Lecture 3 Being a Good Public Speaker

Summary

In this lecture, Professor Akua introduces the fundamentals of public speaking, emphasizing that it is a skill that can be developed rather than an innate talent. She discusses key components such as drawing on conversational and writing skills, developing an effective oral style, and respecting differences. She illustrates her points with examples, including famous speakers like Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy. The lecture also covers practical advice on speech preparation, audience analysis, and the importance of cultural awareness in effective communication.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ Public speaking is a skill that most people are not born with and must be developed over time.
• 🎓 There are exceptions like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President John F. Kennedy, who seemed to have a natural gift for public speaking.
• 📚 The lecture supplements the textbook and other course materials, emphasizing the importance of learning how to deliver a speech effectively.
• 🤝 A good public speaker utilizes conversational skills to engage the audience and make the speech sound natural rather than robotic.
• 📝 Composition skills are essential for public speaking; speakers should prepare full-sentence outlines to structure their speeches.
• 🎨 Developing an effective oral style is crucial, which includes the speaker's unique way of speaking and the vocabulary they use.
• 👁️ Demonstrating respect for differences is vital for public speakers, including cultural nuances and inclusive language.
• 👂 Listening and understanding the audience's needs and expectations is key to tailoring a speech effectively.
• 👀 Eye contact and acknowledging all parts of the audience are important to avoid making anyone feel slighted.
• 📑 Note cards are recommended for speeches to help with delivery without relying on reading from a full manuscript.
• 🔑 The four key hallmarks of a good public speaker are conversational skills, writing skills, an effective oral style, and respect for differences.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Lecture Three as presented by Professor Akua?

The main topic of Lecture Three is public speaking, focusing on what it is and what it isn't, as well as the skills and attributes that contribute to effective public speaking.

According to Professor Akua, are people born with the ability to be excellent public speakers?

Professor Akua states that most people are not born with the ability to be excellent public speakers, suggesting that it is a skill that must be developed over time, although there may be exceptions like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President John F. Kennedy.

What is an example of a skill set that a good public speaker should develop, as mentioned by Professor Akua?

A good public speaker should develop conversational skills, writing skills, an effective oral style, and demonstrate respect for differences.

Why is it important for a public speaker to draw on their conversational skills?

Drawing on conversational skills helps a speaker to come across as more engaging and relatable, making the speech sound less robotic and more like a natural interaction, which is more appealing to the audience.

How does Professor Akua suggest students prepare their speeches for the course?

Students should prepare full-sentence outlines for their speeches, which will then be used to create supporting PowerPoint slides and note cards for their presentations.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Introduction to Public Speaking Skills

Professor Aku starts Lecture Three by introducing the topic of public speaking, emphasizing that it's a skill that most people are not born with but can be developed over time. She mentions exceptions like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President John F. Kennedy, who seemed to possess a natural gift for oratory. The professor also highlights the importance of learning to be a public speaker, noting that it involves more than just speaking—it's about delivering a message effectively. She outlines the key hallmarks of a good public speaker, including conversational skills, writing skills, an effective oral style, and respect for differences, and hints at the importance of these points for future quizzes and tests.

05:03

🗣️ Enhancing Public Speaking Through Conversational Skills

In this paragraph, the focus shifts to the role of conversational skills in public speaking. Professor Aku explains that treating a public address as a conversation can help alleviate nerves and create a more engaging and charismatic presentation. She stresses the importance of audience analysis and topic selection from the previous lecture, noting that understanding the audience's knowledge level is crucial for crafting an effective speech. The professor also discusses the use of full-sentence outlines and note cards as tools for organizing and delivering speeches, rather than reading from a manuscript, to ensure a more natural and interactive speaking style.

10:03

✍️ Utilizing Writing Skills in Speech Composition

The professor discusses the importance of writing skills in the composition of speeches. She explains that public speaking involves preparing full-sentence outlines that include an introduction, body, and conclusion, with attention-grabbing elements and transition sentences. The outlines are then used to create supporting materials like PowerPoint presentations and note cards. The paragraph emphasizes the development of an effective oral style by considering one's lexicon, or personal way of speaking, and adapting it to be engaging and appropriate for the audience. The professor also shares personal anecdotes about her direct communication style and the need to adapt it based on the context and audience.

