. Speakers face two major obstacles: speech anxiety and bad form, both of which can be overcome with the following tips and tricks!

Tips for Self-Assurance

The fear of public speaking is the most common phobia (even above death!), inflicting a whopping 73% of the population. If speech anxiety is holding you back, these tips are for you!

Practice. I am sure you have heard this one before. You should always go over what you are going to say. The trick you may not have heard, however, is not to memorize your speech.

Memorizing your speech can fool your mind into thinking it can only be presented a certain way. If your speech veers off track, you will not be able to recover. Instead, write your speech out in bullet points and sort out the overall structure. Practice improvising and prepare for the worst. If you have a plan for possible mishaps, you will feel more confident with your speech. This, in turn, can prevent the dreaded brain freeze or stumbling over premeditated words.

Counteract speaking symptoms. When we are nervous, our fight-or-flight response is activated, causing a variety of symptoms. If your anxiety has side effects, prepare solutions. For example, breathing methods can help combat a racing heart. You should take a deep breath in, hold it, then slowly let it out. If you suffer from dry mouth, bring a water bottle. Sweating is also a common symptom. Wear breathable clothing that will mask sweat patches to avoid an embarrassing situation.

Point-of-view. Our emotions are the root of our anxiety. To overcome our fears, we need to change our point-of-view. Having nerves can be a good thing. Use your nerves as passion, turning your topic into something you truly care about. I tell myself that I am not nervous, I am excited! This is my chance to share my thoughts. I begin looking forward to my speech. If you want to reinforce this feeling, challenge yourself to keep a smile on your face. Smiling tells the brain that you are happy, and eventually, it will happen on its own.

One cause of public speaking anxiety is the fear of being judged. This problem also comes from our point-of-view. While we are always thinking about ourselves and what people think of us, everyone else is doing the same. The audience wants you to succeed. It would be awkward for them too if you fail. While you might get a couple of laughs, you are not going to be shunned for giving a bad speech.

Imitate others. One useful speaking method is to watch others. Observe what works and what does not and implement your discoveries into your speaking. I like to pretend to be an actor, borrowing their confidence and mannerisms. Once you are comfortable, start adding bits of your personality and your story into your speech. This makes you feel more invested in your presentation, forgetting your fear.

Experience. Even practicing all of the above methods, it will take time to improve your speaking skills. Instead of avoiding public speaking, you should seek more learning opportunities. While it will be hard, the more you speak, the easier it gets. For example, I did forensics in high school. While it was not always a pleasant experience, the take away was valuable practice in speaking under pressure. The only way to beat your fear is to face it. Classes and activities such as forensics, debate, and speech allow a learning environment where you can improve your speaking skills before they are needed for real-world situations.

Tips for Impressing the Audience

Even if you are not nervous before a speech, your presentation can still leave a bad impression. If bad form is holding you back, these are the tips for you!

Organization. Your speech should have a clear structure. Try dividing it into three parts (the introduction, three main points, and a strong conclusion). The best speeches open with an attention getter and end with a review of your points and a call to action.

Content. Write your speech with one goal in mind. Having too many messages can confuse the audience. Studies show that using metaphors and rhetorical questions are both excellent ways to add flavor to your speech and draw the audience’s attention.

Verbal Behavior. You should be conscious of the tone, volume, and speed of your words while speaking. If you want to avoid sounding like a robot, vary these elements with the emotions you are trying to convey. Rehearsing with a pencil in your mouth can help with annunciation. Practice adapting to feedback from the audience (e.g. pausing for laughter). Most importantly: avoid filler words! Even a great speech littered with ums will sound grating to the ears.

Nonverbal Behavior. When giving a speech, every movement should be smooth and intentional. Watch out for needless pacing. While intentional walking can reinforce points in your speech, constantly swaying or strolling leaves the audience dizzy and distracted. Keep your arms uncrossed and out of your pockets. If they refuse to stay at your sides, try implementing unobtrusive hand gestures.

I Have a Dream

This list alone is not going to turn you into the next Martin Luther King Jr.; public speaking takes practice and patience. While you work towards becoming a better speaker, know you are not alone. Many historical figures suffered from the same issues as you, from Winston Churchill to Abraham Lincoln. However, they overcame their fears and mistakes to help set an example. Keep dreaming, and your speeches are bound to inspire.

https://www.scienceofpeople.com/public-speaking-tips/

https://www.verywellmind.com/public-speaking-tips-3024732

https://nationalsocialanxietycenter.com/2017/02/20/public-speaking-and-fear-of-brain-freezes/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4rMy1iA268

Bailey Werner

Mild-mannered student by day, writer by night... but typically by day, I’m Bailey Werner, current junior and graphic design major at Fort Hays State University. With a passion for storytelling that stemmed from 3rd grade writing hour, I’ve been crafting worlds and characters as a hobby for over a decade. Now, as a part-time content creator for the school, I’m living out my dream of writing professionally. If I’m not in my room reading, gaming, or making art, you can find me at the lake. I strongly believe in the power of storytelling, and I’ll continue to use my writing skills after graduation, in my work as a graphic designer.

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• 11 Tips for Giving a Great Speech

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Chances are you’ll be asked to give speeches or presentations in classes at school. If you get involved in volunteer groups, brief speeches to open events or thank participants are a must. Then there are the speeches at events such as weddings, as well as speeches that you might have to give in the workplace. That amounts to the average person being required to give quite a lot of speeches, even if they don’t get involved in an area such as politics where the ability to give a good speech becomes even more important. You might also have suffered through quite a number of bad speeches from other people – whether that’s at family events where the microphone squeaks the whole way through or a school presentation where the headteacher can’t quite make the jokes work. If you don’t want to inflict the same sort of experience on others, here are our top tips for giving a great speech.

1. Practise your microphone technique

2. Keep it short

Particularly at something like a party or a wedding, no one will be unhappy if your speech runs a little short; it’ll just give them more time to investigate the canapés. If you are giving a speech for a class in school, and it’ll be assessed, you need to prioritise keeping it within the required time limits. But even under these circumstances, if you’ve been tasked – say – with giving a 10-15 minute speech, it’s usually better to come in nearer the 10 than the 15 minute mark. Put simply, even if your speech is terrible, your audience can probably tolerate it for 10 minutes. Much longer, and they’ll be struggling. This shouldn’t limit what you can cover; in the film Up , the whole of Carl and Ellie’s heartbreaking love story is told in under 12 minutes. Do you really need longer to make your points? Achieve brevity by writing out the speech you would give if you had all the time in the world, and then cut anything that seems extraneous or boring.

3. Consider what your audience wants to hear

If you are giving a speech in class because it’s your assignment, what your audience wants to hear is likely to be “the bell ringing for lunch”; you can’t help them there. But under other circumstances, consider what your audience wants to hear and what you want to say, and strive for there to be as much overlap as possible. In the context of a political speech, for instance, what you want to say might be why your party should receive votes; what your audience wants to hear is what your party would do for them, if they won power. Hopefully it should be possible to write a speech that meets both sets of needs, rather than focusing solely on whatever it is that you want to say and leaving your audience disappointed.

4. Pick a theme and stick to it

Here’s a goal for giving a speech: someone sitting near the back, who’s messing around on their phone for at least two-thirds of it and focusing mainly on how long it will be until lunch, should nonetheless be able to give a reasonably accurate answer to the question, “what was it about?” If you’re supposed to be giving a speech in defence of the nuclear deterrent, for example, both the topic and your position on it should be clearly identifiable. This means – to stick with the nuclear deterrent example – not talking for a while about jobs, and then the wider economy, and then the North-South divide, and then Scottish independence, and then Ukraine with a brief digression into South Ossetia before rounding off by squeaking out “and that’s why we should renew Trident!” seconds before you run out of time – no matter how relevant that cornucopia of topics may feel (and they are all relevant, albeit tenuously). It means that even if you do have to take a while to explain a more complex idea, you need to be concise, and bring it back to your theme as quickly as you can.

5. Speak slowly

Most people speak more quickly than they realise when they’re on stage, especially if they’re nervous. But no one will be able to follow your speech if you’re jabbering it out. Thankfully, this one is easy to fix with a little effort and practise. First of all, figure out how quickly you’re actually speaking: do a word count for your speech and then time yourself saying it. A fast speaker will speak at maybe 160 words per minute, a slow speaker at 100 wpm and an average speaker at 130 wpm. For a formal speech, you want to be speaking on the slow side. While this will vary by culture and environment, 120 wpm is a reasonable target to aim for; slow enough that everyone should be able to understand you, and fast enough that you hopefully won’t be sending them to sleep.

