Tips for Practicing Your Speech in Public (How to Stop Stuttering)

Summary

In this video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of practicing public speaking for individuals who stutter, suggesting that it's crucial to go beyond home practice. They offer strategies such as engaging in conversations at work, making phone calls to friends and family, and ordering in person rather than using apps to avoid speaking. The speaker also highlights the need for intentional practice, focusing on one technique or mindset at a time to build fluency and combat avoidance behaviors, which are detrimental to progress.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ Consistent practice is crucial for improving speech, but it's also important to practice in public and with others.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Start with a solid foundation of individual practice, such as the speaker's free 'Stop Stuttering Workshop' or other structured programs.
• 💡 To enhance fluency, intentionally seek out public speaking opportunities, like engaging in conversations at work or with friends and family.
• 📞 Phone calls can be a beneficial and challenging way to practice, especially for those who stutter.
• 🏢 The workplace can serve as an opportunity to practice speaking with others in a more structured environment.
• 🚫 Avoidant behaviors, like ordering through apps to avoid speaking, should be consciously addressed and reduced to promote progress.
• 🧠 When practicing in public, focus on one specific technique or mindset at a time to facilitate learning and implementation.
• 🔍 Over-articulation and word stretching are examples of techniques that can be used to improve fluency in challenging speaking situations.
• 🌟 With consistent practice, the use of these techniques will become second nature, allowing for more natural and fluent speech.
• 🔄 The speaker is working on a project about avoidance and anxiety related to stuttering, indicating a future focus on these topics.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The main focus of the video is to discuss the importance of practicing public speaking, especially for those who stutter, and to provide strategies for stepping outside of practicing alone at home.

Why is it important to practice speaking in public?

Practicing speaking in public is important because it helps individuals move beyond just practicing alone and prepares them for real-world social interactions, which are essential for achieving fluency and overcoming stuttering.

What is the role of practicing alone in overcoming stuttering?

Practicing alone is a critical foundational step in overcoming stuttering as it allows individuals to build a daily routine, gain repetitions, and develop a system that helps in transforming their speech.

What are some examples of practicing in public mentioned in the video?

Some examples of practicing in public include engaging in conversations at work, calling family or friends more often, and ordering in person or through a drive-thru instead of using apps.

Why should one avoid ordering through apps when trying to practice public speaking?

Ordering through apps should be avoided because it's a missed practice opportunity and can reinforce avoidant behaviors, which can strengthen anxieties and fears associated with stuttering.

What is the 'over-articulation' tool mentioned in the video, and how can it help?

The 'over-articulation' tool is a technique where one over-enunciates words, especially at the beginning of phrases, to help start speaking more fluently and to release the voice from being stuck in the throat.

What is the 'word stretching' technique and how can it be beneficial for someone who stutters?

The 'word stretching' technique involves stretching certain words, especially at the start of a phrase, to help get started speaking and to potentially ease the transition into more fluent speech.

What should one focus on when practicing in public according to the video?

When practicing in public, one should focus on one thing at a time, whether it's a technique like over-articulation or word stretching, or a mindset, such as relaxed breathing, to avoid overwhelming oneself and to effectively build new speaking habits.

What is the significance of not avoiding situations that cause anxiety for someone who stutters?

Not avoiding situations that cause anxiety is significant because it prevents the strengthening of fear and anxiety muscles, which can exacerbate stuttering. Facing these situations helps in reducing avoidance behaviors and building confidence.

What is the next project the speaker is working on related to stuttering?

The next project the speaker is working on is focused on avoidance and anxiety, diving deep into these topics to provide further insights and strategies for individuals who stutter.

How can one access the speaker's free stop stuttering Workshop mentioned in the video?

One can access the speaker's free stop stuttering Workshop by following the link provided in the video description, which offers a plan and daily routine to help improve speech fluency.