15:04

🌐 Respecting Cultural Differences in Public Speaking

In this paragraph, the professor underscores the importance of demonstrating respect for differences in public speaking. She uses a personal anecdote about a student, Priyanka, to illustrate the cultural nuances that can affect communication. The professor reflects on her mistake of not considering cultural norms when giving feedback, which led to an uncomfortable situation. This serves as a lesson on the importance of being aware of and sensitive to cultural differences, including non-verbal cues and communication styles, when addressing diverse audiences.

20:04

🔄 Recap of Key Components for Effective Public Speaking

The final paragraph of the script serves as a recap of the key components for being an effective public speaker. The professor reiterates the four main skills: leveraging conversational skills, utilizing writing skills, developing an effective oral style, and demonstrating respect for differences. She reminds students that these components are crucial for success in public speaking and that they will be covered in quizzes, tests, and exams. The professor concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding and applying these skills in the context of the 21st-century global audience.

Keywords

💡Public Speaking

Public speaking refers to the act of addressing an audience in a formal setting. In the video, it is the central theme, emphasizing that it is a skill that can be developed rather than an innate talent. The script discusses how even individuals like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President John F. Kennedy, who were exceptional speakers, still possessed a skill that could be cultivated by others. The professor also highlights that public speaking is not merely about speaking but delivering a message effectively to an audience.

💡Communication

Communication is the process of exchanging information, ideas, or feelings. The script touches on communication as an essential aspect of public speaking, noting that it involves more than just speaking; it requires understanding the audience and conveying the message in a way that resonates with them. Effective communication is a skill that public speakers must master to engage and connect with their audience.

💡Conversational Skills

Conversational skills are the abilities used in everyday dialogues, such as tone, pace, and the natural flow of speech. The video emphasizes the importance of leveraging these skills in public speaking to create a more relatable and engaging experience for the audience. The professor suggests that treating a public address as a conversation can help alleviate nerves and create a more authentic connection with listeners.

💡Writing Skills

Writing skills are the abilities to effectively construct and convey thoughts in written form. In the context of public speaking, these skills are crucial for preparing speeches, creating outlines, and developing content that is well-organized and coherent. The script mentions that students will write full-sentence outlines to prepare for their speeches, indicating the direct application of writing skills in the speech preparation process.

💡Oral Style

Oral style refers to the unique manner in which a speaker delivers their speech, including the choice of words, tone, and overall presentation. The video discusses the development of an effective oral style as a key component of public speaking. It mentions that each person has a lexicon or a personal way of speaking, and public speakers must refine this to ensure it is engaging and appropriate for their audience.

💡Respect for Difference

Respect for difference acknowledges and values the diversity of thoughts, cultures, and perspectives. The script highlights the importance of this concept in public speaking, where speakers must be aware of and sensitive to the varied backgrounds and experiences of their audience members. The professor shares an anecdote.

Highlights

Public speaking is a skill that most people are not born with and must be developed over time.

Notable exceptions like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President John F. Kennedy seemed to have been born with a natural gift for public speaking.

Caroline Kennedy's example demonstrates that even children of great speakers may not inherit their skills.

Public speaking is a learnable skill set that involves delivering a message effectively.

Just because one speaks does not make them a public speaker; it's about the ability to engage and connect with an audience.

Good public speakers build upon four key hallmarks: conversational skills, writing skills, effective oral style, and respect for differences.

Conversational skills are crucial for making public speaking feel like a natural conversation rather than a robotic performance.

Understanding the audience is essential for crafting a speech that meets the needs of both novices and experts.

Writing skills are utilized in preparing full-sentence outlines for speeches, which are then used to create supporting materials.

Note cards are used for speeches instead of full manuscripts to encourage natural delivery and prevent reading verbatim.

Developing an effective oral style involves creating a unique way of speaking that resonates with the audience.

Speakers must be aware of cultural nuances and adapt their communication style to show respect for different cultural practices.

Inclusive language and behavior are vital for demonstrating respect for diversity among audience members.

The importance of eye contact varies across cultures and should be approached with cultural awareness.

The speaker's style should be effective in moving the audience and achieving the desired outcome, whether it's participation or action.

Speakers should be mindful of their use of fillers and strive for clarity and directness in their communication.