6. Tell a couple of jokes

This is a tricky tip because there are lots of pitfalls in the world of telling jokes. For instance, there’s the temptation to include an in-joke that three of your friends will understand and find hilarious, that is utterly baffling to everyone else in the room. Avoid this – if you include any jokes, witty references or anything along those lines, make sure they are accessible to everyone present. All the same, if you can manage a joke or two, it can be a useful way to break up a speech and retain the audience’s interest. A little self-deprecation (not too much!) or the use of classic joke formats such as “the scene was chaotic; it looked as if a bomb had hit and we didn’t know where to start on repairs – but that’s enough about the hen party…” work nicely even if you’re not very confident. Don’t turn it into a stand-up comedy sketch if you’re not a comedian, don’t wait for ages for laughter that’s not showing up, and don’t make jokes at the expense of anyone who you don’t know for sure can take it.

7. Don’t be afraid to repeat yourself if you need to

If you follow US or UK politics at all, you’ve probably heard some of these phrases recently: take back control, make America great again, long-term economic plan, son of a bus driver. Three of these have already led the party or people they’re associated with to electoral victory; the fourth remains to be seen. To take the ‘son of a bus driver’ as an example, this refers to Sadiq Khan, now Mayor of London. There can be hardly anyone in London who doesn’t know what their Mayor’s dad did for a living. Meanwhile, many of them probably can’t remember his rival Zac Goldsmith’s name, let alone anything he said during the campaign. The point is that repetition works. In pursuit of point 4, if you want people to remember your key theme, you’re going to have to say it more than once. Don’t assume that everyone will have paid attention to everything you’ve said, unless you’re in a classroom setting where they’ll get told off if they don’t.

8. Only use the visual aids you need

This tip applies to two things: PowerPoints and notes. If you can do without either (and your assignment allows it), then do. Every time you’re glancing over your notes or up at the screen, fiddling with the laptop to get the slide to move on, fighting with a video that isn’t working or struggling to read your own handwriting, is time that you’re not spending engaging with your audience. A well-written, clear speech delivered without notes is always going to be better than someone awkwardly reading aloud the bullet points on their PowerPoint slides. If you must do a presentation – for instance, because there are photos that need to be included – have as little text on it as possible, preferably none. That way, if there are people at the back who can’t really see the screen through the sea of heads in front of them, they’ll still be able to follow what you’re saying.

9. Get a friend to check for awkward mannerisms

Mannerisms that are entirely fine in normal life become awkward and strange when you’re speaking in public. Perhaps you’re inclined to fiddle with your hair or your cuffs, you rock back and forth on the balls of your feet, or you have a habit of reaching your hand to your cheek when you’re talking. No one would notice in everyday conversation, but when you’re on a stage, it’ll become all they’ll see. Some of this is easily avoidable – for instance, if you have long hair that you’re inclined to twirl or otherwise fiddle with, tie it up. For other mannerisms, get the critical friend who helped you sort out your microphone technique to tell you what they are, and do your best to suppress the more annoying ones.

10. Look around the room

Talking about eye contact usually has the effect of making normal eye contact a lot harder, and so does giving a speech. All of a sudden, you’re up on stage, and you have no idea what a normal way to look at a group of people is. Some speakers deal with this by picking a point in the middle distance and speaking to it; others by picking a particular person near to the back and addressing their entire speech at them. This is obviously no fun for that person, who probably spends the whole thing feeling extremely uncomfortable, but it’s not too weird for everyone else. Better still, though, if you can manage it, is to look slowly and steadily around the room, trying to make eye contact with a decent range of people, before returning to the middle distance for a while, rinse and repeat. This needs to be slow and steady, or you give the impression that you’ve just smelled smoke and are casting about for a fire exit before the stampede beings.

11. Don’t be scared of a good reaction

If your speech is genuinely engaging, funny, inspiring or any of the other things you might hope it would be, your audience will react to it. There might be laughter, or applause, or even a bit of cheering depending on the setting. This can be daunting because when you’re practising your speech in front of your bedroom mirror, there’s no way to prepare for it. And it’s where even the best speakers can go wrong, by launching straight into what they were going to say next without waiting for the laughter or applause to stop, or by looking painfully awkward while it’s going on. It’s a pitfall that’s mostly solved by being aware it might happen. If your audience is applauding you or otherwise reacting well, it’s OK to smile, look up, wait for them to stop and then keep going with your speech – it’s as simple as that. You could even throw in a “thank you” before you continue in the knowledge that it’s all going well. Image credits: microphones ; audience ; boy with microphone ; clock ; winding road ; enjoy a joke ; sticky notes ; 

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Planning Your Speech

Being confident in your speech making and your public speaking means that you should fully prepare for your speech! Here are some tips to write a great speech!

1. Determine the purpose of your speech.  Whether it is a persuasive essay, argumentative essay, or just an informative one you need to know why you are giving the speech. Generally you may be told what kind of speech to write for your assignment, but if you have a choice on what type of speech you need to give it's important to know what you want to tell your audience. 

2. Identify your audience.  This may depend on your assignment but you need to know your audience to know what type of the information you are giving to them. Are you giving a speech to people who don't have any knowledge on the subject? Experts in the field? Or are you just speaking in front of your professor and fellow classmates? Understanding your audience helps you determine the scope of the detail in your speech and how you can keep the audience captivated. 

3. Create your claim (or thesis).  Just like writing a paper, your speech needs a thesis. Your claim is the main idea for your speech, and you will spend your speech providing evidence that supports your claim. 

4. Collect your evidence.  You need to support your claim with evidence. Evidence may include: surveys, statistics, anecdotal evidence, or even your own experience. 

5. Start determining how you will organize your speech.  Just like an essay, a speech has a similar structure. Your introduction, body, supporting evidence, and conclusion. It's helpful to write down your speech in a similar way you would write an essay. 

Giving Your Speech

Glossophobia, or the fear of public speaking, is very common. Below are some speech-giving tips that can help reduce your anxiety!

1. Talk to someone if you are feeling stressed.  Talk to a counselor, your professor, or just a friend. It's always helpful to talk about your worries and get support from people around. 

2. Know what you're talking about.  You will be more comfortable reciting your speech when you have some knowledge on the subject. While you are researching and preparing your speech, get some preliminary background information so you feel more confident with the subject. This also helps if you get any surprise questions from your audience!

3. Practice.  Practice, practice, practice. In the mirror, in front of some friends, in front of your classmates. Be comfortable with the words, the structure of your speech, and knowing the order in which you will present your main ideas. 

4. Organize your materials.  Disorganization the day of your speech can worsen your anxiety! Prepare the night before by setting out all of your demonstrative items (poster, powerpoint, pictures), make sure any notecards are in order, and set aside your clothes if you are dressing up for your speech. It's also important to make sure the technology in the room you are presenting in has everything you need (check with your professor)!

5. Study other speeches.  You don't need to study the great orators of the world to learn how to improve your speeches. TED Talks, interviews from people you look up to, and even watching YouTube videos can help improve your public speaking skills. 

6. Don't rely on Powerpoints/posters.  Items like Powerpoints and posters that you use for your speech are meant to support you and not be something that you read off of the entire time. If you can do without visual aids or if they are not required for your speech, you may decide not to use any at all. Try to have as little text as possible on them--you won't be able to read off of them and your audience will not be distracted reading the slides. 

7. Focus on your message.  Don't get caught up in little details, your stories, or any jokes you may have in your speech. Focus on your claim so your message is understood by your audience. 

8. Don't apologize.  Everyone makes a mistake. Technical difficulties can happen to every one. Don't let minor issues such as forgetting a part of your speech or getting a little mixed up derail your presentation. Your audience may not even notice the small mistake. If you feel like you need to make an apology, make a small one and continue on. You've got this!

9. Look around the room.  You should always give your audience your full attention. It might be a small classroom of a few students or a massive auditorium but your audience is very important. Focus on different parts of the room that you can spend a few seconds on during the speech. If you can't decide where to look, focus on a specific person. 

10. Be yourself.  You can reduce your anxiety by just being yourself. Involved your personality in how you present information; use your pitch and create a style that's meaningful and allows the audience to relate to you. And don't forget to smile!

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Five Tips to Give a Great Speech

• Strategic Communication

Anybody can learn to give a great speech, says  Jane Praeger , a faculty member for the  Programs in Strategic Communication  at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies. She offers five tips on how to keep speeches both simple and authentic.

