Public speaking is something that most of us have to do at some time in our lives, but most of us would rather not do. This experience starts in school. Giving a speech can be rather unpleasant, but with the proper preparation and enough confidence, it can be easy or even enjoyable. Here is a guide on how to give an oral presentation in front of your class.
Part 1 of 3: Preparing the topic
Part 2 of 3: Writing the speech
1Sort your notes into categories. Decide which information is necessary, and what can be cut. (a hi-lighter or a different colour pen can be very useful here)
2Make an outline. Start rough and general, then get specific.
3Familiarize yourself with your topic and write your speech as if it were an essay. Learn the content of the essay well.
4Choose what visual aids (if any) you will use to enhance your presentation.Ad
Part 3 of 3: Rehearsing the speech
1Write or print notes on index cards. These should be key points in your outline (to keep you on topic) and details and statistics (that would be too difficult to remember).
2Practice your speech out loud until you are confident with it. It doesn't have to be identical to your essay in wording, but try to keep the content the same.
- Remember to speak slowly and clearly. Do not rush through your presentation, or it will not be well understood by those listening.
- Inject your presentation with suitable emotion. This helps you to connect with the audience.
3Try giving the speech to things around your room. A teddy-bear, a vase, or even the TV will be fine.
- Look in the mirror as you give a speech. Check yourself if you have any bad habits such as fiddling, picking at fluff or twirling your hair.
4Once you have learned it well, practice your presentation in front of family members and/or friends. They can give you support, feedback, and help you improve your speech. They will also make you feel comfortable with speaking in front of people.
- Ask your family and friends for feedback on the tone, voice level and speed of delivery.
- Use good eye contact.
5Go to school and give your speech with confidence!Ad
We could really use your help!
- While you're up there, remember: everyone watching you is so nervous about their own presentations, they're probably not paying all that much attention to you!
- Be confident! You know more about your topic than the other people in your class, so be proud of what you have to tell them and enjoy yourself.
- Try to look at your audience, not the floor or the desk in front of you. If it makes you uncomfortable to make eye contact, look at people's foreheads or an object that's near a person, like a box on a shelf behind someone.
- Don't look down at your feet! Looking at your feet shows that you don't feel confident and makes people want to just go to sleep. Your feet aren't that pretty.
- If your voice is not loud or you are not confident--or if you're terrified--ask your teacher beforehand if you can go first or second. Ask immediately for going "as soon as possible" so you can get it done before you worry to much (note this works if you stay calm and breathe naturally).
- Always speak in a loud, clear voice.
- Practice standing still, not rocking back and forth, bouncing, and so forth.
- When you are speaking and get nervous just focus on anything but the people. Look at a wall clock and focus on it. Look around occasionally or else you look like you are an unmoving picture with a mouth.
In other languages:
Español: dar un discurso enfrente de la clase, Italiano: Tenere un Discorso di Fronte alla tua Classe, Português: Falar na Frente de sua Classe, Русский: выступить с речью перед классом, Deutsch: Eine Rede vor deiner Klasse halten
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 239,293 times.