The lecture emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and development in the art of public speaking.

Upcoming lectures will cover the model of communication, further enhancing the understanding of effective public speaking.

Transcripts

hi this is professor akua and this is

lecture three now lecture three we are

now going to get into the meat of things

okay so the first thing we want to talk

about really is

public speaking what it is or what it

isn't uh talk about communication also

what it is and what it isn't so the

first thing I want to talk about and

this is I'm starting with chapter one

actually okay

and this will supplement the reading and

other assignments and activities and

quizzes that you'll have this is a

supplement so

one of the first things that I want you

to know about public speaking is that

public speaking

you're not born

with it

most people aren't born with it okay

most people are not born with the

ability to be excellent Orchards now I

believe that there are sometimes

exceptions to the rule

and for example I think that Dr Martin

Luther King Jr was an exception I think

that President John F Kennedy was also

an exception I think both of them were

really born with the gift

however what I also want you to know is

that you can become a good speaker

and it's interesting because there's a

video that I used to show of President

Kennedy's daughter Caroline Kennedy

and Caroline

to me was a horrible speaker

I don't know about now but in this

particular clip she was horrible

especially considering the fact that her

dad was President Kennedy and that he

was a great auditor it to me just proves

that you're not necessarily born with it

it's a skill that you have to work on

it's a skill that you have to develop

over time so learning to speak in public

and learning to be a public speaker and

again I'm coming from your in your

textbook it is something that you have

to learn how to deliver it is a skill

set that you can develop over time okay

and

just because one speaks does not make

them a public speaker in fact I noticed

that in your introduction speeches

several of you mentioned that you are

already public speakers

and so one of the assignments that we're

going to do really soon is we're going

to talk about what is everyone's current

previous past experience with public

speaking because

there are some things that

every public speaker needs to know yes

and so we are going to talk about those

really soon so one of the things that I

want to talk about today are some of the

things that help us to build our skill

set as public speakers

a good public speaker

I'm sorry you guys this little Nat fly

is still flying around here and I just I

don't know what to do

a good public speaker draws on several

things or utilizes several

existing skill sets so number one a good

public speaker draws on conversational

skills

this person draws on writing skills

this person develops an effective oral

Style

this person also demonstrates respect

for difference these are four key four

key Hallmarks of a good public speaker

please note that as I've mentioned

before I'm going to mention it now and I

will undoubtedly mention it again

everything that is covered in these

lectures is subject to appear

on a quiz a test or an exam so it is

important that you are watching these

videos and it is important that you're

taking notes in addition

to this I oftentimes embed the extra

credit opportunities into the lectures

so some of you will be looking around

and you're saying I didn't know that

there was an extra Credit Opportunity

usually it's because you're not watching

the lecture videos

so

when there are extra credit

opportunities

they will be embedded into the lectures

so that's all I can say so a word to the

wise as my mentor said is always

sufficient so let's proceed so these

four Hallmarks demonstrating respect for

difference drawing on one's existing

composition skills writing skills

developing an effective oral style and

drawing on your conversational skills

are things that are going to help you to

be a better public speaker to better

address an audience

now

along with these four Hallmarks comes

you know how we get how we get it done

okay so let's talk about it

drawing on your conversational skill

It is believed that one of the ways that

a speaker becomes better is to see a

public address as simply a conversation

what often happens is that people are in

a position where they have to address an

audience and now their nerves are out of

control they are

they lack confidence in their ability to

execute they think they're going to

forget something they think that they're

going to say something off

color and while all those things are

possible

some of that anxiety has come because

you've placed this speaking

requirement or moment in some separate

category outside of conversation

no one as an audience member no one

wants to listen to a speaker who sounds

robotic

who sounds stiff

we want speakers who are engaging who

are uh charismatic we want speakers to

keep us on the edge of our seat we want

speakers who write us up we want

speakers with whom we can connect we

want speakers who help us to make sense

of the information especially if it's

something that's kind of above our heads

we want speakers who who we can relate

to easily

all of this comes by way of treating

that public address as an opportunity to

have a conversation

so you want to build on lean on drop

upon or rely on your conversational

skills

I hope that makes sense

okay

part of relying on that conversational

skill goes back to lecture two wherein

we discussed audience analysis and and