1. Practice Beforehand

Practice replacing filler words like "um," "so," and "like" with silence. If you can rehearse in the space where you’ll be speaking, that’s a real plus. Go to the back of the room, imagine that you’re hard of hearing or distracted, and you’ll know how to reach those people.

2. Work the Room

Try to speak to audience members before your speech, so that you can focus on a few friendly faces, particularly if you get nervous. If you’re making eye contact with a friendly person in one quadrant, those nearby will think that you’re talking to them. Then do the same thing in another quadrant. You want to see your talk as a series of conversations with different people throughout the room.

3. Prepare with Relaxation Techniques

If you’re nervous before approaching the stage, take a few deep breaths. Picture yourself delivering a successful speech. Most people will be nervous for the first few minutes, but you want to channel that adrenaline into positive energy.

4. Don’t Read Your Speech

Tell your speech from heart or use a notecard with bullet points as a cheat sheet. Bring the card with you and place it on the lectern. If you freeze up mid-speech, you can take a deep breath, look at your card, and know exactly which story you’re going to tell next.

5. Stand Up Straight

Whether you walk across the stage or stand behind a lectern, try to maintain good posture. Imagine that your head is being held up by a string. Standing up straight shows that you have confidence in what you’re talking about and your audience will feel more inclined to listen.

Read the full story for five more tips at  Forbes  and learn more about the  Programs in Strategic Communication  at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies.

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What this handout is about

This handout will help you create an effective speech by establishing the purpose of your speech and making it easily understandable. It will also help you to analyze your audience and keep the audience interested.

What’s different about a speech?

Writing for public speaking isn’t so different from other types of writing. You want to engage your audience’s attention, convey your ideas in a logical manner and use reliable evidence to support your point. But the conditions for public speaking favor some writing qualities over others. When you write a speech, your audience is made up of listeners. They have only one chance to comprehend the information as you read it, so your speech must be well-organized and easily understood. In addition, the content of the speech and your delivery must fit the audience.

What’s your purpose?

People have gathered to hear you speak on a specific issue, and they expect to get something out of it immediately. And you, the speaker, hope to have an immediate effect on your audience. The purpose of your speech is to get the response you want. Most speeches invite audiences to react in one of three ways: feeling, thinking, or acting. For example, eulogies encourage emotional response from the audience; college lectures stimulate listeners to think about a topic from a different perspective; protest speeches in the Pit recommend actions the audience can take.

As you establish your purpose, ask yourself these questions:

• What do you want the audience to learn or do?
• If you are making an argument, why do you want them to agree with you?
• If they already agree with you, why are you giving the speech?
• How can your audience benefit from what you have to say?

Audience analysis

If your purpose is to get a certain response from your audience, you must consider who they are (or who you’re pretending they are). If you can identify ways to connect with your listeners, you can make your speech interesting and useful.

As you think of ways to appeal to your audience, ask yourself:

• What do they have in common? Age? Interests? Ethnicity? Gender?
• Do they know as much about your topic as you, or will you be introducing them to new ideas?
• Why are these people listening to you? What are they looking for?
• What level of detail will be effective for them?
• What tone will be most effective in conveying your message?
• What might offend or alienate them?

For more help, see our handout on audience .

Creating an effective introduction

Get their attention, otherwise known as “the hook”.

Think about how you can relate to these listeners and get them to relate to you or your topic. Appealing to your audience on a personal level captures their attention and concern, increasing the chances of a successful speech. Speakers often begin with anecdotes to hook their audience’s attention. Other methods include presenting shocking statistics, asking direct questions of the audience, or enlisting audience participation.

Establish context and/or motive

Explain why your topic is important. Consider your purpose and how you came to speak to this audience. You may also want to connect the material to related or larger issues as well, especially those that may be important to your audience.

Get to the point

Tell your listeners your thesis right away and explain how you will support it. Don’t spend as much time developing your introductory paragraph and leading up to the thesis statement as you would in a research paper for a course. Moving from the intro into the body of the speech quickly will help keep your audience interested. You may be tempted to create suspense by keeping the audience guessing about your thesis until the end, then springing the implications of your discussion on them. But if you do so, they will most likely become bored or confused.

For more help, see our handout on introductions .

Making your speech easy to understand

Repeat crucial points and buzzwords.

Especially in longer speeches, it’s a good idea to keep reminding your audience of the main points you’ve made. For example, you could link an earlier main point or key term as you transition into or wrap up a new point. You could also address the relationship between earlier points and new points through discussion within a body paragraph. Using buzzwords or key terms throughout your paper is also a good idea. If your thesis says you’re going to expose unethical behavior of medical insurance companies, make sure the use of “ethics” recurs instead of switching to “immoral” or simply “wrong.” Repetition of key terms makes it easier for your audience to take in and connect information.

Incorporate previews and summaries into the speech

For example:

“I’m here today to talk to you about three issues that threaten our educational system: First, … Second, … Third,”

“I’ve talked to you today about such and such.”

These kinds of verbal cues permit the people in the audience to put together the pieces of your speech without thinking too hard, so they can spend more time paying attention to its content.

Use especially strong transitions

This will help your listeners see how new information relates to what they’ve heard so far. If you set up a counterargument in one paragraph so you can demolish it in the next, begin the demolition by saying something like,

“But this argument makes no sense when you consider that . . . .”

If you’re providing additional information to support your main point, you could say,

“Another fact that supports my main point is . . . .”

Helping your audience listen

Rely on shorter, simpler sentence structures.

Don’t get too complicated when you’re asking an audience to remember everything you say. Avoid using too many subordinate clauses, and place subjects and verbs close together.

Too complicated:

The product, which was invented in 1908 by Orville Z. McGillicuddy in Des Moines, Iowa, and which was on store shelves approximately one year later, still sells well.

Easier to understand:

Orville Z. McGillicuddy invented the product in 1908 and introduced it into stores shortly afterward. Almost a century later, the product still sells well.

Limit pronoun use

Listeners may have a hard time remembering or figuring out what “it,” “they,” or “this” refers to. Be specific by using a key noun instead of unclear pronouns.

Pronoun problem:

The U.S. government has failed to protect us from the scourge of so-called reality television, which exploits sex, violence, and petty conflict, and calls it human nature. This cannot continue.

Why the last sentence is unclear: “This” what? The government’s failure? Reality TV? Human nature?

More specific:

The U.S. government has failed to protect us from the scourge of so-called reality television, which exploits sex, violence, and petty conflict, and calls it human nature. This failure cannot continue.

Keeping audience interest

Incorporate the rhetorical strategies of ethos, pathos, and logos.

When arguing a point, using ethos, pathos, and logos can help convince your audience to believe you and make your argument stronger. Ethos refers to an appeal to your audience by establishing your authenticity and trustworthiness as a speaker. If you employ pathos, you appeal to your audience’s emotions. Using logos includes the support of hard facts, statistics, and logical argumentation. The most effective speeches usually present a combination these rhetorical strategies.

Use statistics and quotations sparingly

Include only the most striking factual material to support your perspective, things that would likely stick in the listeners’ minds long after you’ve finished speaking. Otherwise, you run the risk of overwhelming your listeners with too much information.

Watch your tone

Be careful not to talk over the heads of your audience. On the other hand, don’t be condescending either. And as for grabbing their attention, yelling, cursing, using inappropriate humor, or brandishing a potentially offensive prop (say, autopsy photos) will only make the audience tune you out.

Creating an effective conclusion

Restate your main points, but don’t repeat them.

“I asked earlier why we should care about the rain forest. Now I hope it’s clear that . . .” “Remember how Mrs. Smith couldn’t afford her prescriptions? Under our plan, . . .”

Call to action

Speeches often close with an appeal to the audience to take action based on their new knowledge or understanding. If you do this, be sure the action you recommend is specific and realistic. For example, although your audience may not be able to affect foreign policy directly, they can vote or work for candidates whose foreign policy views they support. Relating the purpose of your speech to their lives not only creates a connection with your audience, but also reiterates the importance of your topic to them in particular or “the bigger picture.”

Practicing for effective presentation

Once you’ve completed a draft, read your speech to a friend or in front of a mirror. When you’ve finished reading, ask the following questions:

• Which pieces of information are clearest?
• Where did I connect with the audience?
• Where might listeners lose the thread of my argument or description?
• Where might listeners become bored?
• Where did I have trouble speaking clearly and/or emphatically?
• Did I stay within my time limit?

Other resources

• Toastmasters International is a nonprofit group that provides communication and leadership training.
• Allyn & Bacon Publishing’s Essence of Public Speaking Series is an extensive treatment of speech writing and delivery, including books on using humor, motivating your audience, word choice and presentation.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Boone, Louis E., David L. Kurtz, and Judy R. Block. 1997. Contemporary Business Communication . Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Ehrlich, Henry. 1994. Writing Effective Speeches . New York: Marlowe.

