Finding Your Voice: First Steps in Public Speaking
Even grown-up speakers get butterflies in their stomach before talking to a group. Famous speakers like poet Amanda Gorman have said that practicing out loud, again and again, is what helped them feel less nervous and more ready. The good news is that public speaking is a skill you can practice and grow, just like riding a bike or tying your shoes.
What You'll Learn
How to use a voice that is loud and clear enough for everyone to hear. Why looking at your listeners (eye contact) helps you connect with them. How to keep your body calm and still instead of fidgeting. Why practicing out loud makes speaking easier and less scary.
Your Speaking Voice
When you speak to a group, your voice needs to travel farther than it does in a normal conversation. Try speaking a little slower than feels natural, and imagine your words need to reach the very back wall of the room. A voice that is too quiet gets lost, but a clear, steady voice helps every single listener follow along.
Eyes on Your Audience
Looking at the floor or your notes the whole time makes it hard for listeners to feel connected to what you're saying. Eye contact - looking at the people listening to you - shows that you care about being understood, and it actually helps many speakers feel less nervous because they can see friendly faces nodding along.
Pick three friendly faces in different parts of the room before you start - one on the left, one in the middle, one on the right. As you speak, look at each of them for a few seconds at a time. It feels much easier than trying to look at everyone at once, and it still looks like great eye contact to the whole room.
Calm and Confident Body
Standing tall with your feet planted and your hands relaxed at your sides (or holding your notes still) sends a message of confidence, even if your stomach is full of butterflies. Before you begin, take one slow, deep breath. It only takes a few seconds, and it helps calm your body down enough to start strong.
Flashcards — click each card to reveal the answer
Why do many skilled speakers practice their speech out loud several times before giving it?
What is one good reason to make eye contact with your listeners while speaking?
30-Second Show and Tell
Pick a favorite object from home. Practice describing it out loud for about 30 seconds, using a loud clear voice, looking up instead of at the floor, and standing calm and still. Practice in front of a mirror or a family member first, then present your 30-second show and tell to your class or another audience.
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