topic selection

you have to know a little bit of

something about your audience in order

to Be an Effective public speaker

do they already know the information

that you're providing are they already

seasoned professionals experts in that

field or are they novice and they've

never heard most of the information

before that you're going to be sharing

what if both of those types of people

are in the room then you have to craft

a lecture craft a presentation that

meets the needs of the novice and of the

expert if they're both sitting in your

room

as you are preparing your speech okay

also you will draw on your skills and

composition

this simply means that you're going to

be writing now for this course you are

not writing an essay per se but you will

write your speeches you will prepare

full sentence outlines for your speeches

full sentence outlines you guys you will

use those to prepare for you prepare

your speeches and then

the full sentence outline

you will then

create a PowerPoint that supports it and

you will also create note cards that are

taken from the outline and it's the no

cards that you will use in order to give

your speech it just so happens where I'm

sitting there there's a set of note

cards here oh no

so see you'll just be using regular note

cards you can use three by five or four

by six that's going to be left to you to

decide but see just regular note cards

here

um you know just

regular

note cards just

regular coupons so you'll be taking your

outline and then you'll be preparing

note cards for the purpose of this class

you will not be reading from a full

manuscript you will not be typing out an

outline or an essay and then just

reading it off the paper you will be

using note cards and in those videos

that you're going to record I'll expect

to see note cards in your hands and not

manuscripts also to the point that

someone mentioned in the introduction

videos

I don't recall who at the time

but you're not going to be doing

anything from memory you're not going to

be committing these speeches to memory

so you don't have to worry about

forgetting necessarily what to say

because again you will have your

that's right note cards in your hand

when it's time to present

so again as a speaker you are going to

be relying upon your composition skills

and so you will be considering your

topic you will be preparing an outline

excuse me which deals with your

organizational skills and in writing and

you will be preparing introduction of

body and a conclusion you will have an

attention getter you will also have

transition sentences throughout to tie

all the pieces together you guys notice

how I'm using my hand you will have

transition sentences throughout to tie

the pieces together they tie the pieces

together and so again all of that is

using your existing compositional

writing skills okay

next

a public speaker a good public speaker

is developing an effective oral style

each of us have what we call a lexicon

okay Alexa con is your kind of personal

um

unique way of speaking your personal

unique way of speaking and that includes

your style of speech the types of words

that you use it's really heavy on the

types of words that you use which

vocabulary you pull from in order to

speak

and each of us have it again going back

to the example of Dr Martin Luther King

Jr Dr King had a style yes if I could

just sit here today and say

excuse me you guys all the time I don't

know if I were to sit here and say I

have a dream one day it's not just

because I said I have a dream which is

classic Dr King it is also that style

that he had in his oratory

presentations you will find that style

throughout his career even when he

wasn't doing the guy have a green the

mountaintops you'll find that or

one can say his style was very

reminiscent of an old school Southern

Baptist preacher back in the 1950s and

60s because that's what it sounded a lot

of like

um

so each of us develop our own style

we have to be careful that it is an

effective style the style that moves the

crowd the style that gets people going

the style that gets us the um

results that we're looking for

participation or action whatever it is

we have to know and develop our own

stylists my style is very direct I don't

get around the bush frequently I I

communicate very directly I say what I

mean I mean what I say

excuse me I don't know what's going on

um

but I also know that in speaking so

directly that sometimes I have to

reconsider if speaking so directly is

going to be successful for me in

particular circumstances and scenarios I

have to consider that so

some of the words that I use very

frequently if I'm being honest that's

like my catchphrase that's something

that I use frequently I do use fillers

just like everyone else I don't use them

as much today as I did

35 years ago

or 40 years ago I don't use them as

frequently but I do use them

sorry

sorry in your

in creating your effective oral Style

it also means again that you are

considering your audience and what their

needs are what their expectations are as

audience members for you for example

let's say you wanted to borrow money

from a relative okay and let's say

this relative like me

values

let's say this relative like me values

direct communication okay

what would happen if you if the relative

wanted to if you wanted to borrow money

from the relative or for me you know and

you came in with hey professor how you

doing how's the family how's work how

your classes how's the semester you know

when was the last time you took a cruise

how was Florida how's your family

someone like me who values very direct

communication

might not like that approach