Lamb, Sandra E. 1998. How to Write It: A Complete Guide to Everything You’ll Ever Write . Berkeley: Ten Speed Press.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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• Delivery Techniques →

16 Presentation Tips for Students to Impress Your Classmates

Do you get nervous when giving a presentation? Presenting in a classroom full of students can be quite overwhelming, especially if you are a freshman new to the concept.

However, do not fret over it because, with the tips below, you can easily impress your instructor and score an excellent grade.

Arrive on Time

As the saying goes, the early bird gets the worm. Always be punctual for your presentations.

Besides leaving a good first impression, it also gives you the time to sort out any issues, such as technical difficulties, so that the presentation goes smoothly.

Also, if your presentation is on screen, always come prepared with several backups, such as an extra USB or downloaded files.

Surprise Your Audience

Everyone in a classroom expects you to make a boring presentation.

Students might start dozing off halfway into the presentation. However, aim to surprise your said audience. Use different but interesting tactics to keep them attentive and engaged.

For instance, you can use memes and animations to present your idea and address all the questions and concerns.

Adding a new dimension to your presentation will surely make you stand out! So do not hesitate to tweak your boring slides and surprise your classroom.

You might also like: How to Engage a Bored Audience

Don't Just Read

Usually, students write everything they need to say on a PowerPoint slide and just read it out. Please do not make that mistake.

The slides are only meant to be used as pointers that will trigger and get you going with the flow of words. Moreover, work smartly and spend your time coming up with appropriate keywords instead of lengthy and dull descriptions.

Show Off Your Personality

Do you have a good sense of humor? Are you good at impressions and limericks?

Use these traits to make your presentation more entertaining . It will also make you look more confident and approachable. T

his is especially important if your topic of discussion is dull. Moreover, being real and lively is how you keep the audience interested for as long as possible.

Encourage Yourself

You are your biggest motivator. Thus, pump up yourself before the presentation so you can loosen up your nerves and give the best presentation of your life.

Jump up and down, or scream the title of your presentation to keep your energy levels high. Ensure to do it in a separate room where no one can see you.

When you are lively and pumped, it is easier to keep your audience energized. In addition, show off your excitement to take the stage; after all, you are not some dull old instructor lecturing his students.

Maintain Good Eye Contact

Always maintain good eye contact with your audience while presenting your speech. Look everywhere in the room. Do not just stick your eyes to the middle aisle. Look around and naturally move your eyes to every side of the room.

Oftentimes, students just keep their focus on the instructor. Keeping the instructor attentive does not guarantee you a good grade. What matters more is how effectively you have delivered your message to your overall audience.

Use Powerful Images

For an effective presentation , let interactive images take over your screen. You can use bullet points and keywords, but a colorful or controversial image will have a better impact on the audience.

However, make sure to use relevant and comprehendible images that befit the content of your presentation.

You might want to check out this software, Prezentar to help you with these images.

Use Anecdotes and Stories

We listen to someone when we connect with them, and what forms a better connection than a personal story ? Hence, incorporate stories and anecdotes in your presentation to have your audience listen to you more carefully.

Sharing a personal story with your audience can also help gain their trust. It is as if you are sharing a piece of yourself with them, thus stirring myriad emotions in them.

In short, when you convey a message through narration, the message is usually received and understood well.

Pick a Relevant Story

When picking a story for your presentation, always choose the one that is short, relevant, and interesting. Otherwise, this technique will only drive your audience away.

Luckily, as a student, you present to your peers whom you have already spoken to at least once. This makes it easier for you to understand them - their interests, activities, challenges, etc. With this information, you can easily pick a story to share with them.

You can also leverage on-campus events to convey your point better. A recent or even an old memorable event is likely to stay with them for a long time. Find it out and try to connect with your audience through it.

Always Come Prepared

It is a fact that when you have more knowledge about a subject, you can speak about it more confidently . Research and understand the given topic and be prepared to answer any questions thrown your way.

This means overloading your slides with points from Wikipedia does not cut it. You must have a thorough knowledge of what you put in there so that you don't become incoherent when asked about it.

Moreover, maintain a candid attitude and admit when you don't know something. 

Start With a Mind Map

Creating a mind map ensures efficient planning and execution. It helps you stay organized before, during, and after the presentation. Hence, you know when to share a story, change slides , ask questions or perform any activity.

It gives an outline of the entire act, ensuring better control throughout. Moreover, it helps to connect the points and maintain a smooth content flow. This will prevent you from jumping between topics and confusing your audience.

Mind maps also ensure that you do not miss out on any integral detail.

Try a Theme

Most of the time, students ignore the importance of choosing an appropriate theme for their presentation. The right theme can make you look more professional and prepared. It also helps you choose the right images to adjust with your content.

You can set up your own theme, find one online, or pick one from the default PowerPoint collection.

Practice a Lot

You will only feel prepared and confident by practicing well before the presentation .

Doing it in the presentation room multiple times beforehand would be a plus as you'll get used to the setting there. If not the same space, look for something similar.

Furthermore, since you will not be presenting to empty chairs, involve a few people in your practice. You can ask your friends or family members to become your mock audience.    

Apologize When You Need To

No man is perfect. Even the most successful speakers may make mistakes on stage sometimes. What makes you any better?

However, that does not mean you should not prepare. In fact, you should prepare very well so that if you make a mistake, you can own it confidently and do not have to cover it up with excuses.

Honestly, mistakes are not something to be ashamed of after working so hard on perfecting your presentation.    

Simply apologize if you are at fault, and if possible, appreciate the person who pointed it out. Humility always looks great with confidence, and everyone loves a humble person.

Wear Your Best Smile

Always wear your best smile. That way, you seem approachable and friendly. The audience will interact with you and might also engage in a discussion.

Hence, the presentation will seem much more lively and interesting.

Observe Other Speakers

If you are extremely nervous about the presentation, you can observe other famous speakers. Watch their videos on YouTube to see how they present in front of their audience.

Notice their body language and gestures. Look at the themes and colors they have incorporated in their presentation.

Bottom Line: Presentation Tips for Students

As a student, giving a presentation in a huge classroom is daunting. Especially if you have anxiety issues, a presentation can be quite nerve-wracking. However, do not worry because you will ace your presentation with these tips shared in the article.

Do not fret too much, and be relaxed before you start. Hopefully, the presentation will flow like a conversation when you are fully prepared.

Remember to stay calm, cool, and collected.

Tips for Online Students , Tips for Students

Presentation Tips For Students – Show And Tell Like A Pro!

Giving a presentation to fellow classmates can be a bit daunting, especially if you are new to oral and visual presenting. But with the right PowerPoint tips, public speaking skills, and plenty of practice, you can present like a pro at your upcoming presentation. Here, we’ve laid out the best college presentation tips for students. And once you have one successful presentation, you’ll get better each time!

The Best Presentation Tips for Students

1. arrive early and be technically prepared.

Get to the room early and make sure you leave plenty of time for technical set up and technical difficulties. Have several backup drives (including an online version if possible) so that you are prepared for anything!

2. Know More

Be educated on more than just what you are sharing. That way, you can add points, speak candidly and confidently, and be prepared to answer any audience or teacher questions.

3. Share Your Passion With Your Audience

Connect with your audience by showing that you are passionate about your topic. Do this with the right tone, eye contact, and enthusiasm in your speech.

Photo by  Austin Distel  on  Unsplash

4. pace yourself.

When student presenters are nervous, they tend to speed up their speech. This can be a problem, however, because your speed may be distracting, hard to understand, and you may run under your time.

5. Rehearse Thoroughly

Don’t just practice, rehearse your college presentation. Rehearse the entire delivery, including standing up, using gestures, and going through the slides.

6. Show Your Personality

You don’t need to be professional to the point of stiffness during your college presentation . Don’t be afraid to show your personality while presenting. It will make your presentation more interesting, and you will seem more approachable and confident.

7. Improvise

You can’t be 100% certain what will happen during your presentation. If things aren’t exactly as you expected, don’t be afraid to improvise and run off script.

8. Pump Yourself Up

Get yourself excited and full of energy before your college presentation! Your mood sets the tone for your presentation, and if you get excited right before, you will likely carry that throughout and you’ll make your audience excited about your topic as well.

9. Remember To Pause

Pausing not only only prevents filler words and helps you recollect your thoughts, it can also be a powerful indicator of importance within your presentation.

