11 Public Speaking Tips for Students
Public speaking is a craft. Some people seem to have been born with this skill. Others might struggle to confidently convey their message when speaking in front of a public audience. Whatever the reasons for students to fear it, public speaking is an essential skill for everyone to have. And it does not have to be overwhelming.
If you are one of those people who struggle to speak in front of an audience, then you have come to the right place. In this guide, we have included 11 public speaking tips for students to read and practice in real life.
Keep reading our guide if you want to learn why public speaking is important and how to master this craft.
Why Is Public Speaking Important for Students?
Many students think that public speaking is more stressful than necessary. As such, they might not understand why most teachers emphasize improving public speaking skills. Failing to understand its importance, these students will put little to no effort into elevating this skill. As a result, they will avoid speaking in front of a public audience whenever possible.
We are here to tell you that public speaking skills are necessary and essential to students' academic and professional success. Essentially, public speaking is presenting a particular topic in front of an audience. So why is public speaking important to students then?
Public speaking helps students organize and convey their message to the audience in an effective manner, thus making them practical and better communicators. Even though for most students, public speaking is scary and they would rather completely avoid it, we cannot deny its importance.
Students have valuable insights and opinions on important topics but often struggle to put their thoughts into words. Although it seems ironic, the only way to get rid of your fear of public speaking is to actually do it over and over until the idea of speaking in front of an audience does not overwhelm you. Well, practice makes perfect.
Speaking in public can be considered a preparation for the next time you will be presenting in front of an audience. You will gain more confidence in your public speaking skills gradually as you overcome this fear.
A lot of planning needs to be done for a public speaking presentation to be successful. You cannot just go in front of an audience and start talking about whatever comes to your mind. You must write your speech, which requires you to think critically about all aspects of the topic. Pro tip: always ask yourself the questions: “how can I make my arguments relevant?” “How can you explain your views so that the audience understands them?”
Interested in pursuing a degree in California?
Fill out the form and get all the detailed information you need regarding your chosen program.
Here is a list of reasons why public speaking is essential for students as it improves:
communication skills
deductive skills
advocating skills
critical thinking and research skills
confidence levels
leadership skills
performance skills
Public speaking also leads to:
Improved vocabulary and fluency
Personal satisfaction
More networking opportunities
The benefits of being an effective public speaker lead to more opportunities for career advancements. You can stand out in interviews by demonstrating your proficiency in public speaking. It can also benefit your career; you will project a professional image and gain credibility by participating in meetings and voicing your opinions.
11 Public Speaking Tips for Students
If the thought of speaking in public scares you, you have no reason to worry or feel ashamed of it. Many students find the idea of going in front of an audience and discussing their ideas quite a scary thought. The good thing about public speaking is that, just as with any other skill, it can be improved by putting in time and effort.
Luckily, we have provided a list of 11 public speaking tips for students to make their life easier.
So keep reading to find out what you can do to improve your public speaking skills and incorporate these tips into your daily life.
Practice and prepare
A key factor that leads to success is practice. When preparing a speech to present to an audience, you need to consider every detail, no matter how small it may seem. Even experienced public speakers practice their speech in advance. This can help you detect any mistakes you have made and correct them. You can give a mock speech presentation in front of a mirror to see if you have effectively organized your speech. Practicing in front of family or friends is even better as they can provide feedback on the things you have done right and on the things that need improvement.
In the practice phase, consider how your body language, tone of voice, and breath control can affect the delivery of your message. Preparing for your speech by giving a mock presentation and going through the notes several times is not enough. You also need to be prepared to answer any questions from the audience.
Pro tip: Listening to great public speakers is a great way to learn the craft.
Know your audience
Before writing your speech, think of your audience. You need to consider who your audience is, the intended message, what background information they already have, what kind of language you can use, and what is essential and valuable to them. Depending on the type of event, you need to tailor your message to the audience. You may not need to be formal if you present in front of your colleagues. However, a different and more serious approach is required if you present at a big conference.
Prepare notes effectively
Do not downplay the importance of preparing effective notes for your speech. Effectively organized notes are a lifesaver if anything goes wrong in your presentation. The possibility of going off track or forgetting anything will decrease with notes. So make sure to organize them in chronological order. You do not have to have your whole speech written down. Prepare your talking points:
Write the topic
Write the intention of your speech
Write the central idea
Write the main points you will discuss
Take time
You will not become an effective public speaker overnight. Do not ever get discouraged. Sometimes things will not go according to your plan. But that is entirely normal. To become an effective public speaker, you must reflect upon yourself and your experience. Be honest about your strong and weak points. After identifying your weak points, focus on improving them. Think of what you can do and take all the time you need to improve them.
Mind your posture, gestures, and facial expressions
Make sure to maintain proper posture. The things you communicate nonverbally through your body language can make or break your speech. Lousy posture can indicate a lack of confidence. Other gestures such as putting your hands in your pockets or crossing your arms can also make you look bad in front of your audience.
Facial expressions are equally important. To release tension, start your speech with a smile. To engage your audience in your message, make eye contact with them.
Proper body language creates the impression that you believe in your message and know what you are talking about.
Tell stories and use visual aids
Starting your speech with a short, personal story related to the topic of discussion is an excellent way of connecting with your audience. Your introduction is an essential part of your speech. You only have a few seconds to grab your audience's attention. Telling stories and relating them to your topic is an effective strategy to use in this case.
Visual aids, such as slides, pictures, and videos, make your speech more creative and engage the audience throughout your presentation.
Use humor
Incorporating humor into your speech naturally has several benefits. You will build a relationship with your audience and keep them engaged through humor. Your jokes must be relevant to your topic and offer valuable insights into the discussion. Making your audience laugh is difficult, but keep practicing until you learn to do it effectively.
Show passion
The best public speakers are those who deliver their speeches with passion. Being enthusiastic about your topic can even force the person who always looks at their phone and never pays attention to listen to your speech. Talking passionately about your topic will let your audience know your message is important and truthful. Tell your audience they can trust you by being passionate about your topic.
Know your topic
Make sure to research your topic thoroughly. Doing this will increase your knowledge of the topic and build trust with your audience. The more you know about your topic, the more authority you will have to talk about it in front of an audience. When you know your topic, presenting it in front of an audience becomes less scary. You will appear more confident when you know what you are talking about.
Have a strong beginning and end
Although the introduction part of your speech is a matter of seconds, it is vital to grab your audience's attention. Avoid overused presentation starters. Statements such as “today I will talk about…” are a big no. You must make them believe that what you say is important and exciting. For a strong beginning, start with a story that relates to the topic to engage the audience.
Finally, make a lasting impression with a firm conclusion. Summarize your topic and say something for which the audience will remember your speech.
Don’t read
Reading is the worst mistake you can make when delivering a speech. Excessive reading, whether from your notes or the slides, will give the audience the impression that you don't know what you are talking about. Moreover, it will make you look like you have no passion for your topic. So avoid doing it at all costs.
Conclusion
Many students have a fear of public speaking. Getting rid of this fear is not going to be an easy process. However, you can become an effective public speaker if you put in the time and effort. Do not be stressed out if you feel it’s taking you too long to get there. As long as you are consistent, you will see results!