because after you've said all that then

you're going to ask me can you borrow

money which is the reason you called

anyway

someone like me who values very direct

and honest and over communication I

would prefer

excuse me

I would prefer that you just ask for the

money first

tell me that you're calling because you

need to borrow money let's discuss that

first and then we can talk about the

family the job the cruising the holiday

the vacation the friends the event so

whatever else it is that we have to

possibly discuss I value that very

direct upfront open communication now

someone else

made value

more emotional communication that allows

you or requires you first to inquire

about their well-being the well-being of

the family the work the home the most

recent activities Etc and then

ask for the money

neither approach is wrong or right

however

your ability to Be an Effective

communicator and to do the style that

your audience needs or requires is

important to your success to be able to

secure the thing that you're looking for

yes I hope that makes sense

okay and then finally of course I want

you to remember that

effective public speakers or good public

speakers demonstrate respect for

difference

knowing that it's okay to feel to think

differently than others including your

audience is important

knowing to respect all of the players of

all the people in the room or at the

table is critically important using

language that is inclusive of everyone

is important

something even as simple as

looking at various sides of the room

sometimes the speed can focus on one

side of the room maybe right in front of

them because they're nervous but then

they never look over to the right they

never look over to the left and those

members could feel slighted in that

experience and so you always want to

address your audience right you want to

address your audience left and as well

as the center you always want to

consider the differences in the room you

want to speak to different experiences

wherein others can see themselves and

some of the examples that you render

when you are making a speech respecting

the cultural differences and nuances is

important for example

my very first year teaching full-time

it was Speech day and I had these two

students who were participating it was a

group it was a group speech assignment

and I had these two students who were

together

Rhonda and Priyanka

and

Priyanka

her voice was so

soft and Light

it was very difficult to hear her

even in a room where it was totally

silent and she was the only one speaking

at the moment it was still very

difficult to hear her and so as I was

giving each pair of student each group

feedback

excuse me

I mentioned to Priyanka that she needed

to speak louder

that she needs to speak more loudly that

she needed to raise her voice that she

needed to project more I did you know I

said all that and the next thing you

know

I also noticed that Priyanka was not

looking at me when I was speaking to her

and

all of my training went totally out the

window at that moment and mind you my

masters is in Multicultural

communication and I took Intercultural

communication courses as well as an

undergrad interpersonal and all those

things are very heavily influenced

culture courses yes as well as in my

masters so I know better I know better

but it had left my head and before I

knew it I said to her Priyanka I'm

speaking to you look at me why are you

looking at the ground I'm speaking to

you and next thing you know Bianca began

to cry

foreign

she began to cry right in front of me

and in front of her classmate at the

time she was only with the young woman

that she presented because she wasn't in

front of the rest of the class

you guys

I felt so badly

I felt so badly because I had done

something to make her cry and I had not

considered the simple fact

that looking down culturally for her

was a way to show respect to me as her

professor

but as you know in the U.S this notion

of looking at people when they're

speaking to you is a privileged way of

communicating by privileged I mean it's

the way that we in the U.S tend to

expect people to do yes and when they

don't do that we put all kinds of labels

on why they aren't doing it

disrespectful they're lying they're not

trustworthy Etc in fact for her

culturally she was showing a sign of

deference and respect by looking down as

I was

um

reprimanding or correcting her behavior

if you will so again if I had that to do

over I would not dare say to her hey why

are you not looking at me I'm speaking

to you I would simply say I would ask

her does she understand what I mean when

I say she needs to project her voice and

I would even ask her is it something

that she thinks that she can do

growth is amazing and being aware of the

cultural uh nuances and the cultural

ways of living and being of other people

is highly important it always has been

but even more so now in the 21st century

so these have been some highlights of

what it means to be a public speaker in

lecture four we're going to talk about

the model of communication okay you guys

I hope you've enjoyed this one there are

four

key components of what it means to be a

good speaker these days yes

yes four key components of four skills

you're going to draw on your existing

conversational skills you're going to

draw on your writing skills you're going

to develop an effective oil style and

you are going to demonstrate respect for

difference

again as my mentor always told me a word

to the wise is always sufficient

everything in lecture is subject to

appear on a quiz test or exam all right

you guys have a great day