10. Create “Um” Alternatives

Try hard not to use filler words as they make you look unprofessional and uncertain. The best alternatives to “um” “like” and “so” are taking a breath or a silent pause to collect your thoughts.

11. Using Your Hands

Using your hands makes your college presentation more interesting and helps to get your points across. Point at the slide, use common hand gestures, or mimic a motion.

12. Eye Contact

Eye contact is one of the most important presentation tips for students . Many students are nervous, so they look at their notes or their feet. It is important that you show your confidence and engage your audience by making eye contact. The more presentations you give, the more eye contact will feel natural.

13. The Right Tone

The best public speakers vary their tone and pitch throughout their presentation. Try to change it up, and choose the right tone for your message.

Preparing an Effective College Presentation

1. open strong.

Grab your fellow students’ attention by starting strong with a powerful quote, intriguing scenario, or prompt for internal dialogue.

2. Start With A Mind Map

Mind mapping is literally creating a map of the contents of your college presentation. It is a visual representation and flow of your topics and can help you see the big picture, along with smaller details.

Photo by  Teemu Paananen  on  Unsplash

3. edit yourself.

Some students make the mistake of including too much information in their college presentations. Instead of putting all of the information in there, choose the most important or relevant points, and elaborate on the spot if you feel it’s necessary.

4. Tell A Story

People love stories — they capture interest in ways that figures and facts cannot. Make your presentation relatable by including a story, or presenting in a story format.

5. The Power Of Humor

Using humor in your college presentation is one of the best presentation tips for students. Laughter will relax both you and the audience, and make your presentation more interesting

PowerPoint Tips for Students

1. use key phrases.

Choose a few key phrases that remain throughout your PowerPoint presentation. These should be phrases that really illustrate your point, and items that your audience will remember afterwards.

2. Limit Number Of Slides

Having too many slides will cause you to feel you need to rush through them to finish on time. Instead, include key points on a slide and take the time to talk about them. Try to think about including one slide per one minute of speech.

3. Plan Slide Layouts

Take some time to plan out how information will be displayed on your PowerPoint. Titles should be at the top, and bullets underneath. You may want to add title slides if you are changing to a new topic.

Photo by  NeONBRAND  on  Unsplash

4. the right fonts.

Choose an easy-to-read font that isn’t stylized. Sans serif fonts tend to be easier to read when they are large. Try to stick to only two different fonts as well to keep the presentation clean.

5. Choosing Colors And Images

When it comes to colors, use contrasting ones: light on dark or dark on light. Try to choose a few main colors to use throughout the presentation. Choose quality images, and make sure to provide the source for the images.

6. Use Beautiful Visual Aids

Keep your presentation interesting and your audience awake by adding visual aids to your PowerPoint. Add captivating photos, data representations, or infographics to illustrate your information.

7. Don’t Read Straight From Your Notes

When you read straight from your notes, your tone tends to remain monotonous, you don’t leave much room for eye contact. Try looking up often, or memorizing portions of your presentation.

8. Avoid Too Much Text

PowerPoint was made for images and bullets, not for your entire speech to be written in paragraph form. Too much text can lose your adiences’ interest and understanding.

9. Try A Theme

Choosing the right theme is one of those presentation tips for students that is often overlooked. When you find the right theme, you keep your college presentation looking interesting, professional, and relevant.

10. Be Careful With Transitions And Animations

Animations and transitions can add a lot to your presentation, but don’t add to many or it will end up being distracting.

Public Speaking Tips for Students

1. choose your topic wisely.

If you are able to pick your topic, try to pick something that interests you and something that you want to learn about. Your interest will come through your speech.

2. Visit The Room Beforehand

If your presentation is being held somewhere outside of class, try to visit the location beforehand to prep your mind and calm your nerves.

3. Practice Makes Perfect

Practice, practice, practice! The only way you will feel fully confident is by practicing many times, both on your own and in front of others.

Photo by  Product School  on  Unsplash

4. talk to someone about anxiety.

If you feel anxious about your college presentation, tell someone. It could be a friend, family member, your teacher, or a counselor. They will be able to help you with some strategies that will work best for you.

5. Remind Yourself Of Your Audience

Remember, you are presenting to your peers! They all likely have to make a presentation too at some point, and so have been or will be in the same boat. Remembering that your audience is on your side will help you stay cool and collected.

6. Observe Other Speakers

Look at famous leaders, or just other students who typically do well presenting. Notice what they are doing and how you can adapt your performance in those ways.

7. Remind Yourself Of Your Message

If you can come up with a central message, or goal, of your college presentation, you can remind yourself of it throughout your speech and let it guide you.

8. Don’t Apologize

If you make a mistake, don’t apologize. It is likely that no one even noticed! If you do feel you need to point out your own mistake, simply say it and keep moving on with your presentation. No need to be embarrassed, it happens even to the best presenters!

When you smile, you appear warm and inviting as a speaker. You will also relax yourself with your own smile.

The Bottom Line

It can be nerve racking presenting as a college student, but if you use our presentation tips for students, preparing and presenting your college presentation will be a breeze!

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Speech-writing tips for high school students

by Daniella Dautrich | May 29, 2017 | High school , Teaching Homeschool Writing

Speech-writing Tips for Students

Speech writing offers a rare chance for students to impact an audience in lasting, meaningful ways. Through this kind of written and oral communication, they can learn to convey truth in a world with where morals are blurred and virtues are disappearing. Thus, speech writers combine narrative, descriptive, explanatory, and persuasive skills, arranging a composition to make both logical and emotional appeals . After all, rhetoric (the art of persuasion) should engage the whole person, not just the mind or heart.

Even if your kids will never enroll in a speech and debate club, encourage them to present an original speech in a group setting such as a class, family gathering, or graduation party. These speech-writing tips for students should help them get started!

The Prewriting Stage

When you write a speech, the prewriting stage represents about a third of the entire process.

• Choose a topic you feel strongly about. If you don’t care about the subject matter, neither will your audience.
• Evaluate your potential audience. Will you speak to a mixed group of teenagers or to a room of retirees? What are their values and interests? What kinds of music and cultural references will they relate to?
• Understand your purpose. Are you writing a speech to entertain, inform, or persuade? If you intend to persuade, are you trying to reach a like-minded or neutral audience or an openly hostile group?
• Research and brainstorm. Start gathering your facts and examples, and make a list of possible talking points.

The Writing Stage

Writing the first draft should consume about 20% of your time as a speech writer.

• Develop a “hook.” You need to capture the audience’s attention at the beginning of the speech and motivate them to keep listening. A humorous story or a startling statistic may serve this purpose, depending on the type of speech you’re writing.
• Construct a thesis . Your speech should present a clear message, with each sub-point logically leading to the final conclusion.
• Build a relationship with the audience . Establish your credibility as a speaker by demonstrating your connection to the topic. Did a hobby, a favorite author, or a family experience lead you to choose this subject?
• Organize your ideas . Offer a preview of what’s to come in the introduction, and be sure you follow those points in order.
• Finish with a strong conclusion . When you reach the end of your speech, restate your thesis and tie everything back to your introduction.

The Editing Stage

The editing stage requires another third of your time as a speech writer. As you revise, check for these items:

• Grammar . Poor writing could cause an audience to stop taking you seriously , even if your main message is solid.
• Style. In the writing stage, you focused on substance (what to say); now you can focus on style (how to say it). Without resorting to overdone “ purple prose ,” you can practice writing techniques such as parallelism , repetition, alliteration, and series or lists.
• Time. Read your speech out loud. It shouldn’t take longer than 20 minutes.
• Sound. When you read the speech aloud, do you stumble over unnatural words and phrases? Perhaps you need to rewrite with more direct, simple language. Is your flow of thoughts easy to understand? Is your vocabulary appropriate to the audience’s age and education?
• Appeal to the senses. Your speech should engage the imagination—not put people to sleep! Do you use figurative language to help the audience visualize concepts? Include a descriptive passage to help them hear, feel, and touch your topic. Try to include narratives that people will identify with. You don’t need too many details… just enough to make the stories ring true and help you explain your persuasive points or morals.
• Organization. You can arrange your speech chronologically, topically, by comparison/contrast, or in some other way. Just be sure you’re consistent.
• Politeness . Have you used appropriate language throughout? Have you written with respect for yourself and others? The best speeches display compassion and empathy, rather than tear others down.

The Pre-Performance Stage

Once you’ve written and revised your speech, it’s time to practice! Try to memorize it, and watch your speed so you don’t speak too quickly. Practice in front of a mirror so you remember to move naturally, incorporating hand/arm gestures and facial expressions. Experiment with volume, high and low pitch, and pauses (take notes about what works and what doesn’t.)

