Rehearse your speech! Sure, but how?
- Marcus Chow
- Nov 9, 2017
- 4 min read
When on stage, one’s move and words will naturally come under close scrutiny by the audience, making speech-giving a particularly stressful task both physically and mentally to most people. However, don’t be scared just yet; with proper hands-on preparation, the daunting prospect of public embarrassment can surely be avoided. Here are some useful tips.
Practice in solitude
This should be the first step to your rehearsal after you have written your speech.
Find a nice quiet spot where you can read your speech aloud. Time yourself as you do so, as it can help you optimize your speech to match competition rules or given instructions on time limit by reflecting on your choice of words, the structure and length of sentences, as well as the amount of content. If your speech is one that requires memorizing, a quiet environment free from disturbance and the pressure of people watching can definitely help speed things up.
You should also take the opportunity to work on your speaking style. You are strongly advised to record yourself reading the speech aloud, so you can listen to it as an ‘audience’ afterwards and discover problems with the way how you speak. These problems can range from breathing at the wrong time or speaking too rapidly and hence rendering words inaudible, to not pronouncing a particular word correctly or not ending a sentence in the right tone. Make notes using symbols or abbreviations on your speech as you solve your problems, such as a ‘.’ for long pause and ‘/’ for a short pause, or an ‘up’ arrow for ending your sentence with a raised pitch.
Practice in front of a mirror/ video your practice rounds
Having enjoyed ‘quality’ time in solitude, it is now time for you to move on and practice in front of a mirror. This helps you work on your ‘form’.
‘Form’ relates to a range of things, including your posture (either when sitting or standing), facial expressions, body movements and hand gestures. By practicing in front of a full-body mirror, you will be able to assess how ‘far’ your body movements and hand gestures should go, and fine tune your facial expressions to fit the occasion in which you are to give your speech or the theme of your speech.
Moreover, when giving speeches, it is not uncommon for people to fiddle around with their hands and display other reflexive body movements, like constantly moving back and forth or swaying left and right, without even noticing. These are all signs of being nervous which you should strive to suppress, as not only are they distractive but they also tend to give the audience (judges in particular) an impression that you lack self-confidence. Practicing in front of a full-body mirror helps bring these unnecessary and distractive movements to your attention, so that you can find ways to control them.
If you can’t find a full-body mirror, video-taping your practice rounds will also do the trick.
Authentic simulation rounds
No speech rehearsal is complete without a simulation round.
You should make your simulation as authentic as possible by filling your home sofa or even classroom chairs with audiences. A few patient, serious individuals shall do the trick. The whole point of this is to give yourself the chance to understand how a group of objective outsiders who have never seen or heard you giving the speech would view your style and whether they can understand your speech. Objective and constructive criticism (or opinion) from outsiders can help you further optimise your speech content, form and speaking style to better meet your real audience’s general expectations.
Proper simulation rounds which closely follow the competition rules (if it is a competition) can also help you adapt to the stress by building some kind of mental expectation within. You will be more confident and less nervous knowing that not only are you familiar will your own speech but also familiar with the rules and format of your competition. So, if there is a time limit, adhere to it strictly; if impromptu Q&A sessions follow your speech, include them in your simulations and let your ‘audiences’ bombard you with questions. Carrying out simulation rounds is the best way to mentally prepare yourself before giving a speech.
Rest
Resting properly is as important as practicing. If you habitually sleep late, you should sleep earlier and have sufficient rest in the week leading up to your speech-giving day. By doing so, you adjust your biological clock which in turn makes waking up on time less difficult, and allows you to give your speech with a sharp mind and refreshing look.
Public speaking is a form of art and like painting or playing the piano, constant practice and prior preparation are vital to your eventual success on the stage. In the world of public speaking, success is not measured by trophies, certificates or winner’s banners; instead, it is synonymous to your ability to convey a message or present information in a clear and calm manner, so that the audience can listen in comfort and be persuaded, intrigued or even amused.
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