Finally, have confidence ! Stage fright is part of life, but the greatest performers have learned that passion and honesty set the speaker—and the audience—at ease every time.

Daniella Dautrich studied classical rhetoric at a liberal arts college in Hillsdale, Michigan.

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200+ 2-Minute Speech Topics For Students: Engage Your Audience

Public speaking is a crucial skill for personal and professional development, and one effective way to hone this skill is through the practice of 2-minute speech topics for students. These short presentations not only sharpen communication abilities but also cultivate confidence and poise in students. 

In this blog, we’ll explore the significance of 2-minute speeches, discuss the benefits they offer, provide a range of engaging speech topics, and offer tips for successful delivery.

Benefits of Studying 2-Minute SpeechTopics

Table of Contents

The advantages of incorporating 2-minute speech topics for students into a student’s learning journey are manifold. Firstly, these brief presentations offer an excellent opportunity to improve communication skills. 

The concise nature of the speeches demands clarity and precision in conveying ideas, helping students develop a knack for articulating thoughts effectively.

Secondly, engaging in 2-minute speeches enhances public speaking abilities. Students learn to captivate an audience within a short timeframe, a valuable skill in various academic and professional settings. 

This practice also contributes to overcoming stage fright and nervousness, fostering a sense of confidence that extends beyond the realm of public speaking.

Lastly, regular participation in 2-minute speeches contributes to boosted confidence and self-esteem. Success in delivering concise and impactful presentations fosters a positive self-perception, encouraging students to tackle more significant challenges with a newfound assurance.

Criteria for Choosing Speech Topics

Selecting the right topics for 2-minute speech topics for students is crucial for a successful and engaging presentation. To achieve this, consider the following criteria:

• Relevance to Students’ Interests: Topics that resonate with the students’ passions or concerns are more likely to capture their attention and enthusiasm.
• Appropriateness for the Audience and Setting: Ensure that the chosen topic is suitable for the audience’s age group and the setting of the presentation. Avoid controversial subjects that may not be suitable for all audiences.
• Potential for Engagement and Interaction: Opt for topics that encourage audience engagement, whether through thought-provoking questions, interactive elements, or relatable anecdotes.

2-Minute Speech Topics For Students

• The impact of social media on interpersonal relationships.
• How to cultivate a growth mindset for academic success.
• The significance of mental health awareness in schools.
• Exploring the benefits of extracurricular activities on student development.
• The role of empathy in building a positive school culture.
• Overcoming obstacles: A personal journey of resilience and triumph.
• The influence of role models on shaping career aspirations.
• The power of small acts of kindness in creating a positive school environment.
• The future of technology in education: Opportunities and challenges.
• The importance of financial literacy for high school students.
• Unraveling the mysteries of the universe: A brief look at astrophysics.
• Navigating the digital age: Tips for responsible online behavior.
• The impact of climate change on global ecosystems.
• The art of effective time management for student success.
• Embracing diversity: Creating an inclusive school community.
• The psychology behind effective study habits.
• Exploring the history and significance of cultural celebrations.
• The benefits of learning a second language in a globalized world.
• The role of sports in promoting teamwork and leadership skills.
• The journey to self-discovery: Embracing individuality in adolescence.
• Breaking down stereotypes: Challenging societal expectations.
• The influence of literature on shaping perspectives and empathy.
• The power of mindfulness in reducing stress and improving focus.
• A glimpse into the world of artificial intelligence and its applications.
• The impact of music on mood and cognitive performance.
• Fostering environmental consciousness: Small steps for a greener planet.
• The psychology of motivation: How to stay inspired in your studies.
• The history and significance of human rights movements.
• The benefits of learning coding and programming languages.
• Exploring the wonders of the human brain and neuroscience.
• Understanding the importance of sleep for academic success.
• The role of curiosity in sparking creativity and innovation.
• The impact of fast fashion on the environment and ethical alternatives.
• The history and cultural significance of traditional dances.
• The journey to self-acceptance: Embracing flaws and imperfections.
• The benefits of volunteering for personal and community growth.
• The science behind renewable energy sources.
• The power of storytelling in preserving cultural heritage.
• The impact of social movements on shaping societal norms.
• Exploring the mysteries of the deep sea and marine life.
• Overcoming procrastination: Strategies for effective time management.
• The significance of critical thinking in the information age.
• The role of nutrition in supporting cognitive function.
• The art of effective public speaking and presentation skills.
• The impact of video games on cognitive skills and decision-making.
• The benefits of physical activity on mental health.
• The importance of cyberbullying awareness and prevention.
• The influence of family dynamics on personal development.
• The power of goal-setting for academic and personal success.
• The history and cultural significance of traditional cuisines.
• The impact of social isolation on mental health in adolescents.
• The role of art and creativity in expressing emotions.
• The benefits of learning a musical instrument for cognitive development.
• The evolution of communication: From cave drawings to social media.
• Exploring the wonders of space exploration and its advancements.
• The impact of peer pressure on decision-making in adolescence.
• The significance of emotional intelligence in building strong relationships.
• The benefits of participating in debate clubs and public speaking forums.
• The role of humor in reducing stress and improving mood.
• The impact of positive role models on character development.
• The history and cultural significance of ancient civilizations.
• The importance of civic engagement and community involvement.
• The benefits of practicing mindfulness meditation for stress relief.
• The influence of classical literature on modern storytelling.
• The power of gratitude in fostering a positive mindset.
• The impact of social media activism on raising awareness.
• The role of curiosity in scientific discovery and innovation.
• Exploring the history and cultural impact of hip-hop music.
• The benefits of learning about different world religions.
• The significance of effective communication in building relationships.
• The journey to self-improvement: Setting and achieving personal goals.
• The impact of artificial intelligence on the future job market.
• The benefits of learning basic financial skills for future success.
• The influence of popular culture on societal values.
• The importance of empathy in conflict resolution and peacemaking.
• The history and impact of famous inventions on society.
• The role of emotional resilience in overcoming challenges.
• The benefits of learning about different forms of government.
• The power of positive affirmations in shaping self-perception.
• The impact of social media on body image and self-esteem.
• The role of laughter in promoting physical and mental well-being.
• The benefits of learning about world geography and cultures.
• The significance of community service in building character.
• The influence of famous speeches on shaping historical events.
• The impact of globalization on cultural diversity.
• The benefits of learning about different philosophical perspectives.
• The role of effective communication in conflict resolution.
• The journey to discovering personal passions and interests.
• The significance of renewable energy in combating climate change.
• The power of positive thinking in overcoming adversity.
• The impact of technology on the future of healthcare.
• The benefits of learning basic first aid and emergency response.
• The influence of literature on fostering empathy and compassion.
• The role of social skills in building strong interpersonal relationships.
• The importance of setting boundaries for mental health.
• The impact of gaming on hand-eye coordination and problem-solving.
• The benefits of learning about the history of human rights movements.
• The role of resilience in overcoming academic challenges.
• The significance of cultural exchange programs in promoting understanding.
• The power of effective storytelling in capturing an audience’s attention.
• The impact of social media on political awareness and engagement.
• The benefits of learning about different forms of art and expression.
• The influence of peer support in navigating adolescence.
• The importance of digital literacy in the information age.
• The role of hobbies in promoting work-life balance.
• The benefits of learning about sustainable living practices.
• The impact of positive affirmations on mental health and well-being.
• The significance of learning about historical revolutions and movements.
• The power of effective communication in leadership roles.
• The journey to developing emotional intelligence in relationships.

Tips for Delivering a Successful 2-Minute Speech Topics For Students

Once the topic is chosen, the delivery of the speech is crucial for its success. Here are some tips to ensure a successful presentation:

• Practice and Timing: Rehearse the speech multiple times to ensure it fits within the 2-minute timeframe. Practice also helps improve fluency and reduces nervousness.
• Engaging the Audience: Use techniques like eye contact, gestures, and vocal variation to keep the audience engaged. A lively and interactive presentation is more likely to leave a lasting impression.
• Using Visuals or Props Effectively: Depending on the topic, consider incorporating visuals or props to enhance the audience’s understanding and engagement. Visual aids can be particularly effective in conveying complex ideas.

Resources for Further Assistance

For students looking to enhance their public speaking skills further, various resources are available:

• Online Platforms for Speech Topic Ideas: Websites like TED, Khan Academy, and various public speaking forums offer a wealth of speech topic ideas and inspiration.
• Public Speaking Courses or Workshops: Local community centers, schools, or online platforms often offer public speaking courses or workshops that provide valuable insights and practical tips.
• Speechwriting and Delivery Tips from Experts: Books, podcasts, and online articles by experienced public speakers can offer valuable advice on speechwriting and effective delivery.

In conclusion, mastering the art of 2-minute speech topics for students is a valuable skill for students, offering benefits that extend beyond the realm of public speaking. By choosing engaging topics, practicing effective delivery, and avoiding common mistakes, students can develop into confident and articulate communicators. 

The diverse range of speech topics provided, coupled with additional resources for further assistance, ensures that students have the tools they need to succeed in their public speaking endeavors. 

So, embrace the opportunity to speak for two minutes, and watch your communication skills soar to new heights.

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Did Clovis Unified religious club break rules by giving students pizza? What we found

Reality Check is a Fresno Bee series holding those in power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email [email protected] .

Some Clovis parents objected when a Christian group on campus offered free pizza in exchange for a session of prayer and evangelizing/indoctrinating. But the group was just one of dozens of approved student clubs on campus that are free to use school facilities before class, after school or during lunchtime to build community around their values and beliefs.

But not just anyone can address students: Any club activity has to be initiated by a student, including inviting a guest speaker or partnering with an organization.

These clubs include creative and academic ones, such as drama and chess; identity-relating and exploring clubs, such as the Gay-Straight Alliance and culture clubs; and religious ones, such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Muslim, and Sikh clubs.

Each Clovis school offers its own set of student-started clubs and not all schools offer the same clubs across the district.

The district also assumes parental consent, allowing all students to approach any club, unless parents submit a written statement or exclusion form requesting their child not participate in a specific club.

However, this exclusion form doesn’t appear to be listed on all intermediate and high school sites, and a couple (Granite Ridge and Clovis North) don’t list either the clubs’ policy or form online as of Wednesday afternoon.

The Bee emailed Clovis Unified to inquire about the district’s student club policies, how and by whom these clubs are established, and how frequently are parents notified or involved in club updates and participation. Here’s what the district’s spokesperson, Kelly Avants, said:

Which schools offer student clubs? And who starts them?

Clovis Unified students in grades 7 through 12 throughout the district can participate in student clubs offered at their school site.

District spokesperson Kelly Avants said every school has student clubs based on what its student body requests, and only students can start them. No parents teachers, Clovis residents with or without student family members at the district can begin a club.

“Clubs are totally student-driven,” Avants said, “and based on what students want.”

Are all clubs offered at all Clovis schools? Or does each school have its own clubs?

Some clubs might be common across schools, but the district does not keep a “master list,” Avants said. She couldn’t answer which clubs are duplicated or offered in multiple locations across the district’s 10 comprehensive secondary school sites (five intermediate and five high schools).

Each school lists their available clubs online, Avants said.

Student clubs can focus on creative, academic, cultural or religious topics or activities, and can meet during non-instructional hours including during lunch periods, before classes and after school.

Based on public information posted by Clovis Unified’s intermediate and high schools, The Bee found all 10 schools have a Fellowship of Christian Athletes club and an allyship and/or LGBTQ+ community support student club. Alta Sierra Intermediate appeared to be the only school without a Latino student club. Other religious and cultural clubs aren’t as established district-wide as these three types of clubs.

How are student club faculty advisors selected? Do they get compensated for supervising a club?

If a student is interested in starting a club, Avants said they must find a faculty member to be the advisor, which is part of having Clovis Unified clubs be student-led and organized.

“When they petition to start their club, a student must provide affirmation that they have a faculty advisor,” she said.

Faculty or staff advisors are assigned, “solely to supervise the students,” Avants said, and can sometimes conduct community service projects off-campus and require adult supervision.

These club-supervising teachers receive a stipend to offset the hours they devote outside of classroom instruction to be an advisor to a student club.

Schools share club updates in their morning announcements, do parents also receive these?

Avants said clubs can request for an announcement of theirs be included in school-to-home communication at the discretion of student leaders.

“Usually, these announcements are about activities, field trips or guest speakers that students in the club have arranged,” she said.

It also isn’t unusual, Avants said, for a school’s morning announcements to include details or updates about club activities on campus that day.

“Our leadership students and activities offices typically manage school announcements,” she said. “Parents can find copies of weekly and daily announcements on school websites or in some cases in the Google Classroom site for their child’s grade.”

Do parents need to sign a permission slip for their child to join a club?

Permission slips are not required for a child to join a student club or attend a club’s meeting. If a club organizes an off-campus field trip or activity, Avants said additional permission slips may be required then.

However, parents can opt their children out of participating in any club they don’t want their kid to participate in, Avants said.

What if a parent doesn’t want their child to interact with club?

Student clubs are regulated under board policy 6145, Co-Curricular And Extra-Curricular Activities .

Even so, Clovis Unified school web pages quote policy 2505, which Avants said is outdated because the policy has been renumbered, though the text remains the same. She said the district will be updating its webpages.

In the policy’s Administrative Regulation document, point A-11 reads an annual notice will be sent out to parents about the student clubs the district recognizes for the academic year. This notice must include, without drawing attention to any particular club, all the clubs at the child’s respective school with the club name, brief description, and the club advisor’s name.

This same notice should also let parents and guardians know their right to inform their child’s school of any club in which they don’t wish their kid to take part. If parents wish for their child not to participate in a specific club, they are required to send a written notice to their school stating so, or the school will presume consent is granted for their child to participate in all clubs.

“Parents are notified of our club opt-out options after schools hold their “club rush” days where kids find out about the clubs available at school,” Avants said, “and the lists of clubs are on websites.”

Avants said this information is provided to parents every year, and the club opt-out form — titled the Club Exclusion Form — is available year-round online.

What is available online right now?

Only two intermediate schools — Alta Sierra and Reyburn — clearly shared a link to their Club Exclusion Forms at the bottom of their clubs’ webpages. These two intermediate schools, plus Clark and Kastner , quoted the nonexistent policy 2505 (now numbered 6145) as of Wednesday afternoon. Granite Ridge Intermediate did not have either, a hyperlink to an exclusion form or the quoted policy, on its clubs’ webpage or in the document with all its clubs listed.

As for the district’s high schools, there was more variation on what their clubs’ webpages shared.

Clovis East High School appeared to be the only 9-12 grade school that publicly shares its Club Exclusion Form on its clubs’ webpage — hyperlinked into the text where it reads “via this form” —and quotes policy 2505 (now numbered 6145). Clovis High School quotes the policy and, though it doesn’t appear to share its exclusion form online, its clubs’ page does state parents can return the form in their registration packet if they wish their student doesn’t participate with a certain organization or club.

Clovis West High School ’s webpage does quote the district’s clubs policy — erroneously numbered 2505 like in the other schools’ webpages — but does not guide as to how to submit a written exclusion notice.

Buchanan High School shared club travel forms, request sheets and informational guides for students and club advisors on their clubs’ webpage, but did not have a distinct link for an exclusion form or policy quoted. Clovis North High School — like Granite Ridge, its partnered intermediate school — did not have either the exclusion form or the quoted policy, on its clubs’ webpage or in the document with all its clubs listed.

All Clovis Unified board policies can be publicly consulted online at https://boardpolicies.cusd.com/ .

©2024 The Fresno Bee. Visit fresnobee.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

7-Week SSP & 2-Week Pre-College Program are still accepting applications until April 10, or earlier if all course waitlists are full. 4-Week SSP Application is closed.

Celebrating 150 years of Harvard Summer School. Learn about our history.

8 Time Management Tips for Students

Don't let a hectic schedule get the better of you with these time management tips.

Lian Parsons

College can be a stressful time for many students and time management can be one of the most crucial — but tricky — skills to master.

Attending classes, studying for exams, making friends, and taking time to relax and decompress can quickly fill up your schedule. If you often find yourself wishing there were more hours in the day, this guide will offer time management tips for students so you can accomplish what you need to get done, have fun with your friends, and gain back some valuable time for yourself. 

1. Create a Calendar

Don’t be caught by surprise by an important paper due two days from now or a dinner with your family the same night you planned for a group study session. Create a calendar for yourself with all your upcoming deadlines, exams, social events, and other time commitments well in advance so you can see what’s coming up. 

Keep your calendar in a place where you can see it every day, such as in your planner or on your wall above your desk. If you prefer a digital calendar, check it first thing every day to keep those important events fresh and top-of-mind. For greater efficiency, make sure you can integrate it with your other tools, such as your email.

Digital calendar options include: 

• Google Calendar 
• Outlook Calendar
• Fantastical

2. Set Reminders

After you’ve created your calendar, give yourself periodic reminders to stay on track such as to complete a study guide in advance or schedule a meeting for a group project. Knowing deadlines is important; however, staying on top of the micro tasks involved in meeting those deadlines is just as important. You can set an alarm on your phone, write it down in a physical planner, or add an alert to your digital calendar. The reminders will help to prevent things from slipping through the cracks during particularly hectic days.

Make sure you’ve allotted enough time to study for that big test or write that final paper. Time management is all about setting yourself up for success in advance and giving yourself the tools to accomplish tasks with confidence. 

Read our blogs, Your Guide to Conquering College Coursework and Top 10 Study Tips to Study Like a Harvard Student , for more suggestions.

3. Build a Personalized Schedule

Each person’s day-to-day is different and unique to them, so make sure your schedule works for you. Once you’ve accounted for consistent commitments such as classes or your shifts at work, add in study sessions, extracurriculars, chores and errands, and social engagements.

Consider your personal rhythm. If you typically start your day energized, plan to study or accomplish chores then. If you fall into an afternoon slump, give yourself that time to take a guilt-free TV break or see friends.

Having a schedule that works for you will help maximize your time. Plus, knowing exactly when your laundry day is or when your intramural volleyball practice is every week will help you avoid trying to cram everything in one day (or running out of clean socks!)

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4. Use Tools That Work For You

Just like your calendar and schedule, the tools you use to keep you organized should be the right fit for you. Some students prefer physical planners and paper, while some prefer going totally digital. Your calendar can help you with long-term planning, but most of these tools are best for prioritizing from day to day.

Explore what best suits your needs with some of the following suggestions:

Planners can help you keep track of long-term deadlines, such as important essay deadlines, upcoming exams, and appointments and meetings. They often provide a monthly overview each month, as well as day-to-day planning sections, so you can stay ahead. 

• Papier – Offers a 20% student discount 

If your schedule is jam-packed and you have trouble figuring out what to do and when, scheduling day by day—and sometimes even hour by hour—can help you slot in everything you need to do with less stress.

• Structured app

Note Taking

From class to study sessions to errands, keeping track of everything can feel overwhelming. Keeping everything in one place, whether on the go or at your desk, can help keep you organized.

• Bullet journals

5. Prioritize

Sometimes there really is too much to do with too little time. In these instances, take just a few minutes to evaluate your priorities. Consider which deadlines are most urgent, as well as how much energy you have. 

If you are able to complete simple tasks first, try getting them out of the way before moving on to tasks that require a lot of focus. This can help to alleviate some of the pressure by checking a couple things off your to-do list without getting bogged down too early.

If you are struggling to fit everything in your schedule, consider what you can postpone or what you can simply say no to. Your friends will likely understand if you have to meet them for coffee another time in order to get in a final library session before a challenging exam. 

6. Make Time to Have Fun — And For Yourself

Time management isn’t just about getting work done. It’s also about ensuring that you can put yourself and your mental wellbeing first. Consistently including time for yourself in your schedule helps to keep your mental health and your life in balance. It can also be helpful to have things to look forward to when going through stressful periods.  

Whether it’s going for a bike ride along the river, spending time with your friends and family, or simply sleeping in on a Sunday, knowing you have space to relax and do things you enjoy can provide better peace of mind. 

7. Find Support 

Preparation and organization can sometimes only get you so far. Luckily, you have plenty of people rooting for your success. Keep yourself and your classmates on task by finding an accountability partner or study buddies. Remind your roommates when you need extra space to work on a paper. 

Your school’s academic resource center is also there to support you and point you in the right direction if you need additional help. Getting—and staying—organized is a collaborative effort and no one can do it on their own. 

8. Be Realistic and Flexible 

Sometimes unforeseen circumstances will come up or you simply may not be able to get to everything you set out to do in a given day. Be patient with yourself when things don’t go exactly to plan. When building your calendar, schedule, and priorities list, be realistic about what you can accomplish and include buffer time if you’re unsure. This can help to reduce obstacles and potential friction.

Time management isn’t just about sticking to a rigid schedule—it’s also about giving yourself space for change.

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About the Author

Lian Parsons is a Boston-based writer and journalist. She is currently a digital content producer at Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education. Her bylines can be found at the Harvard Gazette, Boston Art Review, Radcliffe Magazine, Experience Magazine, and iPondr.

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Harvard Division of Continuing Education

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WVU School of Nursing raises more than $2.8 million during WVU Day of Giving 2024

Thanks to the generosity of 106 gifts during WVU Day of Giving 2024 , the WVU School of Nursing raised more than $2.8 million — the second largest total of any department across the WVU system.

“We are so grateful to everyone who contributed to the mission of the School of Nursing during Day of Giving,” said Dr. Tara Hulsey , Dean and E. Jane Martin Endowed Professor. “These gifts not only make a tremendous impact on the lives of our students and faculty, but also on our communities and healthcare systems across the state of West Virginia.”

The WVU School of Nursing received $2.6 million from the Bedford Falls Foundation, which was one of the largest gifts made across the WVU system. By receiving 100 gifts, the School of Nursing also unlocked a total of $50,000 from Drs. Neal and Susan Newfield. Dr. Clay and Gail Marsh also contributed $5,000 for the School’s receipt of 25 gifts.

“When you give to the WVU School of Nursing, you are making a direct impact on the healthcare profession and the residents of West Virginia,” said Dr. Kimberly Colebank , Director of Development. Among WVU Nursing’s top priorities for Day of Giving were program expansion, Dean’s Fund, student scholarships and faculty development.

Supporters across the WVU System donated a record $30.4 million during Day of Giving , including more than 8,500 gifts. This year’s theme — “Go above. Go Beyond.” — emphasized the critical importance of private donations to WVU, especially for scholarships for students with financial need. The 24-hour event was first launched in 2017 to support the University’s greatest priorities and opportunities.

For those who missed WVU Day of Giving but would still like to show their support to the School of Nursing, please contact Dr. Colebank at [email protected] .

CONTACT: Wendy Holdren Director of Communications and Marketing WVU School of Nursing 304-581-1772; [email protected]

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438 places in the u.s. to get free solar eclipse glasses—starting monday.

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Eye care company MyEyeDr. will give away free solar eclipse glasses ahead of the solar eclipse on ... [+] April 8.

Corrected, Mar. 25. 2024: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated said that MyEyeDr. was giving away free eclipse glasses to customers in Texas who purchase a complete pair of glasses or contact lenses.

Eye care company MyEyeDr. has announced that it will give away over 90,000 free solar eclipse glasses ahead of the total solar eclipse on April 8.

That giveaway begins Monday. The vision care company is partnering with volunteer charity Prevent Blindness to provide thousands of free solar eclipse glasses to over 400 locations in 20 U.S. states from March 25-April 8 while supplies last.

Free Solar Eclipse Glasses

The company has announced that from March 25, “prospective patients and community members” can visit their local MyEyeDr. to get a pair of free solar eclipse glasses—while supplies last.

The 438 participating locations are in 12 of the 15 U.S. states touched by the path of totality (numbers of stores are in brackets):

• Arkansas (5), Illinois (37), Indiana (44), Kentucky (8), Michigan (62), New Hampshire (13), New York (6), Ohio (31), Oklahoma (8), Pennsylvania (33), Tennessee (15), Texas (90) and Vermont (3).

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As well as eight other U.S. states:

• Alabama (11), Connecticut (33), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (18), Maryland (7), Virginia (3), Wisconsin (2) and West Virginia (8).

Everyone in North America will see a partial eclipse of the sun on April 8.

Safety Tips for the Total Solar Eclipse

As well as announcing the giveaway, MyEyeDr published some safety tips for the eclipse:

• Never look directly into the sun.
• Carefully inspect your solar filters or eclipse glasses before using them. Do not use if damaged or scratched.
• Make sure you cover your eyes fully with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up. Do not remove while looking at the sun.
• Be careful when purchasing the various’ eclipse glasses’ found online .
• Not even your darkest, UV-blocking sunglasses can completely protect your eyes from damage caused by looking directly at the sun during the eclipse.
• There are ways to enjoy the eclipse safely without solar eclipse glasses, such as building an eclipse-viewing box (pinhole camera).

If you’re in the path of totality, you’ll also need to know when it’s safe to remove your eclipse glasses during totality .

“There’s no better time to do so than this historical and exciting event that can have real eye health implications,” said Artis Beatty, Chief Medical Officer at MyEyeDr.

For the latest on the total solar eclipse—including travel and lodging options— check my main feed for new articles daily.

Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.

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